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Amazon Prime is warning its viewers that the 1940 cartoon 鈥淭om and Jerry鈥� has 鈥渆thnic and racial prejudices that鈥�were wrong then and are wrong today.鈥�

This warning is the exact warning that appeared on the original Warner Brothers DVDs, so may not reflect a new Amazon policy.聽A screenshot circulating online shows the warning sentence before viewers of the online service purchase the complete second volume of the series.

The "Tom and Jerry" television cartoon, nearly 75 years old, has faced criticism for its use of blackface and its depiction of Mammy Two Shoes, a black maid whose face is never seen.

To Jason Sperb, a lecturer at Northwestern University鈥檚 department of radio, television and film, Amazon鈥檚 warning label makes sense 鈥� and represents progress. For decades, he says, re-releases of shows from the 1930s and 1940s removed or altered all racist content.

While it is important to recognize that some content may offend viewers, he says refusing to show controversial content would cross a line, calling releasing this content an 鈥渆thical responsibility.鈥�

鈥淟et鈥檚 bring back this history carefully and sensitively,鈥� he says.

In the 1960s, some 鈥淭om and Jerry鈥� scenes were edited before distribution, .

This selective inclusion lowers the authenticity of the work, says Leslie Picca, an associate sociology professor at the University of Dayton.

When these cartoons were made, she says, these depictions were 鈥渃ommonplace and accepted.鈥� Releasing entire episodes 鈥� with these warnings 鈥� may help 鈥渟tart an honest conversation and dialogue鈥� about the progress American society as made and how it can improve, she says.

In her race and ethnicity course, Prof.聽Picca shows 鈥淢ickey Mouse Monopoly鈥� (2002), which she says takes an alternative lens to the classic films that many of her students grew up watching. Her students then discuss how Disney characterizes Latinos and Asian Americans in its films.

鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way, but we recognize that these images still exist,鈥� she says.

In 2005, of Tom and Jerry episodes, t. She placed racist elements in the context of their time, but argued for their inclusion on the edition.

鈥淪ome of the cartoons here reflect prejudices that were common in American society, especially when it came to racial and ethnic groups,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd these prejudices were wrong then and are certainly wrong today.鈥�

But Mammy Two Shoes, she said, was 鈥渁n important component that made the interplay in those cartoons work so well.鈥�

鈥淢s. Two Shoes, along with other elements that reveal the prejudices of the time, are presented here to accurately reflect a part of our history that cannot and should not be ignored.鈥�

The statement on Amazon鈥檚 webpage legitimizes a discussion that has occurred among Amazon鈥檚 viewers, who for years have debated the merits of including this content in the comments section of 鈥淭om and Jerry鈥� boxed sets.

One commenter on the 2005 spotlight collection says, 鈥淎mazon is selling the REAL deal, and yes, it is very, very racist.鈥� Another writes, 鈥淭here is some politically incorrect humor and ethnic portrayals. In retrospect, I think a lot of it is overblown, but can see how some could be offended.鈥�

An Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment on the Tom & Jerry warning label.聽