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They Say – New Disney Princess Not Black Enough
You know Princess Tiana, the latest member of Disney’s highly profitable “royal family“? The big news is that she is the first African-American member of the Princess club (or whatever you call them — sorry, I have boys and they’re not into this stuff). The character is the star of the upcoming Disney film “The Princess and the Frog“. Disney, I imagine, would like nothing more than to be embraced by the African-American community. According to a recent New York Times article, that hasn’t been the result so far.
Not everyone is unhappy about Tiana. According to the Times, Essence magazine’s Cori Murray recently offered praise for Disney on CNN, saying “Finally, here is something that all little girls, especially young black girls, can embrace.” Others are less than thrilled. Angela Bronner Helm wrote on AOL Black Voices Black Voices that “Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince. His hair and features are decidedly non-black. This has left many in the community shaking their head in befuddlement and even rage.” And the location of the film — New Orleans — is considered insensitive by some, notably former columnist William Blackburn, who told a London newspaper that “Disney should be ashamed” for setting the film at the site of “one of the most devastating tragedies to beset a black community.”
I have a few thoughts on this. One is that the film hasn’t been released yet. This isn’t to say that no one is allowed to comment on that, far from it. But it seems a little unfair to pass judgment before seeing the finished product. It reminds me of the people who protested “The Passion of the Christ”, or more recently, “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” If I recall correctly, Catholic groups had few issues (religiously, anyway) with “Angels and Demons” after they, you know, saw it.
As for the character’s appearance, I’m not qualified to decide whether or not anyone possesses “Black features” or not. That said, I find the comment “His hair and features are decidedly non-black” to be a little odd. Would it be better if Tiana had an Angela Davis-sized afro? Saying that the character’s look are “decidedly non-black” implies, to me, that there is a feature-set that applies to all Black people. Which as far as I know there isn’t. This line from the Times’ piece I think makes a good point: “We finally get a black princess and she spends the majority of her time on screen as a frog?” But focusing on appearance doesn’t hold as much water in my opinion.
Then again, I’m a white guy. So maybe that’s easy for me to say. However, I think Disney’s problems with race go far deeper than the examples cited in the Times article — the “uneducated, pimp-hat-clad crows” in the movie “Dumbo”, or “The Jungle Book”, where “all of the animals…speak in proper British accents except for the jive-talking monkeys who desperately want to become ‘real people.’”
What about “The Lion King”? First you have a baby Lion voiced by a Black actor who grows up to be Matthew Broderick. That one, OK. Whatever. (NOTE: Actually, it was Jonathan Taylor Thomas who voiced Young Simba. Thanks to a commenter for the correction.) But didn’t anyone notice that two of the three hyenas, all of whom are portrayed as barbaric and stupid, were voiced by Black and Hispanic actors? (Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin, for what it’s worth. The other one was Jim Cummings, who looks like a white guy.) Even Pixar, wonderful as their movies are, generally sticks with white leads and does their own perpetuating of sterotypes — for example, in “Cars”, you have Luigi the dopey Italian tire salescar, voiced by Tony Shalhoub, and Cheech Marin again as Ramone, a 1957 Chevy Impala Lowrider with lots of “customizations.” Even Mater, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy, is a stereotypical hick.
Am I saying that there’s no humor to be found in race? No way. (I will say that I don’t see any humor in Larry the Cable Guy, but that’s not race-related.) Nor am I saying that there is anything wrong with having a character that doesn’t conform to someone’s idea of what is or isn’t racially (or politically) correct. But I think it’s probably worthwhile to give Disney a chance to, you know, make the film before you decide that it’s horrible. Even if Tiana and her prince are somewhat, shall we say, whitewashed, having a Black princess in the Disney canon is a huge step in the right direction. The main reason stuff like this matters is because children see these characters and identify with them. Since I only have two white children, I have no idea what it’s like for the parent of a non-white child to have to search for dolls that actually look at least somewhat like their kids. So if Disney doesn’t get it completely “right” this time, maybe they’ll learn from it and do better next time.
What do you think? Is it fair to attack Disney before the movie comes out? Or do the images they’ve already released show that they still don’t have a clue how to handle non-white characters? Or is all of this talk about race a lot of “whatever”?
Source: New York Times
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30 Comments
TolaniLucia commented on Jun 03 09 at 5:51 pm“Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince. His hair and features are decidedly non-black. This has left many in the community shaking their head in befuddlement and even rage.”
Uh, us African Americans have a very diverse array of looks. Not everyone has the same features. So what exactly is making him non-black? And rage? really? Over a frikin Disney movie? wow!
Shannon commented on Jun 03 09 at 6:17 pmI won’t be taking my kids to this movie. We have a Disney princess boycott here, mainly because of race. But I think this is tokenism aimed at pulling in a heretofore hesitant market segment for Disney. When there are five Black princesses we’ll reconsider.
Meanwhile, I can still be annoyed on the basis of all these girls looking anorexic, and on the white-washing of history (New Orleans in this period was still awash in race-violence. The South in general was filled with lynching and mob riots. Not very romantic. The Creole population of New Orleans were just a generation from the sex-slavery that produced so many light-skinned women in the first place.)
When my kids are old enough to get all that and critique it, then they can see it. Not anytime in this decade.
Keara commented on Jun 03 09 at 8:46 pm“What about “The Lion King”? First you have a baby Lion voiced by a Black actor who grows up to be Matthew Broderick.”
Simba was voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub (the middle kid from Home Improvement: )
brettsinger commented on Jun 03 09 at 10:41 pm@Keara – my bad. I think I had the Broadway musical in my head (which, for what it’s worth, has a largely Black cast). Thanks.
Shana commented on Jun 03 09 at 11:42 pmWow Shannon, you have a lot of free time on your hands. Let’s face it, any Disney princess movie that you point at there were horrible things happening to people in that time and place these movies take place in. Do you really want to take your kids to see a romantic story about the French Terror, Southern slavery or the decimation of the Native American population? If you do, you are a rather odd woman. Yes these are important things that have happened and that should never be forgotten, but I would hardly call the rated G Disney movies teaching kids about staying to true to yourself or whatever simplified moral targetted to six year olds is the place for this.
And from actually watching the preview it is obvious that the prince is definitely not white and this will be the first depiction of an interacial relationship in a Disney movie. And as a black mother with a Swedish husband I am pretty happy about this.
The sad thing is Disney is kind of ahead of a lot of other mainstream entertainment. And that problem has more to do with a society unwilling to see something different that a company that is just happy to put out what they are sure will make them money.
Greer's Mum commented on Jun 04 09 at 9:40 amI don’t know much about the story, but do the good guys win and the bad guys lose? Does love and friendship triumph over all? If so I view it as an appropriate story for my child. I think it’s great that children can look at a fictional character and say “she looks like me” or “she looks like my friend” or “she looks like my neighbor”. It helps them to relate to other people. The bottom line is, this is a fairy tale made for the entertainment, not historical education, of children, and I don’t think that Disney has sold it any other way.
Amanda B. commented on Jun 04 09 at 10:59 amI think that it’s ridiculous that people are being so sensittive about the movie. I had read that originally the princess was supposed to be named Maddy, but some people thought that this name was “too white” so her name was changed to Tiana. If Disney wanted to be histotically correct, they would have kept the name Maddy, because it was a popular name for black girls in New Orleans at the time the movie is supposed to take place. Tiana, however, was not a name that anyone used at the time. It seems as if everyone is offended by something these days…
patricia commented on Jun 04 09 at 11:20 amShannon, note that Disney is responding to market and societal pressure by having a black princess in this movie. If everyone does what you are proposing, waiting until there are 5 black princesses, there will never BE 5 black princesses, because Disney will not perceive that there is money to be made in showcasing stories with black main characters. Disney is market-driven, after all.
CN commented on Jun 04 09 at 1:05 pmI think we have a long way to go when it comes to race issues in our country, but Disney is the least of my concerns. How unfortunate that so much time and energy is being wasted on how race is dealt with in a cartoon when that same energy could be applied to issues in our daily lives!
beth commented on Jun 04 09 at 4:42 pmI’m excited that there’s going to be a black princess. My daughter is absolutely obsessed, sadly, with the disney princesses, and I’ve noticed that a lot of the products feature just the white princesses and maybe Jasmine (Mulan and Pocohontas are largely ignored). I will take my daughter to see this movie – it will be her first Disney movie in a theater – and so I’m glad it will be a princess of color. We don’t have a lot of diversity in my community and it worries me. Today, my daughter wanted the one black boy in her class to play the Beast to her Beauty because he’s brown like the beast. Aaah!
White Racist Mother commented on Jun 04 09 at 5:25 pmFor anyone who’d like to see a breakdown of what’s problematic about this movie written by a person of color (and not a privileged white male), read this:
http://www.antiracistparent.com/2009/05/15/the-princess-and-the-frog-and-the-critical-gaze/
White people shouldn’t write articles about what people of color find problematic and why whiteys think it’s an overreaction.
hypocrite commented on Jun 04 09 at 6:38 pmI think it hypocritical that you should want to use the phrase “people of color” but then think its okay to refer to caucasians as “whiteys”. If a whitey called someone of color the equivalent then they would be labeled a racist. Lets adhere to the golden rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. Personally, I think not matter how sensitive Disney tried to be, someone was going to be offended. Period. If you’re offended by it, then exercise your civil rights and dont go see it. Pretty simple. Aint America grand!?!
Manjari commented on Jun 04 09 at 7:58 pmI think Shannon Prince’s article about possible problems in the movie is excellent.
patricia commented on Jun 04 09 at 8:58 pmI agree with Manjari about the article linked by White Racist Mother- it is excellent, and made me reconsider some of my own thinking on the issue- I’ve never thought it was just a tempest in a teapot or anything similarly minimizing, but it did make me think more deeply about the things that have bothered me about the movie.
jeannesager commented on Jun 04 09 at 10:36 pmWhite Racist Mother, regardless of what you think about the post, calling someone “whitey” in order to fight perceived racism is out of line. You don’t fight racism with racism.
I’d also note a large difference between what Brett said and what Shannon Prince is taking issue with in her article. She notes white people are saying that black people should be thanking their lucky stars for getting a black princess out of Disney and that white people are saying black people have no right to complain.
If you read his post, he actually says people very much DO have the right to complain. . . once they’ve actually seen the movie and know whether there is anything to complain about. Is it too much to ask that people watch the movie and then decide if there’s a problem with it (which there very well might be)?
Greer's Mum commented on Jun 05 09 at 9:44 amI’m really getting tired of going from engaging, insightful, interesting, dialogues on these boards, to reading, nasty, degrading and now apparently racist comments. It’s not the place for it. If you have an honest intellegent opinion then I really want to hear what you have to say, even if I don’t share it. If you just want to attack people and call them names then don’t waste everyone else’s time, take it somewhere else. Sorry, but lately this nastiness has been a reoccuring issue on these boards and whiel I really appreciate the folks who take the time to share their insight, I may to have to stop reading cause I can’t stand the hate.
BP commented on Jun 05 09 at 12:04 pmSeriously people. It’s an animated movie that is meant for kids to ENJOY. Does it really matter what race the characters are? I get so tired of people reading into this kind of stuff, that is why there are so many problems in this world. I read the article by Shannon Prince and I thought it was ridiculous.
LIGHTEN UP!!!!!!!!!
Marj commented on Jun 05 09 at 7:42 pmDisney movies are over-rated anyway. When asked to name my top five Disney cartoons, I named off a bunch of cartoons that turned out to not be Disney at all. I didn’t know they weren’t Disney, and was a little startled that every cartoon I’ve truly loved was not made by Disney.
For the record – I think the new princess is
very pretty. I like the pretty dress she’s wearing in the pix. I like that it takes place in New Orleans. N.O. could use good press, and a fairy-tale. Also, as a history buff I enjoy fictions set in the 1920′s.The article linked was good. Disney does have issues, but then I look to other companies to make kids movies worth watching. Although any movie that treated history realistically wouldn’t be very fun for a child to watch, although I’d probably enjoy it.
Brett Singer commented on Jun 13 09 at 5:12 pmMarj, what are those top 5 Disney cartoons that weren’t made by Disney? Just curious.
attargefe commented on Jun 14 09 at 3:20 pmМолодца,согласен с предыдущими высказываниями
^..^ Bye
K8 commented on Jun 17 09 at 11:34 amThis is probably just the opinion of another white girl, but I think it is stupid to get so riled up about a children’s movie. It’s just a movie so that little girls can from all nationalities can say, “That princess looks like me”, or “That princess looks like my friend”, instead of having to settle with “This princess looks nothing like me.” So let the little girls enjoy their princesses.
attargefe commented on Jun 21 09 at 3:22 pmХм,согласен с предыдущими блоггерами
Споки :-)
Axl Rosenberg commented on Jun 23 09 at 10:27 amI read that there will be an African American prince that will be appearing in a follow-up film that is in development currently. The story details are still vague, but apparently this character will be based on the true story of a Black man, who likes to masturbate in prison.
sumone commented on Jul 07 09 at 12:52 ami think we should embrace what is happening not criticize waltz Disney is trying to change so why give them a hard time why don’t you just try to lead them in the right direction ??? yes there are African american features but not everyone has them that is African american
why don’t you stop judging this movie by the cover and see what it’s about in person
personally i am an african american and when i saw that disney had princesses of every different race other then black i was angry and dissapointed but seeing they are trying to make a difference for what they have done we should embrace it
i also think that the other princeses give courage to little children to be them selfes not matter what happens so why aren’t we looking at the positive here ??
Brittanynoelle commented on Jul 31 09 at 2:34 amYou know, for millions of little kids Disney is like every fantasy coming true in a movie. It opens the imagination I feel. I’m only 18 but I still enjoy watching beauty and the beast or even mulan, because they have happy endings! Real life doesn’t always have that. I know someday in the future my children will have all the Disney movies and even ones I had as a child. I don’t care that now there’s a new princess and she’s a little different. It doesn’t matter to children, they don’t know about racism and other junk. Keep them innocent…it’s just a movie, why are you so worked up about it?
Ri-chan commented on Sep 14 09 at 10:15 pmI think it’s stupid that critics say the charictarization(sp?) in Disney is racist and then turn around and say that the new Disney Princess is “not black enough”. Can anyone say “hipocracy”?
Martinflaps commented on Oct 23 09 at 9:37 pmI don’t know, @Brittanynoelle….can you spell “hypocrisy”?
Kristine commented on Nov 10 09 at 10:59 amMy question for disney is this, if you can take myths and fables from the Japanese (Mulan), Arabian (Aladdin), and Native North American (Pocahontas) traditions to make movies why can you not use a myth from an African culture to create an African or African American princess? The african cutures are wonderful with many beautuful tales which I am sure would be much more appropriate. Rather than taking the stories from another culture (German) and bastardising it to meet your means? Who cares if less people know any African tales? Wouldn’t it be better to embrace and learn about more cultures? (Albeit in a decidedly “disney” way, vus we all know how well they follow the story anyways…)
Matt commented on Nov 26 09 at 9:19 pmI think it’s great that there is a new Disney Princess that is Black or should I say African American? I never quite know what to call “you people” since you are always giving “white people” shit. I’m sick of hearing that there are not enough black people in the world, like they are the light of the universe??? Get the hell over the fact that you got fucked years ago. Why didn’t you fight back against “white people” when they enslaved you? GET THE FUCK OVER IT!
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