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For the most part I'm the first one to push back against "political correctness." I think ideas need to be expressed honestly and then we all know what we're dealing with.But when it comes to children, I am all for books, toys, TV shows and movies projecting the best in human nature. Kids will have to deal with the crappy stuff, like diminished expectations because of their skin color, soon enough.
With that in mind, Disney seems to have been a little tone deaf in its inaugural effort to feature a black princess. According to reports Maddy, some say it sounds too much like Mammy, originally the Frog Princess, was slated to have been a maid to a young white insufferable debutante in the 1920's.
What the hell??? What kind of role model is that for girls? For little black girls?!?! ...
Although I support and honor the long legacy of hard work of domestic workers, I hardly believe such difficult physical labor is the stuff that contemporary dreams are made of. Don't even come at me with Cinderella. That fairy tale was spun decades ago; this is a new day.
Disney has gone back to the drawing board and the initial information sounds promising. The princess' new name is Tiana, no voodoo is involved in her triumphs. I'll wait and see.But now the film studio finds itself fending off a chorus of accusations of racial stereotyping in its forthcoming big-budget cartoon, The Princess and The Frog: An American Fairy Tale, which marks a return to hand-drawn animation.
A musical set in 1920s New Orleans, the film was supposed to feature Maddy, a black chambermaid working for a spoilt, white Southern debutante. Maddy was to be helped by a voodoo priestess fairy godmother to win the heart of a white prince, after he rescued her from the clutches of a voodoo magician.
Disney's original storyboard is believed to have been torn up after criticism that the lead character was a clichéd subservient role with echoes of slavery, and whose name sounded too much like "Mammy" – a unwelcome reminder of America's Deep South before the civil rights movement swept away segregation. Disney's 'subservient' black princess animates film critics, Arifa Akbar
Comments: (133)
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By: Stephanie on 7/27/2008 9:00AM
I applaud Disney for the concept,but agree that it needs alot of work. The princess should have a name like Josephine, Pearl, Clara or Naomi. These are some of the names in my family. I will keep watching to see how this story unfolds.
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By: Darrell on 7/27/2008 9:01AM
Is anyone surprised just look at Disneys history and you will see the chinks in their armor. Correct me if I am wrong but was it not Disney who part of mounting an anti rock and roll music campaigne you know the original blackk influenced rock n roll. I believe they called it jungle music and thought it would lower the morals of white kids who it had beome popular with. I do not know all the particilars of this productions script but would it be a stretch to have this black princess fall in love with a black prince. Or heve their never been any black kings and princes in the world? May sound like we are being overly sensative to these things but the black community has seem more than its fair share of negative subliminal programming.
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By: Joy on 7/27/2008 9:41AM
I agree with so many of the comments except the comment about the princess not having black features. I say give Disney a break. Black people haven't even fully excepted their own features. To all the woman relaxing and burnin their scalps and weaving it all down their backs and the men who love them, The movie industry has taken note. You are trying to look like something other than what you are and the movie industry is just following your lead. Nothing but light skin, long, straight haired or hispanic woman in OUR music videos. At least they gave the girl dark skin and curls!!... thats better than how we depict beauty ourselves!!! Who do we claim as our Godesses?... Halle, Beyonce, and Alica... yea doesn't get any blacker than that!! (please note sarcasm..lol)
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By: Kimberly on 7/27/2008 9:42AM
I have waited 35 years for Disney to finally portay a BLACK character that looked like me as a black woman and now they have to go back to the "drawing board" to get it "right" after the outrage of the black community. One would have thought that in the year of 2008 that the movie script would have been written correct the first time around. I cant wait to see the movie. Black women have advanced much further in the country than to be a chambermaid to a spoiled white girl. And futher more why cant she be saved by a black man!!!!!!
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By: Joy on 7/27/2008 9:49AM
I have to add and agree with another comment I just read... Not every black person has big lips and nose so their princess still represents US... I can't think of too many if any black women in hollywood, music videos, Tyler Perry movies(lol) that we describe as beautiful fitting that description, so why do we expect it from them? Lets start really embracing our own beauty, not just our asses...but our lips, nose and hair before we start demanding it of others.
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By: Teaneck Family on 7/27/2008 10:18AM
We are amongst a major critic who has yet to complain. One of the stipulation Angelina Jolie made before giving consent to be the voice in Kung Fu Panda was...Disney I have a children of color, specifically a daughter who shoudl have positive imagery displayed in your films,etc. Disney agreed to make "A Frog Princess" positive and rich in culture....Cannot wait to hear from their biggest star....ummmm?
In addition, Disney has a history of portraying our people in a negative vein...ie...black crows in Dumbo, the Song of the South, etc. Heck, DisneyWorld and Disneyland would not be opened to us if the law did not semi-protect us from discrimination, racism, etc. Remember those playgrounds represent "lily white middle American"---Walt is probably turning in his grave.
D
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By: justbreathe on 7/27/2008 10:23AM
I think Disney is trying to hard. It's simple really -just ask someone of color for a little advice. And while you're at it Mr. Disney VP in charge of marketing open your ears, your eyes and your mind.
Possible Names:
Ruby, Rosalee, Ella, Maya, Harriet; Beautiful names...beautiful women! Just off the top of my head.
Much Love!
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By: Be Inspired on 7/27/2008 10:51AM
I don't like the name either and why does it have to be that she's a servant to whites. Make it simple and sweet and something that our, African American girls can relate to!My family loves Disney and I hope that they come up with something that will be pleasing to all. America is a lovely name it was my husbands grandmother name.
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By: Mother of Four on 7/27/2008 10:33AM
Why do we care so much about he image Disney portrays of our "Black" woman when we ourselves are disrespecting and exploiting women of color EVERYDAY. Why aren't you demanding that the brothers stop calling us bitches and hoes (whores) and talking underneath our clothes in their art (they call music). Free expression is what it is!!!! That's the reason other races and cultures do not take us seriously. We slander each other (which sets the tone for how other races see us) then get mad when people depict us the way we present ourselves. Truth be told, if I had to choose, I would rather have my little girl be happy being a servant named Maddy than aspire to be a pole climbing Superhead with junk in her trunk. Now disney is throwing it right back at us. Being a servant named Maddy is THE LEAST of the "little Black girl's plight. For a lot of our babies being a maid for some insufferable white girl would be a welcome change to being strung out on drugs or pimped out by some coward who is too lazy to work. BLACK PEOPLE LET'S FIGHT SOME REAL BATTLES FOR OUR LITTLE BLACK GIRLS and when something like a misguided disney movie is in the works, we can sit down with our children and laugh about it.
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By: Be Inspired on 7/27/2008 10:48AM
I don't think she's cute I just think they should the story line should be changed. I don't see anything wrong with her and a white young man either. Come on people it's 2008 we should be past ,that we must date our own race. I simply want the children to relate to the story and we don't have to be poor,single parent,or in thr projects. Not all black people grew up that I know slavery is a part of our history but we're so way past that.That's what Disney need to see in order to make this a success.
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