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There has been a tremendous amount of controversy over 'The Princess and the Frog,' Disney's first animated feature to star a black princess in its 70-year history of princess-making. From her name (changed from Maddy to Tiana), to her racially-ambiguous prince, it seems that no one is satisfied.The Root is adding a totally new nuance to this heap of discontent. , asks the poignant question: Who needs a black princess anyway? She questions the value of "princess" ideals, preferring to give young women a dose of reality to counteract this fantasy.
Interracial Celebrity Couples
Tara Wilson and Chris Noth
The two are the proud parents of a baby boy, Orion Christopher Noth, born in January 2008. They met in 2004 when she worked as a bartender at his now defunct music venue in NYC The Cutting Room.
Monica Morgan, WireImage
Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush
Stars in their own right, these two have risen to tabloid stardom with their very public relationship. While he is a football phenom, she is a gorgeous socialite made famous by a reality show and a racy sex tape.
Johnny Nunez, Getty Images
Seal and Heidi Klum
One of today's most striking 'it' couples, these two first met when Heidi was pregnant with ex-husband Flavio Briatore's child. They were married a year later and now have two gorgeous sons together.
FilmMagic.com
Ice T and Coco
Rapper turned actor Ice T married voluptuous swimsuit model Nicole Austin, known professionally as Coco. The 'Law & Order: SVU' regular and his wife speak often of the secret of their seven year marriage -- great sex!
Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images
DJ Ironik and Danielle Lloyd
Former Miss Great Britain and reality TV star is the on-again-off fiance of MOBO nominated rapper. In October, they were off again -- or it could be a publicity stunt?
Chris Jackson, Getty Images
Cuba Gooding and Sara Gooding
Cuba Gooding has been married to Sara Kapfer since 1994, but the two were high school sweethearts since 1986. The Goodings have three children: Spencer, Mason and Piper.
Giulio Marcocchi, Getty Images
Thandie Newton and Ol Parker
Bi-racial British actress Thandie Newton married her writer/director/producer husband in 1998. The pair have two daughters, Ripley and Nico.
Jon Furniss, WireImage
Iman and David Bowie
Somalian supermodel Iman and rock luminary David Bowie have been married 19 years and have one daughter, Alexandria Zahra -- they make an amazing power couple.
WireImage
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
These two were introduced in 2001 and by 2004 were getting married at an exclusive golf resort in Barbados. The two have two children, Sam Alexis and Charlie Axel.
WireImage
Emma Bunton and Jade Jones
Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) has been with her partner, singer Jade Jones, for nearly a decade. The two have a son, Beau Lee Bunton, born in August 2007 and say they have no plans to marry.
WireImage
does acknowledge that a gorgeous black icon can help blossoming women of all races better appreciate African American beauty. But Fields seems to miss the fact that enjoying a fun childhood builds inner security, allowing one to courageously face adult responsibilities. The beautiful feelings created by fantasies also build tenderness of heart, so one can retain humanity while dealing with life's cruelties.
The Web site's author is too focused on impressing kids in mental infancy with the harsh nature of reality before they are ready. I can understand her not wanting girls to believe the "princess" way is an adult mentality, but why take away the sacred joy of childhood when you are actually a child?
There is much value in a black princess, even one as incredibly controversial as Princess Tiana is proving to be.
More on 'The Princess and The Frog'
+Disney's First Black Princess... Has a Prince Who's Not Black
+'The Princess and the Frog' Poster and Trailer Now Online
+Anika Noni Rose Talks About 'Princess and the Frog' Doll
Comments: (1766)
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By: me on 6/08/2009 10:27AM
here here! Its all about self image, no one else can make you feel good about yourself if you don't feel you are worth the effort or attention. I think that is something Girls as a WHOLE need to learn. Never mind what race they are
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By: Debra on 6/08/2009 1:50PM
I agree with you, but I wish mt parents had told me I was beautiful and that would have helped me with my self esteem. I am dark complexion and short hair. I prayed that my children would not be dark and have short hair because my child hood was terrible. I was called Old Black Thing - Blackie - Baldy Eagor etc.. To this day I wish I were light skin and I'm 45.
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By: youdontwanttoknowme on 6/06/2009 9:52PM
i have no problem with disney making a film about a black princess i have no objection with that. but what i have a problem with is why is the prince non-black. every other disney film that has a princess has same race couples but this one. i'm not buying the bullshyt. yeah make a cartoon about a black princess but forget about the black man. thanks disney thanks for nothing!
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By: Serinitee on 6/08/2009 3:45PM
Awww. That is so true...maybe he's mixed or something :(. And hopefully this movie isn't as bad as it looks with all the strange (slave) dialect and dancing...questionable...
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By: Tparker on 6/08/2009 9:43AM
I would suggest that Disney is trying to kill two birds with one stone, it is far more controversial to have a mixed couple on TV than not, so I would suggest you open your mind a small bit and see what is actually being done here. If you're trying to find major fault in a children’s cartoon I want to remind you, it’s a cartoon, and since no one here knows the storyline yet I don't think any of us can pinpoint exactly what Disney will do with its first mixed couple. (For the record I think the male character should be purple, and they should make him share as many ethnic features with as humanly possible)
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By: Anonymous on 6/08/2009 4:17PM
You must not know your Disney Trivia, or you just like to overlook certain movies. One such example is Pocahontas and I'm pretty sure she and John Smith were not the same race/color. Oh well... I guess I'll leave it to the "experts" to tell it like it is.
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By: R.T. on 6/09/2009 11:24AM
Okay, what's the big deal as to what race the prince is? I mean really, when she kisses him he's a FROG. Now I'm aware that it's part of the fairy tale but if you're gonna complain about a black princess kissing a non-black prince cause you think it sends the wrong message to kids, then why are you not complaining about the princess kissing a frog? Interracial dating is bad but beastiality is okay? Come on people. You can complain about the interracial topic until the end of eternity and even then....NO ONE WILL CARE. Have a nice day.
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By: meme on 6/08/2009 1:24PM
you have spoke so true, where is the black prince come on now
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By: vantina on 6/06/2009 10:57PM
Strong point. Strong point. I'am a beautiful, black
woman, who loves the brothers. I don't care what race you marry, as long as you happy.
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By: Edenic on 6/07/2009 1:08AM
Once upon a time in a land far far away, there lived a beautiful princess. She sat before the mirror and combed her flowing textured dark hair and planned her day. There was a twinkle in her deep brown eyes and a smile on lips in full pout. The sun, filtering through the window danced across her brown velvet skin. She smiled when she heard her name being called from the court yard....Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Her prince had arrived and they had great plans for the day. She continued to brush her hair as she remembered the trials she went through before she became a princess. Rapunzel walked over to the window and leaned out. Her hair flowed in the wind as the Prince approached. He looked up and touched her hair, she laughed quietly as he brushed her cheek with his hand. Ground floor windows are so nice she thought. You see, everyone can have a happily ever after, but lord child it takes both of you working on the happy quota every day.
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