My recent Op-Ed piece titled "Precious and a Princess" kicked up a firestorm.

Some readers were offended because I compared the lives of some Black women to that of Claireese "Precious" Jones's life in Lee Daniel's film Precious -- even though many Black girls live under the burdens of poverty, domestic violence, molestation and, yes, HIV infection.

One reader was upset that I talked about teaching our daughters how to use condoms rather than just encouraging abstinence. I agree we should encourage our daughters to abstain from sex until they are in healthy stable relationships. But there is a large (and growing) body of research showing that teaching our children only abstinence instead of comprehensive sex education that includes abstinence as well as clear safer sex guidelines just leaves them in greater danger of having unprotected sex, putting them at higher risk for HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease. We have a responsibility to ensure our children have every possible weapon to protect them from infection.

There is a scene 10 minutes in to the new Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog," when young Tiana's mom and dad come in to her bedroom to tuck her in for the night. The little girl's father asks what she wants to be when she grows up, and she replies, eyes sparkling, that she wants to own a restaurant with him where they can make his delicious gumbo. Dad beams with pride, and then leans down to kiss his daughter goodnight. His loving, departing message is you can be anything you want, Tiana, if only you believe.

Even if this fairytale -- the first Disney film to ever feature an African-American princess -- ended right there, that imagery alone might have been the most defining moment for many Black girls. That's because sparkling tiaras, frilly dresses and all the other trappings of a fairytale life aside, many of our daughters -- and our sisters and mothers for that matter -- desperately need to be told, "You can be anything you want."