In 2006, when Disney first announced they were finally bringing a black princess to the big screen with 'The Princess and the Frog,' it was cause for celebration -- long overdue, yet still worth celebrating.The honeymoon didn't last long.
The first cries of foul came quickly, with critics bemoaning the lead character's announced name and occupation. She'd be a maid for a white family named ... Maddy. When her name and occupation were labeled demeaning (as AOL BlackVoices points out, the moniker bares close resemblance to the ethnic slur "Mammy"), Disney was quick to respond, renaming the heroine Tiana and recasting her as a chef.
Crisis averted.
Until early this year, anyway, when it was revealed that our groundbreaking African-American princess (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) would not in fact be falling in love with an African-American prince. It's unclear what ethnicity her dreamy Prince Naveen is exactly -- his first name is Indian, he's from the fictional land of Maldonia, and he's voiced by Brazilian actor Bruno Campos -- but he's certainly not black (nor white, for that matter, as reported in some camps).
Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at 'Princess'
Outrage ensued, with the popular refrain coming in question form, "We can have a black president in office, but not a black Disney prince?" (It's an interesting contrast to Hollywood's well-documented underrepresentation of black actresses in major roles -- just see the many times Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy have been cast opposite white or Latina love interests.)
Are the criticisms warranted? Or are the reactions excessive? Depends on how you look it at. There are some reasonable questions being asked: In a film set in 1920s New Orleans, where most of the characters are black, why isn't the prince? Why make the princess clearly culturally definable, yet the prince ambiguous? After 70 years of white princes, doesn't the black community deserve a prince to call their own? (And no, we count neither Prince Akeem nor the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in this argument.)
But at the same time, shouldn't we credit Disney for diversifying their portfolio and promoting interracial relationships? Won't this scenario help teach our kids about racial tolerance? Aren't we all just overreacting here? After all, this is an animated movie for kids about people who transform into frogs; the main characters even spend most of their screen time as reptiles amphibians. So should race even be an issue here? In a year that saw Hollywood's biggest moneymaker, 'Transformers 2,' draw justified ire for its inexplicable jive-talking robots, 'Princess and the Frog' has also caught some flak for some of the supporting characters -- a blues-singing lightning bug with missing teeth could easily be seen as stereotypical -- but since when have Disney sidekicks not been over the top? Just see the French (and quite possibly gay) candlestick Lumiere, the flatulent warthog Pumbaa and the scantily clad pixie Tinker Bell.
So the question remains: Does Disney deserve all this controversy? Or is it all much ado about nothing? Tell us what you think.
Reader Comments (2080)
Daniel at 10:18AM on Sep 25th 2009
Yes little girls may admire princesses and want to be like them, but I don't think the same can be said for little boys on princes. I mean I've never heard of or met a little boy who thinks a prince is cool and wants to be like one. Well at least straight boys don't (No offense but the idea of a "dashing prince" sounds pretty gay to me). Generally speaking, little boys tend to idolize and identify with superheros figures such as Superman or Indiana Jones. Ken-doll-like Princes just don't do much for boys as princesses do for girls. Besides it's not like people ever pay attention to the princes in the Disney movies anyway (except for girls that drools over them), so why make such a fuss over them in the first place?
All that being said, I do think disney should have a black male lead character (who doesn't necessarily have to be a prince) featured in at least one of their future movies.
Frankie at 8:14AM on Sep 28th 2009
Daniel wrote, "No offense but the idea of a "dashing prince" sounds pretty gay to me." Although it may sound gay to you, I don't think this is what Disney had in mind. After all, if a dashing prince were gay, he'd not want to carry the princess off to a life ever after, and the only Frenching he'd be doing with her would be her braids.
Caroline at 8:30AM on Sep 29th 2009
I have to agree with you. Sure, maybe they had a Peter Pan costume when they were five. But really, they don't care anymore about Disney movies anymore.
And seriously, who cares? I am excited for a classic Disney movie again. No offense to some, but you would have to be a Confederate in Kentucky to really get mad at this. Kids don't see skin color naturally, little girls notice singing and dancing and magical gowns and jewelry and tiaras. Unless you tell a child, "You can't see that movie because the main characters are black" they really don't care!
P.S. Imagine if the prince was white and the princess was black? Imagine the controversy in that!
Daniel at 4:28PM on Oct 6th 2009
Frankie, I think you misinterpreted my words. When I said "the idea of 'a dashing prince' sounds pretty gay" I certainly didn't mean the prince IS gay. There's no questioning of the sexual orientation of the princes in the disney movies, OBVIOUSLY. WHAT I REALLY MEANT was, it's kinda gay for someone (a boy) to want to be like a male model-looking/girl-rescuing prince charming.
Here's a better example to further illustrate my point: you often hear how girls love and collect the Barbie dolls but you never hear boys do the same with the Ken dolls. A boy who loves Ken dolls? See how gay that sounds? (Again, no offense whatsoever)
Maybe I should've made myself clearer or phrased myself better in the original comment, but hopefully this will help clear things up.
psmith17 at 4:31PM on Oct 17th 2009
Of course it's "gay" for boys to identify with Disney princes. They're too busy with half-naked pro wrestlers.
Reggie at 9:48AM on Sep 25th 2009
Lest we forget, atleast Disney came up with a black animated movie ofr Black Children! Actually, this and The Proud Family Movie. See, They even had a black animated series for black kids. If BET had done this a long time ago, this would not be an issue. And Disney actually had other black male HUMANS. One is John Henry for Disney's American Classics, and Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet from Atlantis the Lost Empire. Anyways, my whole point is black have yet to come up with a black cartoon for kids except for Bruce Smith with "The Proud Family" which IS Disney Property, so we have nothing to say except, "Thank you, Disney, for bringing this project to life!"
Anna at 9:51AM on Sep 28th 2009
I'm replying to Reggie: BET doesn't do much to contribute to positive images for blacks (and by the way, it is not black owned any longer). As far as blacks making movies to represent themselves in a better light, it has been done, the problem is bringing it mainstream. Unfortunately, I believe Tyler Perry and Oprah are the only ones with studios, and they target a different audience. (And some of the movies they make has white lead actors in it).
Shows can be created, but they still must be picked up. And yes, the proud family is a good show, but being the mother of a 7 year old little girl it is nice to have a princess who at least kind of resemble you (just like all the poor little white girls who don't have blond hair and blue eyes like most of the main characters, especially the blue eyes). It helps to build esteem in the formative years, so it is nice to have a mainstream option finally in the movies, frankly I have done my best to keep her from the majority of disney movies, it is everywhere on everything for little girls (with some exceptions, like animal movies, Pocahontas, Aladdin & Tinker Bell)
hi at 4:06PM on Oct 11th 2009
personally, I think BET is a sham. As a black person, I don't feel obligated to only watch things with black people. In fact, it actually does bother me to always see couples of the same race unless the film is about an interracial couple (Guess Who, etc).
when I was a kid, I got voted to be prince charming in my kindergarten class' production of Snow White. we kids didn't see race, and thus there was no reason I couldn't be the prince because of it.
when you look at racial situations, its always the adults causing trouble.
personally, I don't understand you're point. it just seems like you're being pointlessly ignorant. 'at least disney made a black animated movie for black kids?'
last I checked, the movie is for everyone that cares to see it.
I agree with Anna that Disney's use of ethnic characters is great since not all little girls are in fact the blue eyed blonde haired princesses that you'd expect and that really don't represent the vast majority, but the movie with the native american lead isn't made only for native americans.
in my opinion, you're just being ignorant, racist, and a segregationist.
Aegina at 12:36PM on Sep 25th 2009
I couldn't agree more -- they had to be TOLD that having the princess be a maid to a white family was not a good idea? What century do these people live in?
Katrina at 4:43PM on Sep 26th 2009
And Cinderella WASN'T a maid for her sisters?
Snow White was a slave to seven white men, too.
Quit over-analysing everything and let kids enjoy the animated movies.
I've seen plenty of little black and white and brown girls dress up as the princesses and they don't seem to care what color the cartoons are, so why do YOU?
Let the kids be kids -- they are color-blind to the cartoons.
tara at 8:11PM on Sep 26th 2009
if this movie is supposedly set in the 1920s then a colored person serving a white family WOULD NOT be uncommon although slavery was abolished, having a servant of another color was not disney has also had aladdin and brother bear along with pocahontas... just because they dont look a certain color does not mean they arent i have personally seen many whites that look colored also hispanics that look colored or white and coloreds that have appeared hispanic or caucasian so people you all just need to get a grip and look at the time frame that the movie is set in and get over your whole black white issue and allow your children to enjoy a movie that makes them smile!!!
sara at 9:44AM on Sep 28th 2009
I'm sorry tara, did you just say "coloreds?" I am sorry but that is offensive.
dano at 9:41AM on Oct 7th 2009
Yes how degrading to be a maid to a white family. Only people with no self respect would be a maid for a white family. Sounds like you have your own racial issues. Fortunately for all those maids with no self respect, they dont give a rats ass what you think of their profession. Just to eliminate all stereotypes, we should never cast a white guy as a car salesman, a black man as a janitor or a gay man as a hairdresser. After all we know that these people are rarities.(yes that was sarcasm) Tell me: when was the last time you heard a white person complain because a white person was cast as a thief, murderer, rapist, pedophile, drunkard or corrupt politician? GET A CLUE and throw away that box of RACE CARDS!
Meemo at 11:21AM on Sep 28th 2009
Right - because in 1920's New Orleans there weren't any black maids working for white families, eh? Can't have it be historically correct if it isn't politically correct.
Ernesto "Coatl" Alonso at 12:49PM on Sep 28th 2009
About her being a white maid that then turns princess.
I understand that it's a disney movie. But in a story telling perspective, wouldnt you think that would be a great story. Imagine a strong-willed Black women in those times that is working under a white family just to g o on an adventure and show those people that she is more than just a maid and have a climatci ending where she would be come a princess (in any sense of the word). I'd watch it. Besides there were African-Americans working for white people at the time. I wouldnt say that they were better off working for said white people but it would be an interesting setting for the character to start off with.
Jeramy at 2:14PM on Sep 28th 2009
Why does it matter if shee is black, white, brown, yellow green, blue or whatever color. Isn't that the point? it isn't supposed to matter?
karenione at 2:12PM on Sep 28th 2009
Actually, if it is the 1920s, she could be a maid or a cook. Remember, back then black people and women were still held back and discriminated against. But the point is that she is beautiful, funny and a princess. Let her be. Little girls of all colors will love her.
Deb at 4:33PM on Sep 28th 2009
RESPONDING TO Mary Ann at 11:57PM on Sep 25th 2009
who says *There are a lot who are quick to point out racism against "African Americans" right? But who started Black ONLY colleges? But if we have white only then WE are racist?* FIRST, here's Webster's definition of racist: **The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.** Mary Ann, Black's do not see themselves as superior, but rather seek to be seen as equal. Some sincere thought about that might guide you to understanding why the resistance to Disney institutionalizing black inferiority might occur to you. SECOND, In the years following the Civil War, with the 13th Amendment's abolition of slavery and reconstruction in the South, federal land grants were made available to improve education. Only Alcorn State University in Mississippi was created explicitly as a black land-grant college. It would be 28 years before Senator Morrill rectified this problem. The solution came with the second Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1890, which specified that states using federal land-grant funds must either make their schools open to both blacks and whites or allocate money for segregated black colleges to serve as an alternative to white schools. Sixteen exclusively black institutions received 1890 land-grant funds. These were the first of the "historically black college and universities" -- segregated schools created by whites as vestiges of slavery primarily in the South -- which became a source of pride due to the dedication of the attendees, graduates, faculty and staff, many of whom who went on to educate others. It was not until 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act that blacks were ensured the right to vote and that school desegregation offered blacks the option of attending schools with whites, even in the north.
kayla at 7:48PM on Oct 9th 2009
The disney princesses where all some how maids, cinderella, snow white, aurora, belle, they all have something in common a rags to Riches story. they all start out as a maids, they start out as girls with a Dream then something magical happens! and transforms them into a princess. That is the essence of disney, it all starts with a dream. Disney taught us to dream, imagine and believe even when things seem impossible. that is why the characters start from meger beginings.
sue at 2:42AM on Oct 14th 2009
In this the day of double digit unemployment...the lead (black or white) should be glad to have a job! After losing my job due to financially motivated cutbacks a year ago, I'd gladly be someones maid...and I wouldn't give a #*&^ what color the family was.
The problem isn't with the Disney organization it's with YOU and those who also see predjudice and racism in everything. Why can't you "get with it?"