crossposted from Racialicious; written by Racialicious contributor Shannon Prince
Two years ago while I was studying abroad in Paris, my younger sister called me from the U.S. giggling that she had delicious news to share with me. She announced breathlessly that Disney was creating its first black princess movie. Despite the fact that I was a sophomore in college and my sister was a senior in upper school, we all but swooned.
Oh, I had my reservations – as someone who is African American, Native American, Asian American, and English American, it seemed that Disney had misrepresented the better part of my various heritages. I’m not even talking about the crow named “Jim Crow” in Dumbo or Peter Pan explaining that sexual attraction “makes the red man red” – I’m talking about superficially pro-multicultural films such as Pocahontas whose moral seemed to be that the indigenous warriors who fight in defense of sovereignty are just as wrong as imperialists fighting wars of conquest and Mulan which taught the valuable lesson that Chinese people are cool, if misogynistic, but the Huns are a mass of gray-skinned, barely human, rampaging savages. (The Huns were even seemingly identical in many frames, lending credence to the stereotype that the individual members of some Asian ethnic groups cannot be told apart.)
Given Disney’s history, it’s no surprise that criticism of The Princess and the Frog began early. Some elements of this criticism I found more valid than others. At first I saw no problem with protagonist Tiana’s original name “Maddy,” although some people said it sounded too similar to “mammy.” However, once I learned that “Maddy” was a maid, the phonetic similarity between her name and the slave title did seem as though it could be unwieldy. A voice actor’s tongue wouldn’t have to slip very much to say “mammy” while ordering Maddy to do a chore, and in such a context, the name “Maddy” seemed both deliberately inappropriately evocative and easy for the audience to mishear. On any account “Maddy” struck me as decidedly less whimsical and resonant than “Ariel,” which is of Shakespearian provenance, and “Jasmine” which is a treasured flower in the Middle East, but I’m not quite willing to label as Disney racism what might just be my own cynicism. (Disney did not have to name its other six princesses as they had names already from their original fairy tales i.e. Cinderella or from history i.e. “Pocahontas” was the real nickname of Matoaka.)
Just as Disney changed the name of its protagonist to “Tiana” (which, to me, sounds much more appropriate for a fairy tale princess) it has also changed her from being a maid to being a prospective restaurateur. I had been on the fence about our heroine’s role as a southern belle’s maid. Yes, it’s cannon for fairy tale protagonists to begin their stories having low status, but a black heroine who is a domestic could be legitimately read not as a fairy tale trope but a reinforcement of real world racial denigration. Some may claim that it would be historically accurate for a 1920’s black woman to be a maid, but Disney doesn’t even care about historical accuracy when animating actual history (for example, Pocahontas.) Disney films often include generic European landscapes and eras and anachronistic details and social conventions. Let’s consider Beauty and the Beast. Did French peasants like Belle’s dad really have the time and resources to invent complicated gadgets? Should Belle have had access to so many books or even have been literate? If Disney allowed history to delimit their characterizations, at her age Belle should have been out of her father’s home and in her own thatched roof house with a husband and a couple kids– and had far less teeth. Deciding to suddenly be historically accurate while telling a fairy tale about a black princess seems a little suspect. Not to mention after decades of singing candlesticks and flying carpets, it’s a little late in the game to start claiming a commitment to realism.
Although I didn’t agree completely with all the criticism directed at the film, I was disturbed when some whites were angered by some blacks having concerns with The Princess and the Frog, framing Disney, and white society as a whole, as the victims of unreasonable blacks who weren’t content with the gift Disney, and by extension, post-racial America, had given them. It is important to remember that Disney’s aim is not to serve any community but rather its own bottom line. Creating The Princess and the Frog is not a handout to black people any more than all the films starring white princesses were special gifts to white people. We didn’t beg Disney for a movie with a black princess nor is there any onus on us to be content with the movie or any aspect of American society out of gratitude or to remain silent in the face of issues we see as needing improvement because someone decided to throw us a bone. The condemnation of black criticism from some whites suggests that black people are peripheral citizens or customers who are eternally the recipients of aid and should be perpetually grateful.
What’s especially unfair about those who condemn blacks who criticize The Princess and the Frog is that whites, as a race, are not condemned as ungrateful or otherwise for critiquing the numerous white Disney princesses (or society at large.) Whites have taken Disney to task over white princesses’ independence, agency, body size, beauty, and intelligence among other things. There are academics and writers who have built a discipline out of critiquing Disney – particularly its princesses. While some whites now paint Disney as a desperate corporation scrambling to alter Tiana and assuage the endless demands of blacks, they fail to note how Ariel was the headstrong response to white complaints about obedient Cinderella and Belle was the feminist response to white criticism about willing-to-give-up-her-voice-for-a-man Ariel. Whites have made countless demands about their heroines, and Disney has altered their creations in response to those demands. Yet whites also know that if any given princess isn’t pleasing, in a few years another will be created. This is the first and most likely last black Disney princess. After all, while Disney repeatedly makes white princesses, it has yet to create more than one princess from the same minority ethnic group. In that light, it’s important to get Tiana right on the first (and probably only) shot.
Another charge levied at black critics of The Princess and the Frog is that they are trifling to “waste time” getting agitated over cartoons. But the fact is all media, especially those directed at children in their formative years, shape how people see and interact with the world. That’s why fairy tales have morals and Sesame Street has educational value. Children are especially malleable by media because they haven’t or have just begun developing critical thinking skills and are just getting their first and foundational impressions of the world.
Disney recognizes the power of media. The company has often used its films to political ends. For example, Donald Duck was placed in a series of World War II films designed to make children passionate supporters of American troops and enemies of the Nazis and the Japanese army. Then later, Donald Duck was used in the films Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros to promote Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy towards Latin America. Clearly, if cartoons were “just cartoons” Disney wouldn’t make such films.
I have my own concerns about The Princess and the Frog. First, Tiana, the black princess, is paired up with a white prince (or at least a prince who looks white and is voiced by a Brazilian actor who also looks white) who has to save her from a black villain. Some might argue that portraying interracial marriage in film is good – but why then weren’t any of the white princesses given non-white princes to save them from white villains? And since Disney doesn’t give white princesses non-white princes, isn’t this interracial relationship at the expense of black boys who deserve a hero just as much as black girls deserve a heroine? Originally the prince was explicitly reported as being the jazz-loving monarch of a European country. By giving the prince an olive, but still white, complexion and a Brazilian accent, Disney gets to go forward with their original white hero yet make him ambiguous enough to not be unequivocally criticized as white at the same time. Furthermore, there’s a disturbing racial subtext to this plot. As intellectual Gayatri Spivak says, one of the main justifications of colonialism has been “white men saving brown women from brown men.” Here, that racist and sexist notion is invoked. The plot also follows Disney’s pattern of making their evil characters more “ethnic” and darker than their good characters. For example, the Chinese have wheat colored skin in Mulan while the Huns are dark gray. Aladdin is tan with European features while Jafar is brown with Arabic features.
My most serious concern, however, is the way voodoo religion is treated in the film. The prince is turned into a frog by a bad voodoo “magician,” the black villain, and when Tiana’s attempt to save him by kissing him turns her into a frog as well, the two of them must seek the aid of a benevolent voodoo priestess. Most of what people know about voodoo comes from inaccurate information both in fictional entities such as books and films and in ill-informed news stories where in a far-flung country (even one outside of West Africa, the home of Vodoun) the latest depravities of someone labeled a “witch doctor” or the perversely violent beliefs that have taken hold of a population are called voodoo. Voodoo isn’t seen as a specific religion but as a synonym for magic or superstition in a variety of broad contexts. It’s analogous to a film showing white characters adhering to wacky/sinister beliefs a scriptwriter invented and the film referring to it as Christianity or news media referring to any odd or egregious action taken by white people of any faith as Judaism.
Vodoun is a West African religion that was carried by slaves to the Western hemisphere, primarily Haiti and Louisiana, where it became known in its new forms as voodoo. Voodoo is a complex syncretic belief system that draws on African traditions as diverse as those of the Ewes and Dahomeys, the faith of the indigenous Tainos, and Catholicism and Islam. The foundation of voodoo is not charms (which attract the most outside attention) but monotheistic faith, belief in saints and spirits, and a focus on moral values such as charity and respect for the elderly. People do perform rites for protection and defense, but suffice it to say that voodoo is not about being a magician or a fairy godmother. Yet the rites performed in voodoo, when not exoticized and exaggerated past any semblance of accuracy or entirely fictionalized, are typically considered superstitious magic by non-practitioners while rites in Christianity – such as the belief that you can lay hands on people and cast devils out of them or anoint people with oil and heal them – are not.
To underline how offensive The Prince and the Frog’s version of voodoo is, imagine if another religion were treated as a system of enchantment that could be employed for good or for ill. Imagine if the prince had been changed into a frog because a Catholic priest, referred to as a magician, who is wearing a Roman collar but seems to exist in a separate universe from the actual tenets of Catholicism, sprinkled him with cursed water from a baptismal font, and the only way for the prince and Tiana to save themselves was for them to get the pope-wizard to feed them magical communion wafers. It’s because voodoo is an African religious system that it can be treated with such license as though it weren’t a real religion like Christianity or Hinduism.
The last thing that concerns me about The Princess and the Frog might be termed Esmeralda’s Eyes syndrome. In the Disney movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which had its own racial problems, the Romani woman Esmeralda, in the film referred to as a gypsy, has deep brown skin, black hair, and bright green eyes. Now I know that people whose skin isn’t beige, including those among the Romani people, don’t necessarily have brown eyes – my own great-grandfather was a golden skinned man with lovely baby blues, but Esmeralda’s eyes didn’t have the naturalness of Sharbat Gula’s. The vivid aquamarine shade of Esmeralda’s eyes jarred distractingly with her skin. As a child watching the film I was struck by how my sister and I would have had a heroine, or at least a hero’s love interest, with exactly our features if only Esmeralda’s eyes had been brown. So many girls, whether they were Romani, black, Pacific Islanders, or South Asians, could have finally seen themselves reflected in a Disney leading lady if that one small detail had been changed. I felt, rightly or wrongly, as though Disney had made Esmeralda’s eyes green to keep girls like me from identifying with her, to thwart us, to show that in order to be beautiful or worthy of headlining a Disney film you had to have at least one European feature, and animators were determined to provide Esmeralda with one even though it clashed alarmingly with her other features. I felt as though Disney were saying to whites, “Yes, Esmeralda is non-white, but not really.”
How does this relate to The Princess and the Frog? When I read the plot of the film I felt disappointed to learn that the heroine spends a significant chunk of the movie not as a black princess at all but as a frog. After decades of waiting, would it be too much to actually see an hour and a half of a black princess on the screen? I can’t help but think that Disney would never hide a non-black princess away in animal form for a large part of a film – maybe because they never have. This is a fairy tale with a white prince and a black princess who, for much of the movie, isn’t a black princess at all. Perhaps in the scenes where Tiana is hopping around in her toady body whites in the audience will forget how melanin-endowed she was in the movie’s opening and identify with her. Still, I can’t help but wonder if The Princess and the Frog came down with a case of Esmeralda’s Eyes syndrome – if this was Disney’s way of saying to white audiences, “Yes, Tiana’s black, but not really.”
Despite the fact that I’m an arguably political person, I can still remember the elation I felt when my sister told me Disney was making a black princess. Even while I knew about Disney’s poor track record with race, I was willing to put everything aside and start them off with a blank slate. One of my favorite songs is “Part of Your World” and the scene in Beauty and the Beast where the Beast gives Belle the castle library still makes me smile. Disney magic is potent. For many young girls Disney is a primary root of day-dreams and imaginative play. They are invested in the stories Disney tells and the characters Disney invents. Disney’s images, songs, and stories become deeply rooted in American culture and people’s family and personal histories – that’s why a visit to Disneyworld is an almost mandatory event in American childhood and people scramble to get Disney films before they are locked away in the “Disney vault” as though they were precious treasures – for many people they are. The idea of Disney’s prodigious musical and artistic skill focused around a black princess delighted me – so I regret that I’ve had to switch from wonderment to wondering why the trailer reveals that the film’s obligatory animal sidekick is a firefly who is missing teeth – and the ones he has are crooked. (I mean, really, Ariel gets a calypso-singing crustacean, Cinderella has mice that can sew, and the black princess gets a raggedy half-toothless firefly – when she isn’t spending the movie being the animal sidekick herself. Sorry, I’m through with my digression.) Even despite all this the little girl in me who still wants a pair of glass slippers hopes that Disney will get it together and produce a movie worthy of the generations long wait of all the black girls, some of them now grandmothers, who have been hoping for a black princess.
But maybe I’m just believing in fairy tales.
Fantastic analysis and beautifully written.
If I remember right, Esmeralda in the book also had green eyes or got the nickname because of a piece of cut green glass she wore and valued like an emerald. The green eyes were probably given to match the character’s name and because of some reference in the story.
But while we’re criticizing the cartoon, Tiana is a pretty ridiculous name for an African American girl in 1920s New Orleans. The name didn’t exist then. It’s a modern invention from the last couple of decades. If they wanted a prettier name than Maddy, they certainly could have found one that was authentic to the culture. It wouldn’t have been at all odd for a French Creole girl in New Orleans in that era to have a name like Madeleine or Angelique or Solange or any other romantic sounding French name.
White people just being white people. Whether it’s being whipped instead of hung in 1850, or their views on the Disney film, one thing remains the same: They think “you people” should be happy with what you get.
They can’t figure out why African-Americans and other people of color are pissed off. A combination of self-interests, cluelessness, and denial.
This is a great exploration of the implications of this movie. I have been wondering about the prince and I am SO disappointed to hear he will be white. It is beyond time for a Black hero in a Disney film.
To the previous poster, Chris – isn’t a part of being “anti-racist” to avoid making sweeping generalizations about races like you have just done here? Not all white people are self-serving, clueless oafs. In the warranted concerns in this article she was referring to a specific number of people, not all white folk in general.
This is the most well written and thought out piece that I’ve read about this movie. I believe in fairy tales too. I’ve made an effort to steer my son (2 1/2) away from media in general, in part because I want him to have his own imagination, and because either characters that he might identify with are either absent or stigmatized. But its not just him that I’m worried about, its his peers, who’s DVD players I can’t control. How will images of racial minorities, if there are any affect how (or if) they see my son.
I’m currently expecting my second child and I was so happy to find out that it is going to be a girl. But then I realized that I have to be even more vigilant about the media that she’s exposed to. We know that media images can have such a profoundly negative affect on girls and women in general, and I know the genuine frustration to find one person in a magazine or catalog with skin or hair or body like mine.
And maybe it wouldn’t matter if Disney wasn’t so good at what they do. If each movies didn’t also mean tooth brushes, sleeping bags, party decoration, DVD’s, and the toys. Maybe it wouldn’t matter if my daughter would have 5 or 6 princesses that may look a bit like her.
My mother was not an artist but she had several brown colored pencils. Late at night she carefully shaded (some of) the children in my children’s books, heroes and villains, princes and princesses. 30 years later I may have to do the same things.
Firstly I must say that this is a very interesting and well written article. I’m an avid Disney watcher. I’m part of the generation that grew up on Disney and often recites the songs along with my favorite characters.
As a young African American man I understand many of the subliminal messages portrayed in Disney movies, however I must ask, could it be possible that you are searching for signs and symbols of ill-play and racism. Would it really be too much to ask to simply take a children’s movie at face value as oppose to giving a critical analysis of the small joys in life? Am I being naive in my excitement over adding an African American favorite to my vault of childhood memories? As I reflect on my childhood memories I think of sitting around the Television with my siblings and enjoying Disney classics (Period). I don’t reflect on Bells father’s proposed poverty, or the color of Jasmine’s eyes. I relish and enjoy the alternate reality presented by Disney movies. I find it rather annoying that our race as a whole is over critical, but it’s more annoying when critics step into the realm of youth and childhood memories.
I find it agitating that our sensitivity as a race prevents us from enjoying things as minor as a Disney movie.
Last point, after researching and reviewing several articles on this topic; I have yet to find an official statement from Disney as to the race of Prince Naveen therefore it’s left to the assumption of the viewer. Who’s to say that Prince Naveen isn’t Creole, It would fit perfect with the Jazz era, New Orleans setting, and late 1800’s time period. If you where a little more optimistic the prince would easily be Creole, but maybe optimism is just a fairy tale.
Over all this is very interesting, however I think it’s a little too critical.
Though I see where you’re coming from, I don’t agree with your Esmerelda’s eyes Syndrome(?). In the novel Esmerelda was a french child stolen from her mother by gypsies, not Romanian, so that was a change right there. I think that her eyes are green because of her name, she was Esmerelda because of the emerald green bag she wore, the only thing of her real mothers, but, that not being in the mother, they used the green eyes as the ‘emeralds’.
As a side note, in my personal option, blue, green, or speckled and highlight brown eyes on someone with darker skin entrance me, they stand out, and i can’t help but watch them, maybe the eyes were to make her stand out, make you want to watch her, more. Personally I love that look, it’s sexy.
Movie*
I agree with your post!!!… except for one part. The idea of the interracial union of Tiana and her male hero. At first I thought the same thing you did, that a BW should be able to have a BM as her love interest. But at the same time I realize the times we are in. Blacks are Whites are mixing, but we all know the number are skewed. Black men marry White women 3 times more than Black Women marry white. Now the reasons for this are endless but I will say that the self esteeem black women and young black girls is attacked on so many angles, media, relationships, etc. When Black and white interracial relationships are shown its usually black men with a white. In the end while yes, black and black romance would be nice this parring is positive too. I think the black girls are being told that their skin is not beautiful. Black men want white women because they are light, etc. This paring gives the message that you are beautiful and you don’t just need a black man to tell you so. Any race can love you! On the other hand it would be nice for black boys to see themselves with a black woman to know that they can find her beautiful (dark skin and all!) as well….and that they can have a postive, healthy relationship
After that I loved your post and agree 95%!!!
To Ashley:
The writer did not speak against interracial relations, she merely pointed out that while that is good, the protagonist in the princess’ world is white while the antagonist is black. What you are missing is that she suggests that both protagonist and antagonist be of the same race or the hero be black and the villain white.
Regarding the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the name Esmerelda means “Emerald” in Spanish. In Hugo’s book, she wore an emerald paste necklace (see here: http://is.gd/13Klr for a visual example of emerald paste jewelry), which I would think to be quite stunning and memorable. I would say that Esmerelda’s eye color was a choice by the animators to reproduce that jewel’s vibrant color and importance, pointing back to the original text, instead of attributing it to some latent racism inherent in Disney’s films.
Gah! I read this a week ago and missed the updated comments. Katie and I were thinking the same thing – kudos to her!
I’m very excited for this movie and had dismissed claims that Disney was being racist and people were being too sensitive. BUT your explanation was perfect. I’m white, but i felt a similar joy when I saw Belle, a princess with brown hair. I could never play Cinderella because I was brunette.
I hope that this film creates a strong character that generations of women can look up to, but I more fully understand the Black community’s objections. I truly hope it does
I think this article was very interesting and well written. I think that your points were very well thought out and that it is important to remember that the “charges levied at black critics” are not the thoughts of all white people. I came across this post because someone told my coworkers and myself that the new Disney movie coming out seemed incredibly racist. After seeing the preview alone we all agreed and were doing some research on it when we found this. Please remember that the views of the Disney corporation do not reflect the views of all white people. I think it is important to evaluate each person on their own merit and thoughts like that set back equality just as much as racial stereotypes and propaganda. I was hurt and saddened to read the post from Chris Diaz stating “White people just being white people” I feel this breaks the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. This statement is incredibly racist and in no way helps racial tensions in this country. I am sure whoever posted that has been given plenty of reasons to feel this way and is tired of turning the other cheek but I think it is everyone’s best interest to assume the best of our fellow man and work to understand each other and lead by example.
As the white mom of a black daughter, I was torn about the black princess. I loathe the “princess” culture, but I was excited about my daughter having a positive role model and was looking forward to seeing the movie.
It really disappointed me when I found out that the princess was a frog for most of the movie. I mean, honestly. My daughter is supposed to look up to a friggin FROG?? Come on Disney.
Thank you so much for publicizing this view. I had felt like this a few months ago- even discussed it with my partner.
“WHAT!? A FROG!! ”
I hadn’t read any other views that were reflective of mine until now. I grew up in Louisiana and much of the film mirrors the oppressive south (from what trailers and UK reviews I have read.)
I think by making the “star” princess a frog it just further perpetuates this idea that women of color can be victims of animalism- therefore can be “justifiably” objectified.
I was at a movie recently when I saw a preview for this movie. I had not heard a word about it until seeing the preview and turned to my friend and said, “This movie seems pretty racist.” She sent me this link later in the day.
I do not have children yet, so I have not analyzed movies as a mother, but I do teach kindergarten, so I see the effect they have on children . I do feel your points are valid and I agree with you. As a white American woman, I am not able to identify with your childhood feelings, though. As a kindergarten teacher, I have heard African-American girls tell me they don’t have anyone who looks like them in movies. I try to buy quality picture books that represent all children to show them models like themselves. I hope that this movie can redeem itself in the scenes we don’t get outside of previews for those little girls’ sakes. I do not think that all children will notice the omissions or prejudices that you have pointed out, but there will be little girls and boys who may once again be disappointed in their hero or heroine.
Very well written and thought provoking, thank you for this!
Thank you for this thought-provoking article. I was looking around all morning for this.
I have to agree with many of the posters here. I saw the trailer for the movie, and was torn. I was elated to see the black princess, but cringed when I saw what context she had been tossed into. That she is turned into a frog for a while didn’t bother me half as much as the fact that the hero is white and the villain is black. Give me a break, Disney. Not only is the notion racist, but it’s tired and unoriginal.
I’m a young white woman, and I don’t pretend to relate to the image crisis perpetuated by Disney Princesses for women and girls of color. I can only hope that we’re all moving forward, but …ugh…this movie doesn’t feel like a step in the right direction.
Thanks again for your article.
Love what Ms. Van Kerchhove had to say. I too have a diverse background. Both my Grandmothers were Native American, one Apache, the other Cherokee. One Grandfather was Irish, and Black, the other was biracial as well, my point is that we as people wear many labels placed on us by a society of one-ups-manship. Can I degrade this one or that? Many of us would be quite surprised who is in our background.
To be racially degrading as has been apart of Disney for many years, and defies what the Organization claims to stand for. Few if any of it;s shows or movies present people of Color in a positive light. And while I am at it, why was Prince Charming not a Black man? I dare say the two producers of the latest Princess feature have no true friends who just happen to be Black. If they so I hope they are schooled on the sterotypes used in this presentation. Hopefully Disney will get an education as well.
Here’s to hoping for a better future.
I made a similar comment on a blog about the new Authentic Black Barbies, but I really wish someone would teach these people how to use google. Are they not familiar with Placage?!?!?! Granted, it took me WEEKS to notice that connection, but youdathunk they had done more research than I have! Another lovely example of white (corporate) america being completely clueless about the culture and history they’re capitalizing on…
http://wp.me/p4dnb-yF
………It’s all stupid and pointless.. I mean I love Disney movies, especially the princess films. So many people have like dissed this movie because of racism when there is NO racism that exists in it. She’s an African American princess that ends up with a white dude… Oh well. They originally wanted to name her Maddy.. Well that name was pretty but then they had to change it to something exotic.. I’m sure its a great movie, but after so many people complained about it… It’s just like Oprah said, “I am very happy the way this movie turned out, but I’m sad to say with the people’s thoughts and critics remarks, this will probably be the last African American princess film will see.”
It may well be the last African American Princess film we’ll see (kinda like Mulan, Pocahontas, Jasmine, & Esmerelda were the last of their racial/ethnic background), but it’s not because people complained. People have been complaining about the White princesses for years but Disney hasn’t stopped making them.
Do you by chance have a source you could site for that quote?
Someone should tell Melissa and Oprah that the reaction has nothing to do with this likely being the last black princess Disney film we will see. Historically, has there ever been a minority group that has had two Disney princesses? Think before you speak.
What…you’re deconstructing every possibly imagined facet of Tiana’s characterization, but you dont have any problem with the other characters like the two-toothed, Paul Prudhomme-sounding Cajun firefly? All Cajuns are dumb, backwoods simpletons missing teeth, making fart jokes and pokin around the ba-yo in their pee-rous?
He’s the equivalent of the crows from Dumbo, I ga-ron-tee.
This is a very well written criticism. You really did your research and this is very refreshing to read. I came across your essay, when I was researching this movie after a saw a trailer. It really does look like a film that reinforces stereotypes. There are so many things that could have been done right, but just turned out so wrong. It is a shame.
Thanks for a great piece. I’m South-Asian and I was looking forward to another non-European princess in a Disney movie. I gotta tell you, more than anything, I was looking forward to a black prince and a black princess, together. However corny that is, I think it’s important. I think we don’t even think about that issue in the other Disney movies. I was v. confused when my friend told me the prince was named “Naveen” which is an Indian name.
I also didn’t know all these details about the movie–thanks v. much for sharing. I’m going to see it anyway, but I’m on the look-out. It did seem from the previews, however, that Disney really doesn’t know anyone who’s black. I didn’t even know that Oprah consulted for the film, but I will say that I have no respect for her after the vaccine scare she’s stirred up.
I won’t be taking my little Princess to see that movie. We will just youtube Barack, Michelle, Sasha, and Melia to watch real Black royalty instead. I personally don’t buy any Cinderella, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, or Pocahontas merch. My little Princess hasn’t even seen the movies. To me and most Black people, Disney sends a very loud and strong message of racism by excluding Other races from stories about Kings and Queens, amongst other things. But seriously, who even makes 2D cartoon movies anymore? Are they kidding? Disney had to go find old outdated equipment to make that movie. And the Princess is a FROG throughout most of the movie, really??? The previews have a very evil overtone on top of it all. Oh wait, lets not forget that the Prince isn’t even Black, lame lame lame!! It’s just sad that here we are in 2010 with a Black President and Disney is STILL stuck on stupid when it comes to equality. The message they are trying to send to my young impressionable daughter is that she isn’t recognized, relevant, or royalty because of the color of her gorgeous skin that will not even begin to show signs of aging until she is 50 years old ( scientific fact ), just like her mother, grand mother, great grand mother, and great great grand mother. This awesome DNA is to be revered not feared. Thank GOD Michelle Obama is doing such a wonderful job as 1st lady of the US! It’s a good thing that as a mother I teach my princess the real truth of the matter, and she knows about her roots in Egypt. At this point I’m not even going to watch Disney any longer. Sorry Zack and Cody. BTW, every other Black person feels the same way I do, we are all SO disappointed. Shame on Disney.
Melissa – I understand your sentiments, but I have problems with some things in your comment. If I misunderstood, please correct me – but this site is supposed to be antiracist – towards everyone.
“real Black royalty “: I love the Obama family, even if I don’t agree 100% with Pres. Obama’s policies (he’s not progressive enough for my ilk, but he’d have never gotten elected otherwise). But he’s elected. Not king. There’s a lot of be said about American dynastic families, economic and political, but there’s also a lot to be said about real African royalty, past and present. Shoudn’t we focus on that to educate our kids? If you’re into that – personally I want to focus on democracies of various forms, because monarchies only seem to work fairly on a small scale or as very modified constitutional monarchies.
“because of the color of her gorgeous skin that will not even begin to show signs of aging until she is 50 years old ( scientific fact )” -
Maybe that’s your family’s genetics (I’m jealous), but that’s not universal or even exclusive to people of African descent. Come on now.
“Oh wait, lets not forget that the Prince isn’t even Black, lame lame lame!!” – I’d love Disney to have a better track record with all ethnic and racial groups. And the angry cynic in me knows full well why Disneychose a “brown but not TOO brown” male lead. But are you really objecting to an interracial/interethnic pairing? Anyway, according to one-drop racists, someone from Brazil who isn’t FOB is black or at least non-white (which means the same thing to such folks). Also, yay for ablist language?
“every other Black person feels the same way I do,” – I think you mean every other black person you know. There are enough black people I know who don’t see much harm in Disney. They’re not self-hating, just maybe not as analytical or willing to read into the imagery.
@Melissa: I’m a Canadian but I’m so happy to get to do some royalty-watching with you Americans. Your current royalty is inspiring! They’re WAY more inspiring than ours for aboOt 100 reasons. Yay for elocution, elegance, and hope! Thanks for sharing.
@Lyonside: I got a good vibe and food-for-thought from your message to Melissa, too. Thanks for that. I thought some of the same criticisms but the black royalty metaphor for her daughter and the Obamas really did make me feel warm and fuzzy. Not that I think your criticisms were unfair, excessive, or wrong – au contraire!
Maybe my avoiding the critical thinking is wrong, especially because I’m not black and I’m not even from the US; i.e., am I putting my head in the sand (exercising my white privilege)? Or maybe avoiding the critical thinking is right because I’m in no position even silently to criticise a black woman for her thoughts about a black politician and his family (which, d’oh, I’ve already said I did!). I’ll think on it a bit. My head is clearly spinning now.
Lyonside: I called the Obama’s royalty because all eyes are on that family. Forbes just named him the most powerful man in the world. Do I think he is King, no. I think my man is King, and he is. I am indeed Queen, and my daughter is truly a Princess. My daughters self worth is on the line here and it is my duty to build it up to the highest level and protect it. Disney would like to tear it down and have her believe that she is a frog and belongs in a swamp, with a family of toothless people who can’t even speak correct English, and that it would take an evil voodoo master to turn her into royalty. Then once an evil voodoo master saves her she doesn’t belong in the arms of a Black man. I don’t think so!
Now I assume your White, and because you are, you would have NO idea where I’m coming from, and I don’t expect you to.
I’m half White, and the other half of my family ( the White side ) are racist and don’t know it. My White friends never pick up on racism either. So I don’t expect you to.
Back to Barack, yes I voted for him because he is Black, yep sure did, and I’m gonna do it again! Do I like every decision he has made, no! He pushed for the bailout’s, he voted for retro active immunity for the telecom giants who unconstitutionally invaded our privacy, he’s got troops in Afghanistan, I hope Guantanamo Bay shuts down in January, he chose the former president of the FED bank of NY Tim Geithner as our secretary of treasure, and if I get fined for not buying health insurance I’m gonna kick somebody’ ass. However, I am SOOO glad that in midst of being attacked by this horrible movie, real life is telling a completely different story. And that story is that the most powerful man in the world is a BLACK MAN AND HIS WIFE IS NOT ONLY BLACK BUT CHOCOLATE, EDUCATED, GORGEOUS, AND FLAWLESS!!! And while Disney is trying break little Black girl’s spirits, instead, they can look at Sasha and Melia, real American Princess, who didn’t come from poverty, who speak well, have 2 great parents, and live normal lives just like we do. Anyways that’s beside the point.
I’m so sick of Hollywood misrepresenting Black folks, gee wiz!! My little Princess comes form a long line of very well educated, articulate, professional, sharp, loving, and warm Black people who live Godly lives. So she can’t relate to this movie, at all.
And yes hunny, we don’t age! Most Black people don’t. If you have melanin, you just won’t age, it’s really that simple. ” Maybe that’s your family’s genetics (I’m jealous), but that’s not universal or even exclusive to people of African descent. Come on now.” I dare you to start looking in the faces of Black people everywhere and ask them how old they are, you will be shocked EVERY TIME! I still am, we have a saying that goes ” Black don’t crack”, cause it doesn’t! It is very much universal, it started in Africa, is active in every person with it in their DNA. Most are to too scared to look closely at Black people because the media has you afraid to so you would never think of it. My mother is 55 and has NOT a fine line, my grandmother who just retired at 75 as a lawyer just started aging, her mother just died at 99 as a size 2- 4 and her boobs were still perky after 7 children. She wasn’t sick, on meds, or in a old folks home. She lived with her son who is a supreme court judge, and his wife who is also a judge in a mansion in Escondido. On the Black side of my family education, excellence, and achieving, is of utmost importance. We have all done well for ourselves, this is all my 5 year older knows. So for her to watch “Maddy” cleaning houses for a “Souther Belle” is something she cannot and will NEVER relate to. And I’m flat out outraged that most White people still can’t get over themselves, and would make a movie like this for children to absorb. This is below the belt! This lame 2D movie should have stayed in the imagination of the racist’s who thought of such an evil.
And I really don’t care that you called me a self hater because I know I’m not. However there a re a lot of Black people who bought into the Willy Lynch lie and still smoke that pipe, and pass down the mentality to their children, therefore some Blacks do hate themselves because they don’t know themselves. I am not one of those people. In America you have to DIG to find the truth if you want to know your heritage, because it has been hidden and distorted, history is just that His Story, and far from the truth. Once you begin to discover the mysteries this fantastic heritage and get lost in ebony love, you’ll find riches, and the secrets of life, it’s DEEP baby DEEP! AND I LOVE IT!
So anyways I am a whistle blower and I’m blowing the whistle on this fake lame so called princess story. Thanks to Disney I had to go ahead and have the racism talk with my daughter, and explain to her why were we are no longer going to be supporting ANYTHING Disney. Funny thing, right after our talk, we turned to Nick and True Jackson VP was on, HOLLA!
Karen: Hey girl, thank you for sharing your thoughts! And thank you Lyonside for sharing yours too. It’s all just conversation. If you think my words were inspiring then watch this….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPBH57BWhpE
I personally don’t think Disney even deserves to make a Black Royalty movie, cause they are just too damn racist. Seems like they would have gotten inspired from the Lion King where we were depicted as Lions in Africa. That was one of their best selling movies to date! It made grown ups cry. but Disney is hopelessly afraid of anyone non White- so sad, so sad that they can’t let go of their hate and embrace the love they’d find within all races. Oh well. When I make it big I’ll make my own Princess story. Disney can kiss me where the good Lord split me =)
I’ve written Oprah, and Tyra regarding this movie. I also intend on protesting in front of the Disney studios in Burbank Friday Dec. 11 th. I’m going to contact the NAACP, and every media source I can to make it known to Disney that this is unacceptable and wrong. I’m not the type of person that would just lay down and let someone run over me. If we don’t take charge of how the media try’s to represent us, they’ll just do anything. Check out these youtubes of real Black royalty….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHkFFQy5SeI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql_5zYzUA_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOnuT1O_80M&feature=fvw
TO MELISSA: “” but I’m sad to say with the people’s thoughts and critics remarks, this will probably be the last African American princess film will see.”” This will NOT be the last African / African American Princess film we see, believe that! As far as I’m concerned it’s not even a 1st! And if Disney can’t make the movie with as much love, creativity, and advanced technology as they do with their other movies, then please don’t try it again, cause this is a FAIL!
I am an African-American female cartoonist and I originally thought that I was overreacting to ” The Princess And The Frog”s odious trailer; I’ve known about this movie for a two years now and my first animated glimpse was disappointing to say the least. I thought maybe I was making too much out of the clearly racist overtones: that NO Black Disney Heroine could live up to my expectations because I’ve longed to see one for so long, dreamed of creating one myself and even as an adult viewer,looked for myself in the darker-hued princesses while enjoying the fantasy ( Jasmine is as close as it gets). I’m glad I’m not alone in my observations,perhaps someone like me ( Or ‘me’) will just have to create another Black princess fairytale, one that comes with a real Black prince to match !
I have been reading about the controversy surrounding this film for over a year now, and I can see many of the points that have been made. Your article is by far the most eloquent that I have seen and I do not dispute your points. However, I wish that everyone who is writing this movie off as racist had waited to see the entire movie. For example, the Prince doesn’t save Tiana from the voodoo doctor, she saves him and is by far the strongest character in the movie. Also, yes the villain is black, but so are most of the characters in the movie. The two most prominent white characters in the movie are greedy and selfish, and there is a scene with 3 hunters that makes Larry the Cable guy look sophisticated. Also, the firefly does look ridiculous in the trailers, but he turns out to be one of the most intelligent and moving characters in the film. In one scene the prince asks him about his accent and he says that he is Creole and that is how they talk (which is true for that time period). It is unfortunate that they chose such a short piece of his dialog for the trailer, because it isn’t reflective of his character at all.
Lastly, we saw this movie at a limited release party which included a meet and greet with all the princesses. I was thinking how refreshing it must be for the black girls to be able to don a shirt with a princess that looks at least mostly like them as opposed to a white girl. I’m not saying that Disney is great or that having one animated character erases hundreds of years of racist behavior by Americans, but I really think that little girls should be allowed to see and enjoy this movie. If you want to go home and discuss it with them, great, but I think that Tiana possesses many fantastic qualities that I would want my children to see first hand.
The only Disney movies we do in our house that features human beings are Mary Poppins and the Pixar collaborations. No princess movies. I wasn’t big into them as a kid, and my daughter will live just fine without them.
The prince is perhaps white according to our government’s racial categories, but there aren’t very many people of Latin decent that would call themselves white. The prince, for all cultural purposes, is not white. Personally, I think it’s refreshing to see Disney embracing an interracial couple.
I enjoyed your article very much. I have been waiting for a black female character for a long time. I’m brown skinned and the closet resemblences I had were Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Kida from Atlantis, and Pocahontas. I LOVE all the Disney leading ladies from Sleeping Beauty to Belle to Mulan. I definately agree that Disney, not matter how old you are, always fills you with wonder. I also agree that allll of these animated movies do have issues, yet, I love them all.
The point you brought out about there are no black male princes is true. The closet thing my little brothers have as far as a character that looks like them is the character in Atlantis who’s father was black and his wife was native american (love that guy…love that movie). I don’t agree with your take on Prince Naveen however. He is sooo not white. In fact he looks just like my father who is Haitian Creole. My father is fairer skinned and my mother is dark skinned, so for me the characters seems very familiar. I do think Naveen is Creole, his accent sure does sound French. Just because he’s not brown skinned doesn’t make him white.
Being a brown skinned young woman I’ve been very alert. As it is in black entertainment, the video models that are seen the majority of the time as the male musicians “main girl” are fair-skinned with long black locks, while the darker-skinned girls are usually just the dancers (this isn’t the case all the time, don’t get me wrong, but the majority of the time that is what’s seen). As a young girl that always bothered me because it leaves the impression that a woman with a darker skin tone isn’t as beautiful, and as messy as Disney movies are, I was able to give a sigh of relief to see men attracted to darker women. I’ve had a rainbow collection of boys that have liked me as I was growing up and I in turn liked them (black (light skinned and darker skinned), hispanic, oriental, white) and Disney did show kids that you don’t have to look like each other to be attracted to someone. Now, the day that a brown skinned male character is attracted to a brown skinned female character, would be nice to see, but it may not happen anytime soon. Still, we all have to admit that Disney has come a loooong way. But they are a reflection of the general perception of the majority in this country, which has also come a loooong way.
Great article and I am SO pumped to see this movie. I’m 20 years old and I don’t care if none of my friends want to see it because it’s a “kid’s” movie; for me there’s no such thing and I will go alone if I have to!! =)
Naveen could be Haitian Creole, his accent sure does sound French, which my father speaks and sounds like the same as Naveen in the commericials*
The fifth paragraph sets up the basis for the thesis of the article, but specific examples nor quotes from the articles to which she is referring were never provided. She also inaccurately quotes Gayatri Spivak’s ‘Can the Subaltern Speak.’ It is an article that , at its core, addresses feminism NOT white on black racism. The end of Spivak’s article sums up the work nicely, “The subaltern cannot speak. There is no virtue in global laundry lists with woman” as a pious item. Representation has not withered away.
The female intellectual as intellectual has a circumscribed task which she
must not disown with a flourish.”
To Melissa: What I think you should have taken away from Ms. Prince’s article is that she still plans on watching the movie. Her observations are based on previews alone and she still may enjoy the awe and mystique of an African-American Disney princess (see the last paragraph of the article). If I were you, I’d rent the movie and watch it without your child first. If you find that is appropriately whimsical and fun, let her have her princess. If you find it offensive, then don’t let her watch it. I quite frankly thought is was ludicrous that parents did not do this with other movies such as “Up”, “Coraline”, and “9″. Very adult situations indeed. But that is why almost ALL movies should be screened before you allow your children to watch them.
A few other small comments, Cleopatra was of Greek descent. Egypt is not in the middle of Africa it is in the upper right hand corner, thus Egyptians have a unique complexion that ranges from dark to light, most falling in a middle range. And I don’t have problem with her turning into a frog, because they are trying to say that no matter your size or physical limitation you can still save the day. And finally Naveen isn’t Spanish, he is middle Eastern and if he WAS Spanish or any other race for that matter who cares? Children will hopefully not recognize that there is a racial difference between the Princess and her Prince. And if they curiously ask why they are different colors, just explain that EVERYONE has their own unique color and shade.
I don’t know how wrinkles have anything to do with this movie but here you go, http://www.brownskin.net/ageless_black.html.
I would just like to quote you as well “And I’m flat out outraged that most White people still can’t get over themselves, and would make a movie like this for children to absorb. This is below the belt! This lame 2D movie should have stayed in the imagination of the racist’s who thought of such an evil.” -> Really? Most white people? You are asking white people to not be racist but this was an extremely huge generalization. What exactly are “white” people not getting over? You could have made a much more valid point if you didn’t make a racist comment yourself. Its too bad really.
And 2D animation is not outdated. Do you not visit art museums? Do not not have an appreciation for older movies or music? I quite frankly only started to watch 3D movies within the last 2 years, refusing to do so out of some sort of loyalty I felt for the 2D concept. I must admit that I do appreciate the occasional 3D cartoon now and then.
You probably shouldn’t state you voted for Mr. Obama because he was black (even if that were the true reason). I voted for him because he is a genuinely cordial man with a strong educational background, and strong family values. Not to mention the fact that I agree with most of his political assertions. You are taking away from his message by stating that you only voted for him because he is black.
Lastly, before you write any letters or protest the movie I would really suggest watching the movie first. Not to say I won’t agree with you after I myself watch it, but you will be laughed away and taken as a crazy zealot if you haven’t even watched it yet. You need to get some really examples to bolster your arguement. Perhaps bring a paper and pen with you into the theatre for notes. But remember to go into the situation with an open mind. And you do not need to write an article such as Spivak, but pay attention to the number of examples, quotes, and resources she uses to back up her assertions. I don’t think anyone would disregard her opinions after they read her article.
First, I’d like to complement you on your analysis of the film. It is not overtly angry or critical, but offers an in-depth analysis of possible racism in the film.
However, I would like to offer this: The Princess and the Frog is a French fairy tale. This explains the possible reason for Disney choosing the French Quarter as its setting for the film and focusing on the Cajun culture. Now, although there are blatant misrepresentations of voodoo and Cajun culture in the film, it is, above all, a children’s film. Children will, most likely, not recognize these nuances. They will see the film for what it is: an uplifting fairy tale.
We can criticize Disney for their faults but I think as a previous poster mentioned, that as adults we look for these indicators of racism where they sometimes aren’t. Remember the sex clouds and that “good teenagers take off their clothes”? We’re desperate to find the hidden meanings in Disney and I think we sometimes look too hard.
Editor’s note: Danielle, you wrote: “Now, although there are blatant misrepresentations of voodoo and Cajun culture in the film, it is, above all, a children’s film. Children will, most likely, not recognize these nuances. They will see the film for what it is: an uplifting fairy tale.” Children don’t often recognize bias and racism in media, because they are children. And so, these biases about things like African religions get passed along in “harmless” disguise. It is the job of an anti-racist parent to look at media with a critical eye to ensure that our children don’t unwittingly absorb negativity.
I really wish people would stop bashing hand drawn animation, calling it “outdated technology.”
I personally think we have far too much of a glut of computer animated films as it is.
I’m personally hoping for the success of this film so we can have more hand crafted films in the future. If it’s good enough for John Lasseter and Hayao Miyazaki, it’s good enough for me.
People assume that Disney’s being cheap or something when the fact of the matter is movies like Tarzan and Treasure Planet are some of the most expensive animated films ever made, CG included.
There is so much uproar over this movie that it is almoss impossible to watch this movie unbiased. I realize that there are so many concerns over the influence the movie has on kids and rightly so as we all know that the media is in our homes and we can choose to use them as educational tools. But I cant quite help feeling that we as consumers have given these big film studios so much of our attention, time and money when there were so many underrated and unappreciated productions that were released in the past that did a much better job of representing so much diversity in timeless classics that our kids can enjoy. If someone takes the time to read my comment, please google Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for every child. A fantastic HBO production that was amazing in addressing some of the issues we are discussing now. I watched it as a kid and it was brilliant. Google it and see what I mean. Then maybe we can all stop giving this big studios so much attention…..
I am african american and i saw the trailer, i am pretty offended, why the BLACK princess have to be with a white prince? this is certainly not what a lot of blacks want, then why the princess has european features (mouth, nose, etc), why not a real black woman(lips, hair etc)? why is it happening in N.O.(the 911 for blacks, Katrina)? What a poor choice, finally i want to remind that a frog is an animal living in half water, a pretty racist analogy to Katrina blacks living in half water for 1 week. with so much controversy i hope Disney cancels this movie
Have you seen this movie?
Why not write your review after you have seen it, not before?
by the way, The Disney Studio received over 100,000 letters asking why there was no African-American princess in their canon. As you agree, they are out for the bottom line. But they also respond to requests, and a lot of people DID ask for this type of character in a new film.
I’ve not seen it yet either, and am withholding judgment until I do.
I too have hoped and wished for a black princess for ages and I too am afraid of disappointment. Maybe I criticize criticism of this movie because I want to hold on to the idea that my wish has come true…or maybe it’s because I want to know what people think after they saw the movie and not based on assumptions made before they saw the movie…
but then again the mosquito and the man growing a huge butt worries me…in fact since I got over excitement of the movie all I have done has worried that I will be disappointed….
and maybe that’s it too–maybe it took disney so long that no matter what they do all it will be is a disappointment….
I just hope they don’t stop here and take the criticism to improve in the future…because I’m and sick and tired of skinny blond blue eyed princesses…
I honestly think this is the best written analysis of The Princess and the Frog to date. It is so nice to read an intelligent and well-thought out piece of writing, and on the internet that is very hard to find. You sound very educated, and I applaud you for being able to state your opinion in a mature fashion.
As an African-American girl myself, I LOVE that they are finally producing a story with an African-American princess. I already adore Tiana (a beautiful name by the way) and I have no problem with the setting (1920s New Orleans Jazz Age seems like a romantic time period to me). I’m a little disappointed that it took so long, and I feel like The Princess and the Frog might be dethatched from the other classical princess stories because of the 10 year difference in production. But growing up, I always adored Disney classical movies, and although this isn’t part of my childhood, I still think it is a historical moment. I know my mom used to complain about the lack of black representation in Disney princesses. Of course I didn’t notice until I was older, so perhaps that says a lot about my innocence. But I think in this day and age children are more aware of racial differences, and I’m proud of Disney for at least attempting to acknowledge this one.
I do have a few problems with the story though. One of which you mentioned: the color of the prince. Let me start off by saying that I have no problem with interracial couples. In fact, I am an avid supporter of them, and I appreciate Disney trying to advocate such a message. BUT it would be nice if, just once, we could have a good representation of a solid black relationship. I feel like it plays into the stereotype that there are few good black men, and therefore black women must turn to men of other races to find that happily ever after they crave. And as you pointed out, it once again casts the black man as the villain, and the Caucasian-looking man as the hero. It’s disheartening, but I get the message they were trying to bring across: that color does not matter in the presence of love. HOWEVER, I’d like to see the reaction that a white princesss and a black prince would produce in light of this controversy. I have a feeling there would be a lot more distraught white people.
Another issue is the fact that she is a frog for the majority of the movie. I like the explanation you gave for that, and to be honest I never thought of it that way. But I can see what you mean. Her physical frog appearance would make it easier, I think, for white movie-goers to “forget” that she is black and thus make her more relatable to the majority of the population. I do like that they did choose black actors and actresses to play the characters. I don’t expect a perfect representation of black culture at the time, and I won’t take it personally if Disney does mess up (it wouldn’t be the first culture they’ve represented inaccurately). But we cannot forget that Disney has to make this movie appealing to Caucasians while at the same time appeasing African-Americans. It’s a tricky balance.
And on to that subject, I do find it offensive that white people are so quick to slam black people for not being beyond themselves with joy that they finally have an African-American princess. Believe me, I am thrilled, but as you pointed out, there’s this idea that someone is doing black people a huge favor by bringing them Tiana, and that they should be grateful that said person were kind enough to bestow black people with such a great blessing. But like you said, this may be our only chance to ever see a black princess, and I want her to be represented as fairly and as accurately as possible. Caucasians have had their chance, many chances actually, and they have complained through every single one. It’s not a “black” thing to complain when things don’t pan out exactly how you would have wanted; it’s an “American” thing, a “people thing”. I think no matter which direction Disney went, there was going to be someone not thrilled with the results.
Anyways, the movie came out today and I wish it the best of luck in the box office. I really do want it to succeed. And I’m still going to go out and support this movie, not just because it has a black princess, but because it’s a throwback to all those wonderful, romantic Disney stories that I absolutely adored as a child.
This is so well written and I love what you have picked out of your research, and the explanations you provided. I just don’t like it when you say “whites this and that…”. Aren’t you disappointed in “whites” for doing the same thing to blacks? I mean the whole ” The condemnation of black criticism from some whites suggests that black people are peripheral citizens or customers who are eternally the recipients of aid and should be perpetually grateful” spiel, is COMPLETELY TRUE! But its a little harsh when you generalize whites complaining about the other white princesses. I mean aren’t there possible critics of other ethnicities making these judgements, but who are of the same sex? Most of the criticisms you pointed out seemed to be from a more feminist perspective. I think this is something important to think about. You don’t want to be stereotypical yourself when pointing out the stereotypes deeply imbedded within the entire body of this film. Thank you for your analyses, it really has made me think about this movie! Another question you would want to ask though, is how the hell disney makes this movie without being racist? Especially in 1920s America? Perhaps a setting in Africa? I mean, after all look at Jasmine. She is residing where princesses of that state originally did. I think thats the biggest mistake they made.