More Disney Princess Dissertation (CBS News)
CBS News took a stab at the whole Disney's first African-American princess story with their new New Orleans-based "The Princess and the Frog" film. Naturally they discussed both the excitement and Disney's less than stellar track record when it comes to portraying various ethnicities in animation. (*Cough* Song of the South! *Cough*) They also talk about the controversy surrounding the princess' love interest being a Brazilian prince of some sort. Naturally some have argued "what the hell" to there being no black prince. I can see both sides of the argument on this one. On one hand, don't really care that the prince is Brazilian and not visibly black Brazilian. (Yay for the swirl!) On the other hand, Brazilian is pretty fucking random. (The swirl's in here why?)
More story and video after the jump.
I wish so badly I could have been a fly on the wall of that meeting where they decided to make the prince non-black just so I could know what machinations they had to go through to come up with "Brazilian." Was there a list of approved ethnicities? Why couldn't he be just some form of local Creole? Is Creole too hard to explain to people outside of the bayou? Native American -- been there, done that? (Kinda.) French? Was that too obvious? Spanish? Again, too obvious? How does one connect Brazil to NOLA other than they both have really wild parties? (Although I think Carnivale beats Mardi Gras.) I mean, they speak Portuguese there. NOLA was a former French-Spanish port. I'm not getting the connection.
Neither are a lot of people.
For many -- the question is pointed -- if we can have an African American president, why not an African American prince? Inquiring minds (and moms) want to know.
Is it for economic reasons -- that is, the same reason they pair Will Smith so often with a Latina counterpart in his films -- because black couples don't "sell" in Hollywood? Is it because a black prince is just not plausible? Is it because it's high time that we see an interracial couple in a cartoon? Why now is the kiddie conglomerate conveniently color blind? This was a conscious decision on the part of Disney. Why? (AOL Blackvoices)
Of course, some reports say it's just the actor who voices the prince who is Brazilian and that the doodled dude is actually from a made up fantasy place that I'm just going to call "Post-Racial Island," the fairy tale land where none of this shit matters anymore. You know? That place where none of us happen to live.
But I'm suuuuuuure the movie will explain that fantasy island and all our other unanswered questions when it's released. Positive.
Danielle Belton | 40 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged CBS, disney, entertainment, media, pop culture, race, the princess and the frog 
Reader Comments (40)
Dukedraven, as if you need us to get married to white men to get what you wanted anyways- a white woman. Seriously I could care less about black men dating white women because every other crush I'd ever had has been a non-black boy with a black one thrown in ever now and then. I guess Im attracted to the rainbow aswell.
I'm pretty tired of this subject because everyone is talking about it. But here's my two cents. I agree with Danielle Brazilian is a random nationality for the prince character. Straight random, sorry. I don't care what races are prevalent in Brazil or the interconnectedness of music and religion developed from the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. People are definitely grasping for straws as a counter argument. But why is there even an argument, maybe like someone else said Disney has a history of revisionism and racism and sexism so why would I believe anything they are doing is for our benefit.
As someone who grew up with all types of images of white princesses it's great to see a Black princess many young girls can relate to, however I think young black boys also need positive images as well. Now don't get me wrong, I am not looking for Disney to lead the way that begins at home. However I think people have a right to discuss something that can be interpreted as back handed. Why has it taken over 15 years since the first modern Disney princess movies to feature a black princess?
Also can I just say I am sick of black women rallying behind this IR mantra. No one cares who you are dating, seriously you are not important. Please go ahead and be happy and stop championing your dating choices. Some people act like they are prophets warning black women of a dating/marriage armageddon. Seriously it's not that deep. I was of another race I would be insulted if someone kept advocating to date outside the black race like it's a new hobby to try. Date who you want.
Hypnotic, thank you so much. I'm sick and tired of hearing it too. For those black women advocating IR dating: Get a room!
dukedraven is obviously mentally ill.
That's only hearsay, politically incorrect. You have no proof. I demand a retraction immediately or I'll sue for libel. Crazy is as crazy does. Hee, hee.
@ Danielle
My comment about color and Brazil was not so much a lack of awareness of the color issues there, it was more focused on the random nature of Brazil itself, particularly given the heavy French, Spanish, African and Native American influences upon New Orleans culture. Those would be great culture veins the plot and characters could sensibly tap into for reasons jaddadalos already mentioned.
@jaddadalos
Trust me, I am not giving MSM too much credit. But it is sometimes good to be noticed and go enjoy the Disney movie and the world it represents. I will, of course, gird my niece with the necessary information needed to be a black woman in this society. But, it is nice that she will get a princess that looks like her. Plus, my sister says I cannot teach her about the major critiques I have with Disney and the culture it promotes until a more suitable age. So, I will put my blinders on as best I can and spend a lovely afternoon with my beautiful niece.
I really wish the prince was darker-skinned, but I can't really complain because it is nice to have a princess of color for my 2 year old and 4 year old to look up to. For my daughters, at this point, it isn't really about the prince but being the princess. It would be nice to have something to balance out Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty (although my little ones will on ocassion beg to watch some ass-kicking Mulan or Pochontas). Also, our president is still black although he isn't the darkest of the blacks. All I know is that I will be at the movies opening damn weekend complete with the the Burger King/McDonald's happy meal filled with all the Disney commercialism. Disney's blatant commercialism bothers me more now than their obvious race issues.
Maybe there is some secret counter-culturalism on Disney's agenda, like it is okay to be in an interracial relationship. Or, take a look at the first High School Musical? It was clearly suggesting that is okay to break out of gender stereotypes. Even Disney's later princess cartoons, like Beauty & the Beast and Aladdin, featured women who did not want to be stuck in their society-assigned gender role.
For those black men leaning towards foolishness: Get a room. Hee, hee.
@dukedraven... I couldn't resist. I had to mock your tendency to channel The Gloved One's signature falsetto.
Billy Jean's not my lover, she's just a girl. Hee, hee.
Naveen...sounds Middle Eastern? I agree with Danielle that it seems conspicuous to make him non-Black...but still "ethnic".
I think Disney was afraid that if they had an all-black romance, they would lose white audiences due to disinterest, but that they were also afraid of pairing a black girl with a caucasian royal. So Disney went with a proven Hollywood formula: an interracial romance that didn't involve white people. My sense is that conservative white audiences are fine with IR romance...as long as their own race isn't in the mix.
Anyway whatever Naveen is, Tiana is out of his league. He looks like a dark-skinned Fabio. Ew!
Another thing I don't understand...if Tiana's a waitress, how is she a princess? Presumably from marrying a prince, like Belle, but Tiana looks like she is wearing princess gear before she meets the frog prince. Does anyone know more details of the plot?
@Hypnotic:
"Why has it taken over 15 years since the first modern Disney princess movies to feature a black princess? "
Because we're not in the room making decisions about what images to create. Because wealthy Black Americans are not in the room putting their money where their mouth is by creating and promoting positive images that truly represent us. Because average Black folk keep going to movies that are not about US or our culture and rejoicing when Hollywood deigns to recognize us with a Magical Negro or supporting role - See! We exist!
Disney has been talking about this picture for what seems like an eternity. Release it already!
Danielle (French name, are you of Black French descent? I am). Here are some connections involving South Louisiana/New Orleans and Brazil: Both were colonized/settled by Latin Europeans (Latin Europeans= French, Spanish, & Portugese). Both had millions of Blacks introduced into these settlements/colonies. Both had heavy mixing between White & Black, resulting in large mixed-race populations coming to be in both. Both places are majority/heavily Catholic. Both places are widely known as amalgams of Black/Latin European culture, languages, customs, and religion. How's that for you? Ca te plait?
As for the whining about the Prince not being Black. Sheer hipocracy. Never a peep when Black male actors animated and not are paired up with White, Latina, and other non-Black actresses. The Black community supports and actually seems to think that garbage is normal/acceptable. To those whining, I simply say get over it! C'est la vie haha!. I as a Black woman am happy about this movie, and even happier that my nieces, girl cousins, and little sisters FINALLY have a Disney princess who looks like/represents THEM!
It may be that the Prince was a lazy ass and they didn't want to risk the PC police coming for them if they portrayed a black man as lazy, trying to marry a white girl (Charlotte) only for her money. It was easier to keep him of color and not offensive to black people by making his ethnicity a bit of a question mark. If he'd been black and all stayed the same character, this very same post would be a bitch rant about the awful stereotypes the white mainstream media have in their minds when it comes to anyone who's not white - this is a double edged sword. Disney is damned either way.
it's good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was not any proper resource, thanx now i have the link which i was looking for my research.
UK Dissertation Writing