“The Princess and The Frog” – You Buyin’ It?
Abundant controversy surrounds the upcoming release of Disney’s “The Princess & The Frog”, and chances are, it always will. The Disney Corporation is a massive entertainment conglomerate with an 80+-year history of bigotry as well as accusations of disseminating subliminal messages. Secondly, we African Americans are known to be hyper vigilant, with good cause however, but our acute caution often tends to get directed towards each other, and away from the actual source.
To Watch, or Not to Watch?
It’s mind boggling how complicated situations such as these can become. It’s common knowledge that the narrow minds at Disney were up to their usual tricks when they initially planed to present the heroine as a maid named ‘Maddy’ (servant to a White family, of course). The outcry from the concerned Black folk Sector must’ve been pretty fierce; Disney declared her ‘Tiana’, the White folks chef – not maid.
Then there’s an issue because her love interest isn’t Black, or not as Black as she. His name is Naveen, and he appears to be some sort of Arab fellow. Critics expressed outrage that Disney’s first Black princess suffered from the dreaded jungle fever, yeesh.
Also, speaking of hyper vigilance, take a look at the public poster ads for the upcoming film in your community. Have you noticed that there are more promotional pics of that shady looking villain than there are of Tiana, or any other character of the film?
For those of you who are unawares, Disney’s got a formula that works, (by that we mean lining those pockets with copious greenbacks), enabling them to “rule the world” by means of total media domination (if you think this is merely paranoia, click on this). Taking a closer look at their history, the Disney conglomerate does not equate progress and empowerment with profitability. So perhaps the question isn’t whether to watch “The Princess and the Frog”, but how to watch the film. Our suggestion: Keep both eyes wide open.
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Oh good, am glad am not the only one that thought that was a bit of an over-share.
Its amazing to me how adults can find controversy in anything yet children seem to find positivity and joy. Don’t ruin this movie for the children because of “political” views. Everything doesn’t have to be negative and everything doesn’t have to be a battle. There is something positive to be found in every situation. There final is a black princess! Black girls can now look foward to having hopes for a happily ever after! Stop bickering! There are more important issues going on in the world to be upset about rather than getting angry about a black princess having a white arabian prince. The movie reflects todays cultural society. We are all mixed up!!!!!!!! I am a black woman saying to my fellow peers…with love and honesty…grow up! :-)
We were all children first. Part of growing up means leaving naivety back with our toy chest and school books. Why do you think some children believe in Santa Clause, and the adults who foster the belief do not? Everything is a battle unfortunately when it comes to certain things in this country. I’m like you in that I hope it stops some time in our lifetimes, but until then, instead of getting mad, let’s just get smart. We need to allow our people flow freely so maybe one day one of our kids can make a fitting movie worthy of our rich, complex culture and history.
I beg to differ, the content of this discussion isnt “political” its cultural. As a black woman Im from a culture whose identity is drugs guns, sex, poverty, murder, sickness, ignorance etc. Until we overcome many of us will be up in arms about EVERY little thing. We do it for us and for you too, and for the babies, the little black princes that will grow up less fortunate then their counterparts who are culturally sound because of the images they see and dont see. These are the things that shape the soul and our world.
I saw the previews and picked up way too many stereotypes immediately.
I’ll wait for something more innovative in animation. Disney can’t or won’t do right. Personally I’m boycotting and hopefully enough people of color won’t waste their money than complain about it later. It’s too late, no refunds.
We need to move on and not waste time on what pulls us or our children down.
At first I was really excited but then after hearing that
1.) They’re using a European folklore as a base. Guess there weren’t any African folklore with princesses in it.
2.) The Prince wasn’t of African descent. Black man not good enough I guess.
3.) The only active black man in the movie is the VILLAIN. Not that I have a problem with blacks being villains but Disney has a history of people who are darker as being evil and the hero of always being lighter. Don’t deny it. Oh and I saw some more black men in the trailer, but they were just signing and dancing. Basically, they were the extras.
4.) That it’s in America (that was dumb.) America doesn’t reconige any title of nobility. So if that’s the case then how is she a princess? Answer, she NOT! She’s the Princess of Jazz (or something.) Why am I not surprise that all the other Disney princess are either born into it or marry into it. She won’t be.
5.) There is no creativity. New Orleans = Voodo. Real creative Disney. I feel that they pulled this together at the last moment and that they’re trying to hard.
And random though: Why IS the white girl wearing the tiara? O.o? I never notice until now! WTF?
I’m not paying money for this I watching online. And I’ll squirming the whole time. I just know it.
And you know what makes me mad. “It’s just a kid’s movie.”
So apparently because you make movies for kids you can slack off and do a crappy job. Nice.
And it not “just a kid’s movie” these movies will affect our children. People who think the opposite are just plain stupid are they don’t have any kids. Children soak up everything like a sponge. Seriously how dumb are ya’ll?
Just keep making excuses for yourself wrap yourself around that blanket of lies. Whatever helps you sleep at night. SMDH.
What exactly are we nit picking and complaining about here? The prince isn’t white. He is Latino at worst and Creole at best. What is wrong about teaching our little black girls to love other men of color as their brothers? Would that not be a wonderful lesson to have.
And I agree that a maid named Maddy wouldn’t have been the way to go, but they have changed that storyline in response to the black community- something that they didn’t have to do. The fact that Disney has been so responsive thus far in their creative process (at their own financial detriment, btw) makes me feel more confident about the movie, not less.
Also, let us not focus so much on the negative that we forget the positive. Princess Tiana is a beautiful brown skinned woman, an image of beauty that so few of our girls get. She wears her hair in a natural hair style, not a perm (check all the kinks and curls in her up-do). The movie pays respects to Jazz Culture and New Orleans, items of extreme significance to black culture and pride. And her prince is a man of color.
Trust me, I understand the many reasons that as black women we must be defensive about our image in the media. All to often we have ended up getting played. At Disney has a history of racism as long as infinity. But, I think that we need to mindful that sometimes we can be our own enemy. Sometimes its best to trust and remain hopeful. Not everything is going to be the apocalypse.
As a young woman in my 20s who grew up adoring the Disney Princesses and always feeling upset that none of them looked like me, I couldn’t be more excited for Princess Tiana. I am going with my mother (who had to suffer through my “Cinderella is beautiful” phase when I was 3) and my little cousin who is 6. I hope that you all will do the same. If we want more movies depicting us as the royalty we naturally are, then we need to support them when they come out.
Tiana, you look good girl. See you soon.
We complaining and we arent apologizing, do you study psychology at all? Maybe when you find that little blacks boys dont know how to treat women that look like their sisters and mothers because they feel worthless, and insecure, dont know who they are and where the stand in society, forcing the interacial mess that Disney is pushing the light will become clear. While our culture disapeers and we become a mindless race who doesnt overstand Gods love affair with our Melanin.
my dear, you need a hug.
My goodness I agree with your statement 100%. Let’s look at the positive. And, Disney cannot satisfy everyone. I love your comment C. Thank you.
Everyone:
Hate to break it to you…Disney is a CORPORATION….whose primary interest is that of the stakeholders. I give them kudos for recognizing diversity which is what this “creative direction” is about. Lawd a mercy…..they can’t tackle every issue….ethnic/social/cultural groups are very complex. Their job is to create an ENTERTAINING….BLOCKBUSTER….movie that nods gently to race/diversity.
They did a movie about an Asian princess (Mulan), Arabian princess (Jasmine), and an American Indian princess (Pocahontas). I am sure each cultural group may have a gripe regarding the way “their” princess was depicted. Disney can’t please everyone folks.
Can we all (including me) just stop pontificating for one minute and just take the movie industry for what it is….a monolithic corporation whose primary concern is one thing…making money.
Take your kid to the darn movie and think about the most important aspect of the experience….having a great time with your kid.
“Take your kid to the darn movie and think about the most important aspect of the experience….having a great time with your kid.”
lol exactly.!
With an Arabian prince, a caucasion prince, a white prince, and an asian prince. THis was an IRRESPONSIBLE DISS to our black boys.
i REALLY wish we would stop looking for hand outs..it’s getting old, we need to create our own media…that’s the only answer and even then we will probably still have issues and probably criticize even more…i have been seeing a lot of this going on lately…BIG sigh! Disney is not responsible for representing our culture, we are!!!!!!
Ericka,
Excellent point, the bigger issue is why are we not producing, distributing and controling our own images.
When we get our own media we sell it…
Well, if you take into consideration and look at everything as a whole, and create your own media wouldn’t it also be defined as racial? I mean, if there is a movie that has all white people, people gather up and say it is racial. However having a movie nothing but the black community is fine. Doesn’t that seem a little one sided? It’s like saying it is fine for a black person to be racist, but never a white person. Also why is it such a big deal with white and black community. There are more ethnic groups out there as well. There are the hispanic communities, the asian communities, the arab communities. Then those communities have sub communities as well.
Bottom Line is (MY OPINION<- REMEMBER THIS PART SO YOU DON'T GET UPSET):
Parents raise your own damn children and stop depending on the media (not all just some and you know who you are)
People love yourself – if you let the media dictate to you who you are and what you represent then you need to open your mind and heart to love yourself. – Truth hurts ouch…here is a band aid.
To all the people going to see this movie let's make it a top seller at the box office! It is long over due good or bad the Black Princess (Disney Style) is here! – If anyone can do better than you go get a billion dollar company and pay top artist to do the princess your way (Exactly)
*The reason this article was created was for people like ourselves to comment whether it is a movie, cd, or book…so continue to make your comments if you don't like what you see to all those that feel like this is a waste your not obligated to stay, look, or comment…so do you!*
Peaces
Bottom Line is:
Parents raise your own damn children
People love yourself – if you let the media dictate to you who you are and what you represent then you need to open your mind and heart to love yourself. – Truth hurts ouch…here is a band aid.
To all the people going to see this movie let’s make it a top seller at the box office! It is long over due good or bad the Black Princess (Disney Style) is here! – If anyone can do better than you go get a billion dollar company and pay top artist to do the princess your way (Exactly)
*The reason this article was created was for people like ourselves to comment whether it is a movie, cd, or book…so continue to make your comments if you don’t like what you see to all those that feel like this is a waste your not obligated to stay, look, or comment…so do you!*
Peaces
It takes a village to raise a child and our community to raise our community
That is great we have all these solutions only thing is they mean nothing without action i.e. “it takes a village to raise a child” if the solution was so simple then why hasn’t it happened? Once again a possible solution for this may be added after my comment and I say it again; a solution means nothing without action.
Exactly Famous Fya…quit wasting all your time commenting on everyone else’s comments and get out there and do something…ACTION is the key word…why dont you volunteer and work with black boys, etc if you feel that strongly about it. I volunteer im a role model…reach those who you can dont aim for the masses…just reaching one child is a reward.
How about we start one together. Ive just written a movie, we could blaze new paths, faymous fya productionns, or mayabe Clutch could start taking applications for builders, you never know what is meant to come from us.
One Love.
@Faymous Fya – Oh no I’m cool your the one that wants a movie, I’m excited about the Princess and Frog
I don’t oppose Disney because my parents raised me without Disney’s help and taught me that Disney and any other media is only entertainment. I have better things to do for my community then to be concerned about a Disney movie, such as teaching and actually volunteering in the community just like I have been today!!! Not wasting my time on the computer calling people out or commenting about whats wrong with it because they don’t agree with what you think because we are all different. I don’t condemn Disney or anyone else on here, however I’m going to see the Movie and purchase the DVD when it comes out and any other memorabilia for enjoyment and entertainment.
Peaces
Bottom Line is (MY OPINION <-IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OVERSTAND WHAT THE ARROW POINTS TO):
Parents raise your own damn children
People love yourself – if you let the media dictate to you who you are and what you represent then you need to open your mind and heart to love yourself. – Truth hurts ouch…here is a band aid.
To all the people going to see this movie let’s make it a top seller at the box office! It is long over due good or bad the Black Princess (Disney Style) is here! – If anyone can do better than you go get a billion dollar company and pay top artist to do the princess your way (Exactly)
*The reason this article was created was for people like ourselves to comment whether it is a movie, cd, or book…so continue to make your comments if you don’t like what you see to all those that feel like this is a waste your not obligated to stay, look, or comment…so do you!*
Peaces
I am not buying it at all. It’s actually a little scary. The princess is black the prince is not. Why? Of all the places to set the movie they chose a place with a Southern accent. Why? So they can have the black characters using words like uma and gown etc etc? Why not just let them have no accents like Mulan and Jasmine? I mean those stories were set in other countries and the lead females had no accents. My daughter wants to see the movies. I am conflicted about taking her. Do I really want her to see that in order to be a princess you have to find a prince that does not look like you?
I was deeply affected by images like that as a child. I rather not take the chance.
It is scary and I dont think you should take her, this is an oppurtunity for you to show her the real,when she becomes older her soul would have a platform of truth.
What’s wrong with places with a Southern accent? I was born in Indiana but all of my great grandmothers were born in the south! I’m 21, I have lived in Tennessee since I was 6. I get sick and tired of being a southern belle not seen as something disirable. I love being a southern belle! Darn northerners always want everything ya’ll. Now maybe just maybe Disney choose New Orleans to remind all of the little princess down there that they are still beautiful. That through all that they have been through they are still princesses. So, do you want to come and tell a little girl from New Orleans who had her school and home washed away why you believe her home town can not have princesses?!! Every southern mom I have met and go to church with is beyond happy to have a AFRICAN AMERICAN NOT AFRICAN princess and beyond happy that she is southern.
*** There is no way to have a foreign princess with an accent and not be called a racist. Also, did you think that maybe, just maybe, other racial groups were not happy with the accents so Disney removed them?
I remember as a kid watching Aladdin and being very uncomfortable w/ some of the scenes in that movie. (I would cover my eyes or fast forward through those parts). Looking back now as an adult I think Jasmine was too sexy/sensual for a movie designed for children. I think any parent that wants to take their children to see this movie, should see this first w/o the kids (Just to see if it’s got any parts you may not want your kids to see, or may have to explain later that might make you uncomfortable).
Disney is not wholesome. Knowing what I do know about the company I wouldn’t want to give them my money. (But it’s hard to avoid sometimes bc they OWN SOOO many media outlets and radio stations, hell they even have their own grapes and eggs in some grocery stores, but that’s another issue…)
And have to ask why is the princess not going to be with a black prince? Mulan had an Asian man. Snow white/Cinderella/ little mermaid etc had men of their race.
Why did Disney want to make the first Black princess be in an interracial “relationship” “marriage” what have you? Were they trying to kill two birds w/ one stone? Is there a message they want to send to black girls. Even you can grow up to be a princess, and have the Latino, Creole, white, (non Black) prince of your dreams. Hmm I’ll pass.
i took my 4-year old cousin to see the film this weekend and it was very, very cute! i even had tears in my eyes at the end because over all the story is about simply about making your dreams come true. this is one princess who does not just sit on her laurels waiting for Prince Charming OR Prince Naveen.
could it have been a tad more PC? sure, almost everything in media should be. do you think the little kid next to me (who was rockin’ her Princess Belle crown) cared one bit? nope. just saying – i wish i had a Disney Princess that looked like me when i was her age.
But what about the boys? We allow ourselves to be walked on today our children will be walked on tommorow
I like how people say that black people have other things to worry about, as if we cant walk and chew gum at the same time.
oh please! Idk if it’s that some people have had dreadful misery-ridden childhood memories or they are just overly-critical bitter negative curmudgeons because some of these comments are utterly sad & pathetic, to say the least. Some people honestly need to get a grip on life and stop making everything–and consequently themselves– out to be so miserable.
I find this movie to be absolutely charming! :-) Yet another Disney classic that makes me smile and feel warm & bubbly like I did as a child watching Cinderella and the Little Mermaid. What’s even more of a bonus is that this little princess is Black… I’m so excited for the DVD release when it comes and look forward to sharing this movie with my future daughters.
^^You can always find a negro who is willing to take table scraps and smile about it not understanding their owed the whole kitchen.
*yawn*
done enough angry black man b*tching for the day, love? nvm, that was rhetorical. I already know the answer to that… you have a wonderful evening hun. This conversation is finished.
^^^ I’ll take that title it means my eyes are open. Id tell you sweet dreams but it looks like you have been sleep walking your whole life.
actions speak louder than words. All you’re doing is the common run-of-the-mill flapping of your gums complaining and pointing fingers vs productively producing a tangible counterproduct you deem an acceptable reflection of your vision of blackness. It’s so tired sweetheart. But evidently thats all you have to offer.
No Im not the problem, the problem are weak minded blacks who are willing to accept anything fed to them because it is better then nothing and it fufills what ever hole is missing in their lives. Then have the audacity to dismiss the views of others who decided that they have enough pride not to accept what ever is thrown at them. Thats the problem, it’s not black vision it’s called self respect. As for me I am doing something, Im calling them out for it before they drown us all.
I mean, other than making you the average complaining blogger on your narcisstic soapbox and fulfilling requirements for your college sociology papers, what is it that all of these self-loathing enlightening “visions” of yours have physically accomplished for the general American public?
btw, I find you such an entertaining character, so please feel free continue your empty angry diatribes…. (while the Princess and the Frog is still playing in hundreds of theaters nationwide)
“self-loathing enlightening “visions” ”
Really? Self loathing? Self loathing are for those who get happy when there thrown a bone. As for my contribution here it is the pebble in the water that cause a ripple that causes a wave. What the hell are you doing besides accepting the bone?
hahahaha, this whole conversation is giving me the chuckles ;-) you are arguing out of your league love….Beyond being a published researcher and statistician on actual important black issues– such as victims of Hurricane Katrina and well-being of Black girls in America– for a prominent nonprofit organization, I’m serve as a mentor for young black women transitioning from hs to college….
Forgive me, if I’m simply not as bitter of a person as you….
“I also serve as a mentor for young black women transitioning from hs to college….”…..*typo*
Oh the movie will do just fine, the world is full of suckers.
Ok, now I officially can’t be bothered with anymore of you’re verbal shenanigans this evening. You bore me. Besides, I have an early appointment with my aesthetician so I need my beauty rest.
Good night love. I look forward to more of your verbal bitchings in the comment section of future Clutch articles. :-)
Your right I have wasted a lot of time on you, people from a might start to think I am as clueless as you.
And yet for all of that you still cant see the obvious, I wish the best for those girls.
I was laughing at first cuz you were straight clowning her. Then after a while I started to feel really sorry for her cuz I think is really deeply rooted in those beliefs. You should probably back off. She deserves your compassion, not your ridicule.
damn, i meant to say “she is deeply rooted.” Hope you catch my drift. Can’t be mad at people who think table scraps are the move:)