Spring Break
Disney finally creates a black princess
Brittany Lane
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: Forum
A few Christmases ago, I bought the little girl in my life, my best friend's daughter, a Disney Princess toddler bed with the matching comforter set. I bought it from my then employer Toys R Us. I was lucky to get it because it was the hot item for little girls that year; we often were sold out of it.
The bed was the epitome of stereotypical girlishness. It featured three princesses on decals against pink plastic. At the time I remember turning up my nose at the images. Three white princesses. No black faces.
It would be an understatement to say Disney Princess merchandise is a huge success. The line of toys, DVDs, books, clothing and more has sold $3 billion in retail since 1999. The franchise features six main princesses: Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Pocahontas and Mulan are also included in the line, but they often do not appear on as much merchandise as the others.
I watched the princess merchandise, aimed at girls ages 3 to 8, fly off the shelves while working at the toy store. It always irritated me when I would scan a blond-haired, blue-eyed Cinderella doll to be purchased for a little nappy-headed black girl.
Disney has had princesses from almost every main ethnic group except black. Jasmine of Middle Eastern descent was the first non-white princess in 1992's "Aladdin." American Indian Pocahontas was the next in 1995's movie of the same name. Mulan was an Asian heroine in 1998, also in a self-titled feature. Even Ariel represents sea people. Were blacks supposed to be satisfied with the animal characters and the African setting of "The Lion King?"
Finally, 70 years after Snow White, Disney is slated to debut its first black princess. Her name will be Maddy and she will star in "The Frog Princess," set for a 2009 release.
Disney will not release any major information about the story's plot. John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, said the film is "an American fairy tale" set in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The film also will mark the first hand-drawn film since Disney committed to returning to traditional animation.
When I was little, I attached myself to Jasmine. I liked her because, at the time, her skin seemed the closest to my own black skin. With my Mary Janes, frilly socks and dresses (I refused to wear pants), I was a girly girl who often fantasized about being a princess, but I always wondered why none of them looked like me.
Disney shouldn't have waited so long to make a feature-length animated film about a black princess. Little black girls need a princess to identify with. The lack of representation is a negative blow when trying to stress to girls at that impressionable age that dark skin is beautiful and equal in a world that celebrates white women's beauty.
It's too late to benefit me and other black women who grew up on Disney's white princesses, but it will feel great to buy my best friend's daughter Disney merchandise based on this new character.
blane@unews.com
The bed was the epitome of stereotypical girlishness. It featured three princesses on decals against pink plastic. At the time I remember turning up my nose at the images. Three white princesses. No black faces.
It would be an understatement to say Disney Princess merchandise is a huge success. The line of toys, DVDs, books, clothing and more has sold $3 billion in retail since 1999. The franchise features six main princesses: Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Pocahontas and Mulan are also included in the line, but they often do not appear on as much merchandise as the others.
I watched the princess merchandise, aimed at girls ages 3 to 8, fly off the shelves while working at the toy store. It always irritated me when I would scan a blond-haired, blue-eyed Cinderella doll to be purchased for a little nappy-headed black girl.
Disney has had princesses from almost every main ethnic group except black. Jasmine of Middle Eastern descent was the first non-white princess in 1992's "Aladdin." American Indian Pocahontas was the next in 1995's movie of the same name. Mulan was an Asian heroine in 1998, also in a self-titled feature. Even Ariel represents sea people. Were blacks supposed to be satisfied with the animal characters and the African setting of "The Lion King?"
Finally, 70 years after Snow White, Disney is slated to debut its first black princess. Her name will be Maddy and she will star in "The Frog Princess," set for a 2009 release.
Disney will not release any major information about the story's plot. John Lasseter, chief creative director for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, said the film is "an American fairy tale" set in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The film also will mark the first hand-drawn film since Disney committed to returning to traditional animation.
When I was little, I attached myself to Jasmine. I liked her because, at the time, her skin seemed the closest to my own black skin. With my Mary Janes, frilly socks and dresses (I refused to wear pants), I was a girly girl who often fantasized about being a princess, but I always wondered why none of them looked like me.
Disney shouldn't have waited so long to make a feature-length animated film about a black princess. Little black girls need a princess to identify with. The lack of representation is a negative blow when trying to stress to girls at that impressionable age that dark skin is beautiful and equal in a world that celebrates white women's beauty.
It's too late to benefit me and other black women who grew up on Disney's white princesses, but it will feel great to buy my best friend's daughter Disney merchandise based on this new character.
blane@unews.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Michael
posted 3/23/07 @ 11:52 AM CST
Where to start with this one? You do realize, of course, that Disney is NOT making a black princess so that young balck girls have someone to identify with don't you? No, they are making a black princess soley for the purpose of exploiting an untapped market. (Continued…)
Reneau Diallo
posted 12/15/07 @ 10:40 AM CST
I have 4 year old twin grandaughters who informed me that they wanted Disney's Enchanted Vanities for their bedroom. I found the vanity on the internet and thought, conceptually "how cute". (Continued…)
Maire
posted 4/14/08 @ 2:59 AM CST
When it comes down to it, I think we can name four main reasons why Disney has never featured a black princess. First, racism effectively prevented interest in a black princess for the first several decades of the Disney franchise. (Continued…)
Dee
posted 4/14/08 @ 4:23 PM CST
Maybe it would have been better to complain *before* they did the right thing, instead of afterward. Just a thought. When somebody tries to do something good, and all they hear is complaints about how they should have done it a lot sooner, then that does not exactly encourage and motivate them to take the initiative for doing more good things. (Continued…)
Tru Dat
posted 4/14/08 @ 5:34 PM CST
Mmmm hmmm, girrrlfrriend!!!
Shaz
posted 4/20/08 @ 11:29 PM CST
Finally, Disney has decided to create a black princess! I am so glad that this issue is being addressed. My daughter loves the Disney Princess theme products. (Continued…)
Andy
posted 8/02/08 @ 12:50 AM CST
It drives me nuts that there is so much assumed racism. I am a white male with two white daughters. My wife and I have raised them from day one to know that there is no diference between white people, black people, or any other skin color. (Continued…)
Cat
posted 8/10/08 @ 11:51 PM CST
Ok, this article makes me a little mad. I think it's great that Disney is introducing a new, black princess - girls love the Disney princesses and diversity makes me smile. (Continued…)
JClarke
posted 8/19/08 @ 9:32 AM CST
This is in response to, Michael, posted 3/23/07.
I agree with you on the fact that we should look at the morals behind the story. And it's good that you were able to see past color as a child (curious to know if you are Afr Amer or not). (Continued…)
J
posted 8/23/08 @ 12:09 AM CST
Shaz, Nice job trying to convince everyone to continue to feel sorry for Black people and continually cut them slack for all their improprieties. Ahhhh. (Continued…)
Post a Comment