The University News

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. They are doing this not out of some socially concious need to give anyone a role model, they are doing it to get more black people to spend more money on thier products. It is as simple as that, and anyone who thinks differently is either a fool, blind, or both.
Secondly what is this sick need among people of our society, that a fictional character, in a fictional story, must look like "us" in order for "us" to identify with them? If a story has good moral content, and it shows the better side of humanity in any way, why can we not all share in the triumph of this character regardles of his or her physical appearance? I just don't get it.
I had two major influences on my life that were fictional characters as a child. Neither of these looked anything at all like me. One had blond hair and blue eyes, and the other was a man who had disfugured so badly that he must always wear a mask and he was mute on top of that. Both of these characters struggled against incredible odds. They displayed loyalty, perseverance, honesty, faith, and the will to succeed because they knew what they were doing was right. Is our would so screwed up, are our children so screwed up, that these lessons must be taught by a character of every color in the rainbow before everyone can understand them? Lord, I sure hope not. What a sad, pitiful world we must live in if this is true.
I feel that it is the failings of the parents of children not to see past color. It is an enourmous failing. If a child cannot use thier imagination in order to place themselves in the shoes of a character in a story, is it because the author of the story failed? Or is it because the childs family failed to teach them to use thier imagination, failed to teach them that color has no place in a story used to teach a moral lesson?
Last but not least, thank you very much for your last little paragraph. It serves very nicley to prove the point I made in my first paragraph. Disney is out to make money, they want to hit a largley untapped market for them, and you will blindly follow and give them your money. Well done.

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". The only problem was that the three princesses on the vanity are white. I instantly became annoyed! After recently seeing "A Girl Like Me", I could clearly understand how this society continues to reinforce the notion that one has to be Caucasian to be good, pretty or any other positive adjective you may think of.
I googled "Black princesses" and found this website, and the promise of a Black princess with a slave name coming in 2009! So what do I have to wish for? As a poor Black grandmother, who only hopes to instill pride, high self, and self-worth in my granddaughts, I wish that some of our Black movie directors or entreprenuers would step forward and fill this void (sounds like a good project for Oprah!). We must stop depending on others to solve our problems. If no one among us step forward, then let Disney reap the benefits. Despite Disney's ultimate objective, our young daughters will have a Black princess to reinforce the notion that they are beautiful and our little princesses. As for now, Disney only manufactures the Disney Vanity with the White princesses and I will purchase it, but I will ensure that they understand that with their ebony completions, they are our princesses.
Reneau Diallo

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. Second, there is far more money to be made by featuring white characters because this is essentially a white country. Third, minorities are long used to the all-white characters and continue to see Disney movies and buy Disney products, as the alternative would mean disappointing their children.
The fourth reason is something else that is rarely mentioned, though it's related to the second reason. Most people in the U.S. are of European descent, and we grow up hearing the fairytales of our ancestral lands. I cherish my memories from childhood, when my mother would read Mother Goose and Grimm's Fairytales. Every culture has its stories, but these are our stories, and therefore it's what we naturally want to see in movies and on our bedspreads. Princess Jasmine is popular because she's from Arabian Nights. Although not native to Europe, the Arabian Nights stories were transmitted by the Arabs to Europeans centuries ago, and have been part of our fairytale tradition ever since (I remember getting the complete Arabian Nights one Christmas from my uncle!). Pocahontas is there cause she represents the home-grown American connection; as for Mulan, I don't know, except to say that there is definately a European fascination with the East.
Anyway, I know it's prejudiced, I know it's not fair, but remember that Disney is a multi-billion dollar corporation. Most of the people in it are white, so most of the inspiration will be drawn from a European cultural background, because it's who they are, and there's nothing wrong with that. Disney's going to churn out the stories which will translate into the biggest $$$s, and that means featuring princesses that appeal to white people.

P.S. Anyone else wonder why they chose 'The Frog Princess' to feature a black heroine. Why not something like Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters? That's the African Cinderella!

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. Ya know?

Mmmm hmmm, girrrlfrriend!!!

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. But I noticed about 6 months ago that none of the princesses are black. First of all , for those who think that we ( African Americans)should not be concerned about the fact that there are no black princesses, here's my question to you. If all the Disney princesses were BLACK, would their products sell as well as they have. I don't think that it is by mistake that Disney has not produced or marketed a black princess to date. I think that it is a testament to the racism and opression that we as African American face daily. It is "the system's" way stripping out children of their pride and dignity. It is "the system's" way of letting us know that in order to be considered beautiful, you must have white skin and blue eyes. It is " the system's"way of taking the pride of our children away. It is the system's way of telling us that you will never be worthy. It is the system's way of sending subliminal messages to our balck children, robbing them of their pride. So that our children will wish that they had blond hair and blue eyes( because in their minds this is beauty, and this is what a PRINCESS looks like ). Then our children will begin to hate their black skin and wish they were white. And that is how the system works. They start with us as children. They brainwash us to think that having silky hair and light eyes (the european look) is the way to go. And so we rush out and get out hair permed to be bone straight and we get hazel contact ( or lighter depending on how bold we are). And we talk crap about sisters who have "nappy hair". We poke fun about them behind their backs. We pick at brothers and sisters who are dark skinned and we show preference or reverence to lighter skinned brotheres and sisters. This is the systems way of disenfranchising the black race as a whole. The system starts with us as children. They start with small settle messages. In this case it is Disney not having a Black Pricess on any of is products.Then as we get older the messages get deeper. The self hate grow stronger and although with our mouths we say "black pride", in our hearts there is a discontentness with our blackness.

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. It seriously does not matter what color our skin is, it only matters who we are and what we do. If my daughter wants to point out a man who happens to be black, she doesn't say "that black man", she says "that man". It makes me proud that she doesn't differentiate between skin color.
I recently wrote a story for children and I have to admit that I only wrote in white characters. Not because I have any problem with any other skin color, I just wrote about white characters because I am white and that's what I thought about writing. I suspect it is the same with Disney. If most of their writers happen to be white, that's what they think of when they write a story. It doesn't have to be a conspiracy or racism or "a system". Shrek and Fiona are green and Disney has made millions on shrek products. Don't wait for Disney to make you happy. Write a story about a black princess and get someone to promote it. Disney would probably buy it if it gets people's attention.
For the first time ever, we have a black man running for President of the U.S. He may or may not win, but there are not limits just because of skin color.
There are organizations specifically for black/african americans, which is great. But no one would dream of making college grants for only caucasian groups because it would be considered racist. All white people are certainly not wealthy and many could use this kind of help. But there is so much assumed racism that no one would think of starting a white only organization.
It's only a skin color and you are not better or worse than any other person because of what color you are.

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. But there are so many conclusions the author jumps to, so much assumed racism. You cannot convince me that Mr. Walter Disney, while writing Snow White, sat down and thought to himself, "Hmm, yes...all the princesses will be white because I don't think dark skin is beautiful...bwahahaha!" Seriously? And this line really ticks me off: "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." I'm white, and I had white dolls when I was a little girl. But I also had some black dolls - would that irritate the author as well? So, everyone is just supposed to stick to their own skin color when it comes to role models and dolls and things? That sounds like straight up racism to me - in fact, it sounds like all the racism in this article is exhibited by the author, not the Disney corporation.

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). I was raised in the West Indies where people of color and other races besides white, lead. I saw black police officers, Indian firefighters, black prime ministers, etc. There were good people and bad of all color. Our characters were people of color as we read the local stories, our school books were written about people of color as well as white people. But here in America (and I've been here for 16yrs now) the Negro community are at a disadvantage. A stigma still hangs in the air for the Black community. Only 40-50 yrs ago they could not walk through the front door of a restaurant that said "Whites Only". 50yrs is not a long time ago. I believe that the Negro community as well as the white community should get together and create movies that encompass all races or at least the races that make up the community. Imagine if in my little Island only the Indians were represented how much conflict and underlying racism would come out and destroy that beautiful community. And besides, Mr. Walter is taking my money and many other AA, Latino, Indian monies as well.

In response to Cat posted 8/10/08:
Disney is being racist if it is not representing the people in the country (whether they are a majority or a minority) because I'm sure if the Negro, Indian, Chinese, and Latin American community were to boycott Disney, Mr. Walter Disney would definitely feel it. He didn't have to place black skinned characters in Cinderella but he could have shown Chinese, Spanish, Indian. WE WERE HERE. WE ARE HERE. WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. If you were not represented for YEARS in this country you would livid. I want to purchase a backpack for my kids (ages 6.5 and 5) who are starting to have an identity problem because they attend a school that's 80% white, the community is 70% white, the characters on TV (and I'm seriously considering boycotting the cable/TV for this too) are 80% white. And whenever a black person is seen in the news they are shown in a negative light always. Why do I live in a predominantly white community (I can read minds too)? Because it is zoned for the best school in the entire city. So I pay the high price of rent so that my kids don't end up speaking or acting like they are discouraged with life. I have money too. I am willing to purchase Negro characters or good upstanding. I just want somebody, anybody out there to make them. As a matter of fact I think it's time the "minority" of this country boycott producers and their shows that do not represent them in a positive "moral" light as well, or represent them at all.

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......you poor things.

Where are all the Asian dolls?

Besides, when did marketers become "the system?" Mattel, Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley..........AKA, "The System."

There are hundreds of thousands of Black entrepreneurs with enough financing to create Black dolls, Black magazines, Black commercials, etc.

Obviously, you're not one of them.

You're just a Race Pimp.

hi, i'd just like to say theres a lot of arguing on here over nothing. Im a 19 year old mixed race female from the UK and i personally am just happy there's a black disney princess coming out. It's a good thing because now they've got pretty much every race covered so everyone can be happy. In response to Cat, not every race specifically chooses a role model with the same skin colour but at the same time its nice to have the option. If all the disney princesses were black you might feel the need to complain because there was no other option for you.
I just think its nice for everyone to have a choice rather than having no other alternative :)
On that note i'd also like to say im really looking forward to the film coming out and i hope its good, although you guys on the other side of the pond will see it first obviously.
Thanks

p.s. J clarke, could you please not say 'negro' as its a derogatory term. black will do just fine thanks

It's a freaking doll. Who cares? Plus, this article is like 10 years old.

MY LITTLE GIRL IS 9 YEARS OLD. I AM HISPANIC PUERTO RICAN AND LIGHT SKINNED. MY HUSBAND IS A DARKER COMPLEXION THAN I AM. I HAVE 3 OLDER KIDS FROM MY FIRST MARRIAGE. NOW MY DAUGHTER WHO IS 9 IS A DARKER SKIN THAN MY OLDEST DAUGHETR IS LOOKS WHITE.
MY 9 YEAR OLD IS ALSO ATTACHED TO JAZMIN SHE SAYS SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. MY BABY EVEN HAS HER HAIR AS LONG AND DARK AS PRINCESS JAZMIN. SO I AM GLAD THEY WILL FINALLY HAVE A DARK SKIN PRINCESS.

It's about time! That makes me very happy. Thanks for the update.