Disney finally creates a black princess

By: Brittany Lane

Posted: 3/19/07

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