DISNEY’S FIRST BLACK PRINCESS CAN’T FIND A BLACK PRINCE?
Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana are pictured. Some criticize that Prince Naveen is too “white” looking. These critics wonder why Disney’s first Black princess can’t find a Black prince.
Via TheDailyMail:While some have hailed Disney’s decision as a reflection of melting pot America, others say the company is sending out a mixed message. Although the black princess’s love interest in the new animated musical is called Prince Naveen of Maldonia and is voiced by a Brazilian actor, he looks more white than black in photographs from the film that Disney have released.
Since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, all of Disney’s princesses have predominantly been white.
A native Indian princess was featured in Pocahontas and Jasmine in Aladdin had a Middle Eastern appearance. The race row hasn’t yet hit the mainstream because the film’s release date isn’t until late in the year, but Internet chat rooms and blogs have been abuzz with complaints.
One disappointed fan wrote (sic): ‘I think it’s sad that he is white because its saying that black love isn’t good enough and that black men could never be princes. ‘Disney had the perfect chance to make its first black prince, but instead it decided to go the controversial route.’
Another complained (sic): ‘I am very disappointed and I wished Disney had made the prince black,(and the ironic thing is the prince in the movie is white but the evil voodoo villain is voiced by a black actor and is black).’ Since announcing their plans for the first black princess in 2006 the production of Hollywood studio’s 49th animated film has been dogged by racial controversy.
Originally called The Frog Princess, its heroine was to be a chambermaid called Maddy working for a spoilt white debutante in 1920s New Orleans.
But the storyline sparked a backlash from critics who claimed it reinforced prejudice and demeaned black people.
The princess’s original name was perceived by some to be a stereotypical ‘slave name’ and she was also a maid working for a wealthy white boss, which was criticised as being racially insensitive.
Even the New Orleans setting for the film was questioned as it had overtones of voodoo and slavery.
Disney has insisted its choice of a black princess was part of a policy to give characters as much diversity as possible.
@Janae
Wow you said it!!!
Janae, you wrote so eloquently, and right on point. Kay, I also agree with you. I love to communicate with people who have high self-esteem, because then people really understand what a person is trying to really convey, and not assume, or become offended very easily. A certain person on this blog is telling me that I need to wake up, and I am awoke, because only DEAD or ASLEEP people have to have others to do things for them. I do not need a CAUCASIAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN, CHINESE, MIDDLE EASTERN, or any other NATIONALITY of people, and especially, BLACK people to make me feel important. I think that BLACK people give WHITE people too much power over their happiness. Do you know how that makes White people feel to hear that Black people are upset, because THEY did not put them in their films, invite them to their parties, give them an award, and so forth. One reason why I admire people like Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, President Barak Obama, and any other person of color who is doing their own thing, they are not sitting around complaining and crying that someone else is not VALIDATING them. For all the Black people who know that RACISM is so real, then why are you so excited about seeing RACISM? Some Black people love to complain and say that Black people are the only race of people who do not love their own race, but the last time I check, to mix races, it takes a Black person, as well as another race to mix. Therefore, I believe other races of people are doing the same thing. And just a side note, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RACE, BUT THE HUMAN RACE—I learned that in my Sociology class; education is powerful, people perish without it—Hosea 4:6.
They wanted 10 or MORE white people, only 2-4 black people & 2-4 other (you be the judge)
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Maybe they were looking for those specific numbers because they were doing a population demographic survey? Do remember that all non-whites are called minorities for a reason….we are the minority population number-wise.
This is RACIST! What is wrong with having a black female and a white male as a couple in a cartoon movie?! There are lots of movies where the male is black and the female white. Where are the complaints then?!
Hipocritical racists!
I swear people are never happy. These complaints over the skin color of this imaginary prince is ridiculous. On one hand you complain about the lack of blacks in one arena or the other, yet on the other hand still have the nerve to complain when the person who gets exposure isn’t “black enough”.It’s like some black people want to lump all people who have any kind of African ancestry in one race (the black race) yet at the same time have a hard time accepting those people who do not fit their image of a “black person”. People actually had the nerve to complain about Barack Obama when he first began running for president, because he wasn’t black enough! Ha! That’s rich. I’ve been hassled by black people all of my life because I don’t look black enough or because my skin is too light, as in “You need to get a tan”. You know what I say to those kinds of people? “Kiss my ass!” I’ll never apologize for the way that I look. I’m not ashamed of my heritage, or skin color and I won’t play it down to make someone else feel comfortable. But I suppose I shouldn’t really say that for fear of offending someone who may not possess the same features, right? On one hand us fair skinned, lighter, mixed people are good enough to increase the black numbers statistically or when it’s convenient yet we’re not good enough when it comes to us representing the black race in a cartoon. Is that it? As far as I’m concerned that prince could be of mixed ancestry - I have people in my family who look like him and they aren’t white. That’s a major problem with blacks, they are too hung up on inconsequential issues - they are like crabs in a barrel and will never get a ahead so long as they are captivated by the nonsense of skin color, and this imaginary social construct that we call race.
The other problem is the fact that blacks are always waiting for a handout of sorts when it comes to these types of issues anyway. If people are so damned worried about having a black-looking prince why don’t they pool their resources and create their own animated films?
Really, people like to complain! The guy is called Naveen.. That’s a bleeding Middle Eastern or Asian name if I ever heard one anyways, not that it makes a difference.
I don’t care for interracial dating but Disney has lost me for good. I use to have their back when Anime geeks diss American cartoons but are hearing about this white prince foolishness I hope the movie flops. If I had kids they would most definitely not be watching this. Notice how most black men aren’t making a big deal about this but the women are that is great at least I know their is still some black love even with all the gender wars going on. Back to this stupid movie ok why couldn’t they set the movie in Africa during the ancient times or something. Great locations: Egypt, Great Zimbawee Empire, Ghana Empire, & Zulu Nation. Every time black people get something it has to have this civil rights or time for a change BS. I want to see a simple movie with a black on black couple. Then later you can do this interracial crap! People keep bring up Pocahontas but yall fail to understand that it was true story, but this frog movie is fake! So they knew damn well what they was doing. I’m so glad I’m getting enough money to move out of this country because my black women are drinking the Oprah to the head. This is not good black boys & I refuse to raise my future son in this country! Yall no damn well the prince ain’t creole… Also if the prince was black & the princess white yall would really have a fit. Now yall wanna scream grow up… Only if black women could understand good black men & I’m not talking about these thugs/simp boys black women have been lusting for lately…. I hate America & Screw Disney
TLCHILD…speak to me direct (in response to your last comment). Go back & read my comment posted March 19th, 2009 at 10:14 am & reread your following comment & tell me you didn’t comment based on what I or someone else said. I can read between lines & unlike you, I’m comfortable with being very direct. I don’t have to sugar coat or use anyone else to validate what I said because your right about one thing, you don’t know me & correction, I don’t know you. As far as me needing to speak to someone, that’s exactly what I did. I spoke directly to you, the person I intended my message for. Tell me something, did your college education teach you anything about stereotypes? Due to the fact that I spoke my mind, I had to be viewed as an angry, unhappy, black woman with self-esteem issues, that need someone to validate & make me feel important? That’s the typical stereotype of a black woman that speaks her mind. I’m having a discussion just like everyone else. I can’t help it if my conversation may be stronger than what you’re use to. Oh & just in case your wondering, this is the reason why a lot of weak black men end up with other race women because of women like me. They can’t handle the fact that some of us have a mind of our own & aren’t going to set back & go with the flow. I don’t sugar coat things to put you in a comfort zone. No one said, preparing you for the world would be easy once you step outside of that bubble & I offer no apology for that. Plus, I never said you viewed me as uneducated. I was making a general statement as part of my discussion. One of those things that just fell in place. I’m sure your smart enough to grasp that concept since your quoting your sociology courses (within your third party conversation). Don’t mistake me speaking my mind, as some sort of issue I must have with myself. My message clearly went over your head. My discussion was based on black people being more supportive of one another. Now you’re telling me to go out & make movies. Trust me, if my finances were that lavish, I would. Would you? Would you even support it? For now, I’m going to voice my opinion. I’m sure no one on this site has that type of money or they wouldn’t be on here “complaining” either. What makes my statement a complaint & yours right? Is it because I don’t agree with you? I can agree to disagree, that’s what adults do. Do you admire a regular person, besides people in the media (mother, father, etc.)? You can’t learn or value real struggle based on what you see on t.v. At the end of the day (when they turn the cameras off), they’re regular people that makes mistakes also. If you or anyone else wants to step up to the plate & take what I’ve said as complaining verses I have the right to voice my opinion, than you need to open your mind up to not only your opinion matters. I personally don’t care about how a white person feels on what I said because I’m speaking to my “BLACK” people. My message may not be for you! Your statement: I do not need a CAUCASIAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN, CHINESE, MIDDLE EASTERN, or any other NATIONALITY of people, and especially, BLACK people to make me feel important. Why did you say “especially” black people? Sounds to me like you need to check yourself because you have a problem with your own race. I’ve seen this in a few black women, “especially” the one’s that have issues in reference to their black fathers or the way a man did them. How they’re mother may have been treated or the father not being there all together. That’s another conversation though. As far as validation & handouts, I don’t expect anyone to give me anything. I work hard for everything I have. By the way, I’m not a Disney supporter and I hope you don’t think one person woke up one day & built all of Disney by himself. It took support (the point of my messages)! To address your mixing races statement…the only time they want to mix with black is when it has a name/$ sign in front of it. Best believe that white family is not accepting your black behind (generally speaking) with open arms & your a nobody. They’re known for disowning their kids for things like that. To sum it up TL, don’t take what I say as me personally attacking you. This is the internet & we can only respond to each other based upon what we put out. I’ll never know who you are, as you’ll never know who I am.
Love has no color, love is blind and love is the strongest human emotion. They both look very happy with each other. It is a fairy tale, after all, so he can be any race you want him to be and they lived happily ever after.
first of all the dude doesn’t look white to me hes clearly ‘of colour’
second of all his name is naveen, thats a distinctly non-white kind of name.
third of all why should a black princess ‘have to’ have a black prince? stop being so selfish, represent the minorities. my friends mom is black and their dad is middle eastern, its about time they had something to represent their ethnicity.
We should all represent eachother, not just certain races. GOD CREATED US ALL. Remember that!
lol @ the complaints, its a comlete joke.
and arent all the storylines in disney about poor girls/servants etc turning into princesses i.e cinderella, its been one before but no-one complained.
and about the princesses name, if she was called claire, im sure peole would complain thats it wasnt black enough, but is she was calle an african name like feyi(im nigerian lol) then people would have said they are trying to hard to make them black/african.
black people love to complan, why cant they ust be hay that we are being represented, at least the black girl is a BLACK girl, ie wiv black features etc, not like they o with the dolls here they us paint the orignal babes brown n call them black.
YES JANAE!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Maybe the real underlying problem should be address, there are no Blacks in positions of power at Disney, to even express that there is something wrong with their portrayal of various black cultures. And unfortunately there never will be. Disney has a serious cultural disconnect. As for the Prince get over it, most Blacks in America have multi-cultural/ethnic ancestry. It wasn’t until someone white coined the phrase African-American, which makes absolutely no sense, that the richness of our heritage and our struggles became something of a blight.
it has got to start from somwhere, baby steps