Disney's first "black princess" movie-Fox News reports on the "CONTROVERSY"

[underpants]

Disney Accused of Racial Insensitivity Over First Animated Black Princess
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517917,00.html

The arrival of a black First Lady in the White House (like they just threw this together since November) might have been greeted with celebration around the world, but the similarly historic debut of Walt Disney’s first black princess has not been received so warmly.

The studio, known for its wholesome and predominantly white family values, has made several changes to its first African-American princess, Tiana, who will star in a new animated film this Christmas entitled "The Princess and the Frog," amid accusations of racial insensitivity.

Disney has already changed the profession of the princess (an aspiring restaurant entrepreneur instead of a chambermaid) and name (Tiana instead of Maddy, which critics thought was too similar to “Mammy," a once-common term for black female slaves in white households). Tiana will be played by Anika Noni Rose, who starred in "Dreamgirls," while Tiana’s mother will be played by the talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.

The controversy has intensified after it was revealed that the film would be set in New Orleans and that Tiana would find love with a white prince — well, almost. His skin has been described as olive-toned and he will be voiced by Bruno Campos, a Brazilian actor.

“What? No black prince? What’s up with this?” blogged James Collier on Acting White, an anti-racism Web site, in a posting typical of the general disbelief among the film’s most vocal black critics. “Perhaps Disney doesn’t want the future mothers of dwindling white America being imprinted so early in their lives with the notion of a black suitor.”

Another blogger, Angela Helm, attracted nearly 3,000 comments on the Black Voices Web site when she complained that “even though there is a real-life black man in the highest office in the land with a black wife, Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince."

Until now, the line-up of royal heroines, which includes a Native American character (Pocahontas) and an Asian character (Mulan), was missing something: a black woman. And so the decision was made in the mid-2000s — before anyone outside of Chicago had heard of the Obamas — to make Tiana the ninth princess. (First of all-ever heard of Jasmine from "Alladin" my daughter has :eyes: No one had heard of the Obama's in the mid-2000's?? lastly this HAS to be about the Obama's????)


From the original source the Times of London
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6163710.ece
Executives at the company have tried to play down the controversy. “During the development of any movie it’s common to change titles, character names and story points,” said a source close to the studio who did not want to be named. “The name Tiana evolved with the character. She’s a strong role model for everyone. She pursues the American dream of starting her own business and she does that with a strong work ethic.”

As for the claim that the New Orleans setting and voodoo themes play on black stereotypes, the source said: “New Orleans is an ideal setting for an American fairytale set in the jazz age — it’s all part of the fabric of the story.”

[BlooInBloo]

1. Because everybody knows that the role of Princess demands a white actress.

:rofl:

[XemaSab]

2. Maddy is a slave name?

My dog will be interested to hear that. And she was named after the lead in "Vertigo" too. :eyes:

[underpants]

3. Please tell us how you overcame all the CONTROVERSY

:sarcasm:

[Fuzz]

4. I know I haven't. People are all over the streets here protesting it.

It's also raining frogs and pop-tarts.

[XemaSab]

16. I stayed inside for a few months

but now I wear a bag over my head when I go outside.

[Wednesdays]

5. Leave it to Faux Noise to stir up a tempest in a teapot

While perhaps the individual criticisms are justified, I hardly think Faux News is interested in helping black people or promoting racial harmony, do you?

[underpants]

7. No

I think this is more of a warning to white folks that this movie is "Too black"
AND it is a depiction of how "blacks" just can't get along ;-)

They say there is no such thing as bad publicity :shrug: but I think the marketing people over at Disney know what they are doing especially with Princess material-trust me the synergy of the line is apparently in every single item you buy. I have a 3 yr. old girl I can fully attest to their ability to cross promote.

[Aviation Pro]

6. Speaking from the perspective of someone who has an inter-racial marriage....

...

GO FUCK YOURSELVES FUCKS 'NEWS'!

[underpants]

8. Thank you

:hi:

[empyreanisles]

34. The problem here is that black males get the shaft --- AGAIN.

For some reason mainstream hollywood is afraid of going there. Usually its the refusal to see black male / white female matchups. But this time is especially paranoid because they don't want children to see HEALTHY black-on-black relationships or in general, a black male in a romantic role.

I guess we're only good as comedians and jesters to them.

[sufrommich]

9. "predominantly white family values"

Who knew "family values" were color coded?

[underpants]

12. The headline drew my attention-THAT got me po'd enough to read the whole article

:grr:

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. that caught my eye also

[La Lioness Priyanka]

44. in the treatment of illegitimate children their are major differences between black families and

white families. Black families typically do not ostracize "illegitimate" children or their mothers. infact they are not viewed as "illegitimate" or less worthy than children from married parents.

that is a major difference in real family values. (please dont ask me to quote a source, i learnt this in socio class in 2000 and dont have a source but i am not making it up)

[Occam Bandage]

46. Unfortunately, that's dangerous territory.

Drawing comparisons between cultural treatment of family as relates to childbirth in predominantly black communities and in predominantly white communities is often a ticket to a race-card party.

[alphafemale]

10. "There are black people in Brazil?" nt

[pepperbear]

11. yes, it seems that "Disney WAS Accused of Racial Insensitivity Over First Animated Black Princess"..

by FOX news apparently.

[underpants]

13. No no no it was bloggers

suddenly Fox News loves them some bloggers :eyes:

oh and they were clear at the top and bottom of the article that this was from the Times of London... not us (says Fox News) we didn't say it we are just telling you what THEY said :grr:

Typical stuff.

[eppur_se_muova]

15. The Times of London, now owned by Rupert Murdoch?

Same Murdoch who owns Faux News?

Was that clear at the top and bottom of the article too?:sarcasm:(aimed at Faux, not you)

[Hanse]

14. When's the movie coming out?

I'm wondering if my black daughter's going to old enough to have Disney's first black cartoon princess as one of her first cinematic memories.

[underpants]

18. December 11. Wow that is a long time away-this may be our girl's too

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780521/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. The Disney Pricesses franchise is a license to print money!!!

That it would include a black princess was a forgone conclusion. The whiners are doing just that...

[underpants]

20. Yep. As I posted above everything in the Princess line has cross marketing on it

everything has more than one of the Princesses on it. Usually three.

My daughter is immersed in that right now so everything we get is in the Princess line...or at least it seems that way. Apparently it is impossible to watch Alladin or Cinderella (including the TWO sequels) too many times

[ProgressiveProfessor]

32. You should see it *live* at Disneyland

The little girls are just enthralled and for them its pure joy to get done up as one. The prices are within reach for many and what parent doesn't want their little girls to feel that special. The money machine was running over time and yet all were glad for it. Scary, very scary.

There is a Jedi thing for the boys, but it does not seem nearly so intense or costly

[FLAprogressive]

21. Don't you guys realize just how big of a deal this really is?

:sarcasm:

[knitter4democracy]

22. Isn't Maddy the name of an American Girl doll?

I would bet that the reason they changed the name was over that and worries of lawsuits and cross-marketing stuff. The only company I know that markets anywhere near as well as Disney is American Girl.

[Shell Beau]

23. I would probably think nothing of it if Disney did black princesses a lot.

But if this is their "break out", why in the hell would they NOT use a black prince? It makes no sense to me.

[underpants]

25. I took this as being a minute dissection of the process

I went to the original story because a lot of this is just the development process. Sure, Disney is aware to be careful with this but this is all just a part of any process. Fox News and the Times of London make it appear that it was a constant sudden change process, of course it isn't.

The market for this is not the african-american community ONLY as you surely know. The market is mostly the soccer mom crowd-a continuation of the Princess line which is like printing money. I, you, and most of the parents who bring this into their house are not going to put up with insensitivity or stupidity on the part of Disney.

[Touchdown]

26. Hollywood's already done a black prince

[Shell Beau]

30. Coming To America!!!

:rofl:

Disney should so redo that movie! :rofl:

[Number23]

37. Hi Shell Beau

You should know that after our last conversation, because you've been here longer than me and seem like a nice, Southern gal, I give you full rights to the lovely hamster. :)

Tell Mr. Sniffles I'll love him forever! :hi:

[Shell Beau]

40. Awww!! I don't think he minded being shared!

:P

:hi:

[Kahoneez]

24. Of course its always have to be a black first .

Why not a Latina Princess or Native American or Islander , why , its the same reason virtually every minority on CNN is black , the same reason virtually every minority in a commercial is black , unless its the stereo typical Asian business guys in a group or why CNN never highlights the WORST off group in America , NATIVE AMERICANS ..w/ the worst unemployment , worst health and least coverage .

Just a different perspective .

With the huge number of black movies , black tv SHOWS , IT'S RIDICULOUS TO IGNORE OTHER ETHNIC groups , with basically one latino show in the last 20 years , one asian ...who's really getting culturally screwed and look at ESPN , virtually all of the minority talking heads are black , as well as the pregame shows , no Asians , no Latinos , nada .

I'll take facts first , before hypocritical political correctness .

[dsc]

27. heard of Mulan?

Hint she is Asian. How about Pocohontus? Hint Native American. Just saying.

[prolesunited]

28. Don't confuse the poster with FACTS

that we're actually presented in the article that he/she didn't bother to read. It's all a PC conspiracy designed to keep the white man (and apparently other minorities) down.

[dsc]

29. I admittedly hadn't read the article until after I responded to him

but at least I did know about both Mulan and Pocohontus.

[Richard Steele]

38. Um, does the title "Aladdin" ring a bell?

:shrug:

[Occam Bandage]

43. Pocahontas is Native American, Jasmine is Arab, and Mulan is Chinese.

Blacks are the fourth minority to the Princess party.

[readmoreoften]

31. "white family values..." They're finally being open and honest about it now.

More from the folks in the "White National Capitalist Party" war room.

[TahitiNut]

33. Gotta keep that "Royalty Is Wonderful" (the only hope for happiness) crap going.

:puke:

Disney appalls me with the "some day my Prince will come" and monarchical revisionism.

[Wednesdays]

41. That, and I've noticed in recent years

there's been a shift in emphasis on Disney "princess" products and promotions, in favor of the caucasian-looking princesses (Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White) and away from non-caucasians (Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Esmeralda), and it really bothers me. Very rarely do you see "princess" items that include characters from the second group. It's as though they "aren't really princesses."

"But...but..." the cretins will chatter, "they really aren't princesses, if you think about it!"

Not so...if you take the narrow definition of "princess" (meaning, daughter of a sovereign), then Belle and Cinderella aren't in that category, but Jasmine and Pocahontas are!

Go figure, huh?

[Occam Bandage]

45. Esmeralda isn't part of the Disney Princess lineup.

The only female characters that are part of the Princess branding are those who have some link to royalty, either through birth or marriage. That knife cuts without regard to ethnicity; Alice, Megara from Hercules, and Jane from Tarzan all get cut out. Anyway, I'm not sure where you got your "narrow definition," as my dictionary claims that a woman who marries a prince is a princess, meaning Belle and Cinderella are as much princesses as Ariel and Snow White are. Jasmine and Pocahontas, of course, are part of the Princess lineup.

I hadn't noticed a shift in emphasis towards the caucasian princesses, so I did an Amazon search. While I found plenty of items with Jasmine and Mulan, and a few less for Pocahontas, you're right that the white princesses are the most common. If there are four princesses on a product, they are invariably Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, and Snow White. Aurora seems to be stuck with the non-white Princesses in the B-list. Of course, she's a lame-ass princess. She just lies there her entire movie. Doesn't even get twenty minutes of screen time. Her only purpose is to get kissed. What a role model.

[empyreanisles]

35. The problem here is not the princess, but that black males get the shaft --- AGAIN

For some reason mainstream hollywood is afraid of going there. Usually it's the refusal to see black male / white female matchups. But this time is especially paranoid because they don't want children to see HEALTHY black-on-black relationships or in general, a black male in a romantic role.

I guess we're only good as comedians and jesters to them.

I don't mind them sticking to the story as far as her job and name go. But to not have a black love interest? In New Orleans????

[Number23]

36. Woah

"“Perhaps Disney doesn’t want the future mothers of dwindling white America being imprinted so early in their lives with the notion of a black suitor."

:wtf:

Is that brother getting DEEP or what?? Is this really that serious to him??

[NorthernSpy]

39. OMG -- you mean Fox News looks for obscure controversies to polarize racial issues?

:wow:


OMG, would FOX NEWS really do that?


:sarcasm:

[Occam Bandage]

42. I remember being irritated when they changed her name from Maddy to Tiana.

Maddy, short for Madeline, is a realistic name for a girl in New Orleans in the 1920s. Tiana was not a name common enough to even show up in the census lists until the 1970s. It is a common modern African-American name, but it's about (and by about I mean exactly, given the popularity curves of the two names) as anachronistic as if they were to make the Frog Prince's name Deshawn.