Disney, it is time for a black princess!

[numba1lostboy]

I'm sorry, but I can't make any sense of what you're trying to say.

No one was ever saying Jasmine or Pocahontas were white. No one was ever saying they were the same.
I understand the origin of the word "caucasian," but nowadays it has a different connotation. People think "white, american, of european descent."

Well there is a song that the english men sing and the Natives sing. I know one of the verses is where they call each other Savages Savages Deadly to the core, they're differ from us which means the can't be trusted so its time to sound the drums of war.. I am not sure on the exact name of the song in the Movie Pochontas but in one of the other verses Chief Powhatan says the Following. "The Pale Face is a demon".
Anyway the point I was trying to make is that why would Chief Powhatan Say that refer to the Englishmen as Pale Face demon if they were the same color. Answer is: They are not the same color. Do you understand that?? If you still have no clue pop in the soundtrack to Pocahontas and you will see what I am talking about there is a song with those verses in it. Like I said I am not sure of the exact Name of it though.

My main problem with your post was your grammar. You need to put quotation marks ("") when you're typing in lyrics. The song is called "Savages."

And no one here was saying that they thought the englishmen and the Indians were the same color.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't think it really matters, but I can understand how you feel. As of now, the only female black characters are the Muses from Hercules. Of course, they were basically servants to the other gods in the myths (which really doesn't help Disney in this case). Unless Kida was black? I could never really tell (although it doesn't really matter).

It isn't about being politically correct, it's just trying to show that there aren't only white people in ancient myths and fairy tales. She doesn't even have to be an actual princess (which I think the original poster meant along the same boundaries as Disney has to define "princess" anyway).

[disneyboy20022]

Well there is a song that the english men sing and the Natives sing. I know one of the verses is where they call each other Savages Savages Deadly to the core, they're differ from us which means the can't be trusted so its time to sound the drums of war.. I am not sure on the exact name of the song in the Movie Pochontas but in one of the other verses Chief Powhatan says the Following. "The Pale Face is a demon".
Anyway the point I was trying to make is that why would Chief Powhatan Say that refer to the Englishmen as Pale Face demon if they were the same color. Answer is: They are not the same color. Do you understand that?? If you still have no clue pop in the soundtrack to Pocahontas and you will see what I am talking about there is a song with those verses in it. Like I said I am not sure of the exact Name of it though.

My main problem with your post was your grammar. You need to put quotation marks ("") when you're typing in lyrics. The song is called "Savages."

And no one here was saying that they thought the englishmen and the Indians were the same color.

Hi,
Usually I am better at my computer grammar but I guess I was half asleep when I typed my post about that song from Pocahontas. Also quite sorry for the misunderstanding on my part.

[PrincessJen]

Well I sort of agree but wouldn't it make the film longer to make? Since paper is white you don't need to color in

Are you for real?

Anyhow, I agree, we should have some Black princesses! Of course we'd have to find a story that involves a black princess.

[Wonderlicious]

Well I sort of agree but wouldn't it make the film longer to make? Since paper is white you don't need to color in

Okay, I know that some people have kinda corrected you, but do/did you have any idea how traditional animation is produced? Because it seems like you think that there's an animator getting a coloured pencil and filling in the dull areas of all his drawings, and then shooting the film. Somebody's corrected you about the colouring of skin tones. But for the record, in modern 2D animation since the introduction of CAPS in The Rescuers Down Under drawings are scanned into a computer, which are then put through a colouring process and, also with a computer system, merged with backgrounds. Before that, the drawings were copied and painted by hand onto see-thru cels (well, from 101 Dalmatians to The Little Mermaid, the drawings were actually photocopied), then placed over a background and shot using a special camera.

Also, I'd watch out making comments like that, as some people may mistake you for being racist (I don't think you were trying to be one of these), as it could come off as a smug comment.

As for a black princess, as long as a movie based around one is actually put into production due to a good premise and not for the sake of political correctness regardless of how bad the story is, I'm fine. I must say that I don't regard Disney (or at least today) as discriminative in their output. There is some diversity in the group of princesses (the Middle Eastern Jasmine is the main example, and the oft included Mulan and Pocahontas are Chinese and Native American respectively), and I seem to remember that there is a black fairy in the new Disney Fairies line. Somebody here also pointed out about the highly cosmopolitan cast of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (a Wonderful World of Disney movie from a few years back), which featured a beautiful black princess by having Brandy Narwood as the role of the title character. And as I mentioned a day or two back, Raven, an African American, is a better and more realistic role model than a lot of the other Disney Channel/tween-orientated characters. So, it seems that Disney has truly embraced that multi-culturalism is a good thing, something I also embrace, and I hope many others do.

[numba1lostboy]

Hi,
Usually I am better at my computer grammar but I guess I was half asleep when I typed my post about that song from Pocahontas. Also quite sorry for the misunderstanding on my part.

That's cool. It happens to the best of us.

[mikemgmve]

Disney films, toys, clothing, costumes and other memorabilia can be found throughout modern American culture, as well as being distributed around the world. Disney has become intertwined with childhood fantasies and imaginative play. This Halloween, I saw many little girls dressed up as their favorite Disney princess. Little girls love to pretend that they are a Disney princess. The princesses have become a symbol of femininity, grace and beauty. The Disney princesses can be found everywhere around us, on coats, backpacks, lunch boxes, dolls, and P.J.'s (just to name a very few).

I too have a cute little girl. She is feminine, graceful and beautiful. But unfortunately, there is not a Disney princess for her to imagine being. Why? My daughter is black. Disney has never had a female black character in any of their major motion pictures. All of my daughters friends, whether Asian, Caucasian (in many hair shades), Native-American, or Middle Eastern, have Disney icons to tell them they are beautiful. My daughter and millions of beautiful black girls around the world have been excluded from the Disney Princess Parties.

What message is Disney sending to these impressionable little girls? Why has Disney chosen to ignore such a large American population (not to mention world population)? Almost every other major toy manufacturer in American now produces black dolls. Disney does not have one.

I have created a petition to ask Disney to stop excluding black characters from their princess line-up. The time has come for Disney to move into the 21st century and recognize that black is beautiful too. There are so many wonderful princess stories and folklore from the African continent; surely one of these would merit a cartoon! Lets stop sending the message to our children that only light skin is feminine, graceful and beautiful. There are so many strong black queens and princesses in our past, that our little girls deserve to be included.

Disney, it is time for a beautiful black princess!

If you would like to sign my petition, please go to:

http://www.petitiononline.com/disneybp/petition.html

Thank you! Feel free to forward this on to everyone you know!

Kelly

I'm all for diversity, as I'm apart of one of the most-'hated' groups in the world as well. However, with that said - who has put it in your childs head that she can't be Ariel, Cinderella, Pochahontas, or even Mulan? Young children are beautiful soley for their ability to see past differences like skin color. (Until the world's biases saturate their mind and they begin to feel segregated). I would tell your daughter she can be any Disney Princess she wants to be. I do also support the inclusion of African American characters in Disney's works as well (Raven Simone I think is already a fairley entertaining role model on the Disney channel). I also support the inclusion of all sorts of races and ethnicities... but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character. (even tho I'd bet that a large percentage of their male fans share the same sexual identity).

[Escapay]

but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character.

And yet their theme parks are run by fairies and queens.

(Sorry, it was a really bad castmember joke...)

Escapay

[mikemgmve]

but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character.

And yet their theme parks are run by fairies and queens.

(Sorry, it was a really bad castmember joke...)

Escapay

AMEN!

Seriously - everyday at Disneyland is Gayday. And it actually is one of the few places I feel safe holding my boyfriends hand in public - be it with a red shirt on, or without.

[Disney Duster]

However, I do totally agree with Disney Duster. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I just had to say thank you very much! I didn't think anyone even saw what I posted at the bottoim of page 1.

[singerguy04]

but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character. (even tho I'd bet that a large percentage of their male fans share the same sexual identity).

Well i am def in with that club, but i wouldn't ever think that disney would never make a gay character. in fact, who's to say they havn't created a gay character already? as far as i know not every character has stated exactly what they sexually perfer. And there are plenty of male characters that kinda come off has gay to me. I think the important thing is that disney movies teach kids that no matter who you are, we all belong in a community together whether you are an alien, a flying carpet, a fairy, or a mouse. What matters is what kind of character you are. thats what i've always loved about disney.

[The Little Merboy]

but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character.

And yet their theme parks are run by fairies and queens.

(Sorry, it was a really bad castmember joke...)

Escapay

i'm gay, so i can laugh at that

[The Little Merboy]

However, I do totally agree with Disney Duster. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I just had to say thank you very much! I didn't think anyone even saw what I posted at the bottoim of page 1.

No thank you, I feel it was the best post in this thread.

[mikemgmve]

but I doubt Disney will ever embrace a gay character. (even tho I'd bet that a large percentage of their male fans share the same sexual identity).

Well i am def in with that club, but i wouldn't ever think that disney would never make a gay character. in fact, who's to say they havn't created a gay character already? as far as i know not every character has stated exactly what they sexually perfer. And there are plenty of male characters that kinda come off has gay to me. I think the important thing is that disney movies teach kids that no matter who you are, we all belong in a community together whether you are an alien, a flying carpet, a fairy, or a mouse. What matters is what kind of character you are. thats what i've always loved about disney.

Well there's a difference between having characters who have gay inflections - thats in practically everu disney movie. However, it being apart of the story is not likely to happen. Not as long as there are still people out there who think we're living some form of disgusting lifestyle as a choice. It's not a choice. Allthough, I can say that if it were a choice, knowing I would have the guy I have in my life now - I would take that path. Okay, enough off-topic-ness.

How bout Song of the South as a role-model? no...? probably not.

[mikemgmve]

OKAY, time I chimed in. First of all, is it your daughter that is upset about there not being any Disney princess who is African American, or is it you? In many commercials about Disney princesses, the girl dressed as Cinderella is African American. They show African Americans dressed as the princesses all the time in the Disney Store I go to. Girls can dress as whoever they want.

Second, is it the look of the princess that makes a girl like her, or her personality and story? I think girls choose their favorite princess from their favorite movie, not who matches them best. Not many girls have red hair, and Ariel is still the #1 favorite Disney princess.

Third, in order for Disney to make a movie that features a princess they can market to little girls, it's going to have to have a good story, and be popular. All the princesses in the Disney Princess line are only from successful, popular movies. Kida from the flop Atlantis and Esmeralda from the unheard of Hunchback of Notre Dame are not featured.

Fourth, similar to what many have said, the reason most princesses are white is their fairy tales are set in a long time ago. Long ago, black people were treated very poorly, and it would be hard to find a story about them set in the time of castles where they are the main character. But their are definately thousands of African folk tales about African princesses that could be turned into animated features.

So Disney's going to have to make sure they come up with a good, successful story before they put an African princess in their lineup. Maybe the Frog Princess will be African, since it's not going to be like the original Frog Prince anyway. It could be set in Africa, we don't know yet.

Some valid points that I definitely agree with, however, one thing I would differ on is your mentioning stories that have been used, and the time-settings etc. Since when does Disney follow any fairytale 100% accurately? They don't. So why can't they take certain creative liberties to create an african-american princess?

Maybe it's because they still cater to middle-class white America, and ultimately the movie would have a lesser chance of being successful across certain audiecnes, because sadly racism and prejudices are still prevalent in our world?

[numba1lostboy]

OKAY, time I chimed in. First of all, is it your daughter that is upset about there not being any Disney princess who is African American, or is it you? In many commercials about Disney princesses, the girl dressed as Cinderella is African American. They show African Americans dressed as the princesses all the time in the Disney Store I go to. Girls can dress as whoever they want.

Second, is it the look of the princess that makes a girl like her, or her personality and story? I think girls choose their favorite princess from their favorite movie, not who matches them best. Not many girls have red hair, and Ariel is still the #1 favorite Disney princess.

Third, in order for Disney to make a movie that features a princess they can market to little girls, it's going to have to have a good story, and be popular. All the princesses in the Disney Princess line are only from successful, popular movies. Kida from the flop Atlantis and Esmeralda from the unheard of Hunchback of Notre Dame are not featured.

Fourth, similar to what many have said, the reason most princesses are white is their fairy tales are set in a long time ago. Long ago, black people were treated very poorly, and it would be hard to find a story about them set in the time of castles where they are the main character. But their are definately thousands of African folk tales about African princesses that could be turned into animated features.

So Disney's going to have to make sure they come up with a good, successful story before they put an African princess in their lineup. Maybe the Frog Princess will be African, since it's not going to be like the original Frog Prince anyway. It could be set in Africa, we don't know yet.

Some valid points that I definitely agree with, however, one thing I would differ on is your mentioning stories that have been used, and the time-settings etc. Since when does Disney follow any fairytale 100% accurately? They don't. So why can't they take certain creative liberties to create an african-american princess?

Maybe it's because they still cater to middle-class white America, and ultimately the movie would have a lesser chance of being successful across certain audiecnes, because sadly racism and prejudices are still prevalent in our world?

I agree with Disney Duster.

The "creative liberties" didn't extend past editing out the more gory details of Grimms Fairy Tales. It would make no sense for Disney to feature a black princess singing from her medieval castle balcony. It just wouldn't look right. I do agree that Disney could undertake an African American folk tale.

And why is it so bad that a studio has a target audience??

And as far as gay characters go...I, personally, would not be open to that (I feel I should be allowed to say this because the rest of you are expressing your personal feelings on the issue). But have you ever watched anything from the Lilo & Stitch franchise? Pleakly is always portrayed as very effeminate...the stereotype often associated with gay men.

[TM2-Megatron]

Some valid points that I definitely agree with, however, one thing I would differ on is your mentioning stories that have been used, and the time-settings etc. Since when does Disney follow any fairytale 100% accurately? They don't. So why can't they take certain creative liberties to create an african-american princess?

Maybe it's because they still cater to middle-class white America, and ultimately the movie would have a lesser chance of being successful across certain audiecnes, because sadly racism and prejudices are still prevalent in our world?

Doing so would serve to clash with some of the basic elements that add to the movie's realism, though. As people have said, the great majority of the fairytles from which the princesses have emerged are set hundreds of years ago, usually somewhere in Europe (or a fictional equivalent). When you have a movie set in that kind of time and place, simply throwing in a black character wouldn't make any sense to the audience, who don't associate that ethnicity with that setting. Similarly, I'd imagine there would be quite an outcry if Disney were to animate a story from African folklore and make central characters white.

[Chernabog_Rocks]

So here's my opinion on the topic of a gay character(s), I think in Disney shows gay characters are considered taboo (unless your Gaston lol) since the shows and movies are mostly geared towards younger audiences who might not be able to comprehend the whole Gay issue(s) unlike the rest of us. Anyways, I agree with what Disney Duster said on the bottom of page 1, and btw Disney Divinity the Muses in Hercules aren't servants to the gods, if you listen to the Gospel Truth Part 1 they say "We are the goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heros". Anyways back on track, the reason why Esmerelda hasn't become a Disney Princess is because she isn't one technically, she's a Gypsy. I think that you have to be Royalty whether through birth like Jasmine, or marriage like Cinderella to be a "Princess" at least that's my take on it, but like I said I agree with Disney Duster but it would be nice to see a new princess of color.

[mikemgmve]

I agree with Disney Duster.

The "creative liberties" didn't extend past editing out the more gory details of Grimms Fairy Tales. It would make no sense for Disney to feature a black princess singing from her medieval castle balcony. It just wouldn't look right. I do agree that Disney could undertake an African American folk tale.

And why is it so bad that a studio has a target audience??

And as far as gay characters go...I, personally, would not be open to that (I feel I should be allowed to say this because the rest of you are expressing your personal feelings on the issue). But have you ever watched anything from the Lilo & Stitch franchise? Pleakly is always portrayed as very effeminate...the stereotype often associated with gay men.

But remember - these are fairy tales. Creative liberties are what define them. Mermaids, flying carpets, people turned into walking talking objects, flying thanks to pixie dust, talking animals who save the day.. exactly where does ethnicity really need to fit in? Time periods can be modified if need be in any story to serve the purpose of including any ethnicity.

As far as Pleakly - yes, having a character that fits a STEREOTYPE (which are always positive, right?) must always be a good thing. *cough*Song of the south*cough*

[kbehm29]

I'm all for diversity, as I'm apart of one of the most-'hated' groups in the world as well. However, with that said - who has put it in your childs head that she can't be Ariel, Cinderella, Pochahontas, or even Mulan? Young children are beautiful soley for their ability to see past differences like skin color.

I totally agree. Although I think Disney should find a good storyline for a black princess, that doesn't stop a person of any color skin from aspiring to be one of the past ones. See attached picture of my step-daughter.