Post: Disney's New Princess
Disney's New Princess
OK, so probably almost every parent of a girl under 5 is getting pretty tired of the whole Disney princess phenomenon. How many tiaras and sparkly wands does one child need?
But when Disney announced last week that it created its first black princess -- the star of the New Orleans-based animated musical The Frog Princess, we said: Phew. It's about time.
Black girls need more positive images of girls that look like them. Here's some scary proof: When a 17-year-old filmmaker named Kiri Davis made her award-winning film A Girl Like Me, she recreated the famous doll test from the 50s, asking black children to look at both white and black dolls. Even today, nearly three fourths of the children picked the white doll over the black doll.
So, we congratulate Disney for creating Maddie, The Frog Princess -- even if the motivation has something to do with pushing new products, not just pure altruism. Hopefully, Maddie can do math, too. We'll see when the movie comes out in 2008.
There are 8 replies to this post
Date: March 25, 2007
Let's hope Maddie doesn't get her own junk food cereal cover shot to join these two icons on Disney's "Princess Fairytale Flakes" to turn milk pink with added colors & gimmicks. If it's not one thing it's another...here's Shaping Youth's write-up on same: http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=311
As for the black doll/white doll dynamic, here's an interesting stat from the AAP that I'm hoping will shift anew with the 2008 movie!
After all, it's now been a decade, so keep your fingers crossed to see what improves here! AAP says:
"In commercials most of the talking is done by men, women typically have blonde or red/auburn hair over black/brown and ‘almost perfect’ bodies. Men over 65 are often cast in younger roles, whereas women are categorized as ‘elderly.’ Occupation is a large part of male characterization in prime time, whereas a quarter of the female characters cannot be classified by occupation at all. When equally classified as ‘professionals’ women are cast in lower status white-collar jobs. --American Academy of Pediatrics, Feb. 1998
Link: http://www.shapingyouth.org
Date: May 14, 2007
I think this is great to be having a afican american princess.But so far I am kind of tried that all the little Disney Princess are all white. We need a little more color in Disney now, SO WE NEED GET OVER THE PAST and MOVE ON!
Date: May 23, 2007
I love your blog ....I am new here just wanted to say "hi" first then start my journey on your blog...keep the good work going on...I will join you soon...
Link: http://www.selfhelpzone.com/category/parentin
Date: August 10, 2007
Great idea for the African-American/Black Disney Princess. It's important for children of all colors to see than they can be a princess. When it comes out I will then pay for Disney Princess merchandise featuring the African-American/Black Princess- I've never purchased the others because they didn't resemble her. I'll purchase the others once she realizes she too can be a princess.
Date: August 23, 2007
I have to say that while this is good news - we don't have a lot f reason to hoe that this charcater will be a truly positive role model. Instead, we have every reason to believe that her story will revolve around her beauty and that that love and marriage will be presented as the end all be all of fulfillment, even at cost to herself.
Plus, the marketing element is without question -- no? Look at the other Disney Princesses (btw -- why is "princess" used so liberally as to include Tinkerbell and Ariel, but yet excludes Mulan?)
So, I'm ambivalent. I am glad to see it happen, but would love to see Disney make some great female charcaters of all races who are out having fun, being adventurous, taking risks and learning from them, and solving problems --- instead of looking all doe-eyed over their shoulders at some prince.
Grr.
I have princess stuff on my blog also - please visit!
Link: http://www.outside-the-toybox.com
Date: October 2, 2007
According to Wikipedia, the new princess isn't going to be called Maddie anymore as that name was considered by some to a bit too working class, so they have renamed her Tiana!
Link: http://www.princessmagic.co.uk
Date: October 22, 2007
OH my god you people act like there has never been a black princess in the world of history. There has been a princess of every color around this world since the dawn of time get over it! I don't like the negative statements you people say that "now we finally have a black princess to look up to" that is BS and very ignorant of you look I understand that people (of every kind) have been opressed since the dawn of time but we need to learn to let it go already. What we really need is unity where there really is no color of any kind just people you don't need to separte your selves from other people then all of a sudden ask for equal rights that isn't what MLK jr. fought for he whanted a gray world filled where every one was excepted. Yeah I don't know what it is like to be black or what it is like to be white I am nither you think black people are the only people with problem there are people these days who still hate me for being both black and white. I have black people and white people throwing rocks at me and spitting at me all because I like seeing this world as filled with people instead of this made word called race you are not of a different race just because of your skin tone. You are only of a different race if you are not a human being idiots. I hope the movie is good I will watch it but not because of a black princess but because the movie will be good
Date: October 23, 2007
Whatever happened to the wonderful movie, "The Dreamer of Oz" starring John Ritter? I can't find it anywhere! Hope it will be shown on tv again, and be put on DVD for purchase!