Controversy over Disney’s interracial film
Disney has its first African American princess, Tiana, in the new interracial film set in New Orleans - “The princess and the frog” - which is to be released in December this year. However, like everything tagged interracial, controversy hasn’t escaped this one either. And it all revolves around the Black princess’ love interest Prince Naveen of Maldonia, a white man.
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"It seems to cause some controversy that the princess falls in love with a white prince in the movie”, says Brown, Bang Media. Apparently people are questioning the racist nature of Disney and feel they should have let a Black man be Prince too.
Who said Disney’s first Black princess must have a matching Black prince? I thought people would applaud interracial love since its breaking down segregation. In my opinion, the demand for Disney’s leading couple to be Black is what’s racist.
Do you think there is any real substance to this controversy?
101 responses to "Controversy over Disney’s interracial film"
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AlicenD8Land says:Posted: 09 Apr 09Until resently I would have never considered dating outside of my race. Sure, I looked but I didn't touch. A friend of mine asked me "Why?" My only answer- I was taught not to. Which is one of the dumbest answers I've ever given in my life because I was also taught to think for myself. So I invite Dolly48 to think about this- Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've studied the "black doll" test you're refering to. The best book that I can think of to explain the horror of that mentality is Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. Yes, childern of color should have role models on the the big screen. But most "Black" people born in this country ARE interracial. That's why we are labeled as Black. No other label fits. The color black is the combination of all colors. That's why Black Americians' skin color, facial features and hair texture has such a wide range. What's the old saying "One drop makes you black"? I could understand the logic of your arguement if it was consistent with your profile. Please explain to me why it's ok NOT to practice what we preach to our childern? Thanks!
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Mstiff4bsm23 says:Posted: 09 Apr 09
I agree with most everyone else,this is ridiculous why do people always have to make dumb controversy over children's programming I mean get over it, its for the kids to watch not us.Not only that but if we say that this princess needs a black prince because she is black, its not only ignorant on our part as a parent and an adult but its teaching our children that they should only date inside their own race,which is not right at all because we should be able to be with who makes us happy whether its white, black, polka dot,striped green,purple or red. Whoever is making this nonsense over kids cartoons sounds to me like they need to get a hobby or a wake up call. uhhh come on people get over the b.s. already its 2009 we should have got over this before it started GROW UP!
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dolly48 says:Posted: 09 Apr 09
i dont care if its a cartoon or not...i think an interracial romance is not necessary,or proper. Let's just be clear.. as a BLACK doll collector, I think we need postive images for our children. Hello??? have we forgotten the "black doll" test given decades ago, and then again more recenly with the same results? Black children need to see positive images of their community. End of story.
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sgh79 says:Posted: 08 Apr 09http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/
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ditzydame says:Posted: 08 Apr 09I disagree that little kids don't see color http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybDa0gSuAcg The saddest thing is the expression on little girl's face on the end as she makes her conflicted choice. No child should have to feel that way.
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patwill says:Posted: 08 Apr 09no there is no substance in the controversy people need to realize that times are changing and animation almost always reflects this just look at the racist warner brother cartoons from way back when or the world war 2 infused toons in the 40s
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CUTIEPIE43 says:Posted: 08 Apr 09
I'VE YET TO SEE AN ADVERTISMENT FOR THIS FILM, BUT WHEN I DO I'LL BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO MY BI-RACIAL TWINS(1B,1G)REACTION TO IT. MY PERSONAL OPINION, WHO CARES! KIDS DON'T SEE COLOR. NOW ON THE FLIP SIDE IT'S GREAT TO SEE A GIRL/WOMAN OF COLOR BEING POTRAYED AS WE(THE PUBLIC) DON'T GET ALOT OF THAT. ON A SIDE NOTE, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT DISNEY OR THE PUBLIC IS DOING OR SAYING IT MEANS NADA TO ME OR MINE. MY MOTTO IS I DEAL WITH THAT CRAP OUT IN THE STREET BUT ONCE I ENTER MY DOMAIN THAT CRAP IS NULL AND VOID. HELL ALL CATS ARE GREY IN THE DARK. YOU FEEL ME ON THAT!
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Beauford says:Posted: 06 Apr 09I am a "White Prince" to my "Black Princess". So now, I can romantically take her to this movie! We already know how folks look at us in public, and about the whispering, and such. We both give our relationship to God! As a matter of fact as Christian believers we understand the Bible as saying there is only one race, the human race! We are all just different models and shades of color of the same (human) race. The image of God. What if we judged people by what color and model of car, or house, oooops, I guess we do. Never mind, I guess humans will always find something to "hate", huh?
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TBOO45 says:Posted: 06 Apr 09ITS THE ADULTS MAKIN A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT ANY WAY , WHEN YOU ARE LITTLE YOU DONT SEE COLOR ANYWAYS, YOU JUST SEE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, AND THERE IS REALLY NO SUCH THING AS RACE, ITS THE HUMAN RACE.....
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homesteader says:Posted: 05 Apr 09
Yes as a child , I was Responsible enough to be allowed to go to the movies / Bye Myself . 25 cents for admission , 10 cents for popcorn and a nickel for a Mars bar - 2 Films and intermission with cartoons and a world war II SERIAL . Before the second movie and the ten block walk home afterwards . Mutual Respect for All others carried Me / Safely though younger years of Life .
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homesteader says:Posted: 05 Apr 09
Lighten up , childrens entertainment and We try to Judge [ this was not meant for a bunch of old folks that are set in their ways } This is for Our Future Leaders to Laugh and Enjoy - it is called Entertainment / We as a Whole haven't even seen this as of the Present Time . My theory would be to ask the children what they Enjoyed about this Cartoon , After they walk out of the Theatre doors . Remember to give them enough money for popcorn and candy along with a Drink while they watch the Cartoon .
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Layla32 says:Posted: 04 Apr 09Okay, because I see this as propaganda more than anything, where are the controversies posted? People do not fall for it, don't let someone write a commentary "claiming" something that you have not seen proof of anywhere. I want to see it, I want to read the thousands of petitions, I want to see where Disney is being picketed because of this movie. Now, my personal opinion of Disney is that he is a well pedophile and racist, and if you do any research on him, you will see. I congratulate a guy named Lenon Honor who is breaking ground. If you want to see the real issues, check out his work, google him or catch him on youtube. I could care less about this film, and I would never take any of my children or anyone else's children to be conditioned by this nonsense on television or in the movies. Why are we so caught up in needing validation racially or otherwise? It just keeps up fighting against each other and it is quite stupid. There is nothing wrong with showing love regardless if it is black men loving black women or non-black men loving black women, but let's not use it as a springboard to attack, degrade, black men or women because then you are falling for the trap. I would say more, but I'm pretty much done for now.
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CutiePie714 says:Posted: 04 Apr 09
I agreed with your BrownGirl & Pretty Girl. This cartoon is for the children, it will show them that love is like a rainbow, with all it's beauty and mystery it comes in many colors :)
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snapdrag44 says:Posted: 04 Apr 09
Our country just elected a multi-racial president, how soon we forget. It is about time a movie like this has surfaced. When the movie, Something New came out it was well received. Let our children know that love comes in all colors.
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BrownB09 says:Posted: 04 Apr 09
It's sad that people are making an issue over such a thing! There are so many other things going on in the black community that I am concerned about,such a thing is so ridiculous! First of all, Its a cartoon. What many people should realize is, these kind of cartoons can help our children learn about the diversity within our country, and help them grasp the dynamic concept that are many people unlike ourselves
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BLKDIAMOND says:Posted: 03 Apr 09
All I can say is that I am making sure my daughter sees this movie, we watched it on th epreviews of a video we recently bought which was bolt.The movie seems cute, not sure that me or my child will be concerned about who she falls in love with it is just a movie to show that blk girls can be princesses too, not that it was ever a problem. Im a fan of Disney.
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homesteader says:Posted: 03 Apr 09
Fantasy ; The world in ones' own mind is a Fantasy Trip , Day bye Day . Cartoon Artists are some of the hardest working Artists as I have heard . Drawing the same images over and over with a slight movement in each frame . We await comments after the film has been Viewed by Many . If you are to look closely , there are MANY MOVIES on DVD that have inter-racial Romance stories . One of my Favorites is " Bringing Down the House " with Eugene Levy , " Today You Die " with Steven Seagal and Many others which show People just being people . After We see the Film , We shall tell more of how Enjoyable it was to Watch . Have any who are commenting , Actually seen this Cartoon yet are are We just all Blowing Smoke to the Wind . We are just another Happy Relationship / Daily that started on this site - Proof of the Pudding so to speak .
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fkoi says:Posted: 02 Apr 09If we look to Disney to be the arbiter or what is correct along sociological lines we are in big trouble. And wouldn't be great if a children's film was the only place left to find racial controversy? On one hand it is great that Disney has promoted a Black cartoon character to royalty. Instilling in little girls the concept that being a princess is a good thing is completely another thing. There are so many other role models that are a thousand times more worthy for a child to aspire to become. Whether she falls in love with a white/brown/yellow/black/blue-skinned prince is so irrelevant that it hardly seems to deserve mention, except perhaps on an interracial dating site. The fact that it ignites controversy, even on an interracial dating site, says more than a thousand movies could. I would guess that we have all experienced repercussions due to our dating preferences but there are certainly many better reasons to opt for seeing or rejecting a movie than with whom the main character prefers to go to a movie. I will say that in many of the images I've seen of Tiana, she looks like Cinderella with a dye job after many sessions at the tanning salon. Disney doesn't have a strong record in political correctness. On the other hand they have built first a "Land" and then a "World" based on fantasy. Can we rationally expect more from them?
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PrettyGurl says:Posted: 02 Apr 09
Hello AtLast, I was so intrigued to what you said that I did a little research.. It seems that noone wants to acknowledge that Queen Charlotte was black, which is kind of sad.. You can even tell in photos whether by white or black photographers she had African ancestry (which doesnt surprise me alot of people do). I'm getting off the subject a little but I thought I would let you know, I was one "who didnt know".http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz
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Atlast111 says:Posted: 02 Apr 09
The History we don't know. England had a Black queen in the 1800's Her name was Charlotte Sophia. She was married to King George III. They loved each other deeply, had 17 children. There were no royal scandals during their reign. Probably the reason we don't know about her is that she was an abolitionist and was trying to get George to get rid of Slavery throughout the British Empire. By the way, they currently did DNA testing on King George's hair, (you might know him as the crazy king who lost the American colonies) and they found traces of arsenic. The truth is that we don't need Disney to define our royalty. We, Black women are descendants of African chiefs, kings and queens. Indeed, we are the descendants of the culture that founded the first University (the University of Timbuktu) and on and on. It's great that our children will see cartoons that allow them to seed themselves in the mainstream culture and perhaps even claim their royalty, but the truth is that we already have it.
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Nikki29 says:Posted: 02 Apr 09
It's so sad that the race issue will never end.I really wish people would grow up and let people live their lives in peace. I say its about time Disney came out with a African American princess. Both of my nieces are mixed from my mixed baby sister and I think its great that they can see #1 a Black princess and #2 that they don't have to listen to anyone except their hearts when it comes to love. I call my oldest niece Sista Queen anyway. I can't wait to take them both to see it. :)
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SunshineGurl85 says:Posted: 02 Apr 09
I was very excited to hear that Disney will have a black princess for the time ever. But who wrote the rules that her prince had to be black? Her prince could be from Mars and green for all I care! Just like today in society, your true love isn't based on skin color but what is in their heart and mind.
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PrettyGurl says:Posted: 02 Apr 09
I'm glad we finally got a princess! However I dont see the big deal, so what the male is not black.. Im glad that children can keep the thought that color has no bounds..
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Atlast says:Posted: 01 Apr 09Has anyone thought about the fact that for the first time there are black little girls in the white house. Sounds like an interesting marketing ploy by the part of Disney. Hmm, just wondering.
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homesteader says:Posted: 01 Apr 09
Yes and History , remains just the Past / It's over Folks . The Future is full of Happiness for those that Truly Seek it .
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NOPLAYER says:Posted: 01 Apr 09My goodness, it's just a cartoon. It's target viewers are children. Why must everything be so blk and wht. Why can't it just be a movie for kids to enjoy and base their own opinions about it. No wonder Jesus said " unless yea becaome as a child, yea can not see the kingdom of heaven" ! As adults we're so close minded and our minds are like lifeless soil that cant produce nothing but mud when you add seeds and water to it. Children are different, their minds are so open and curious to learn about different things. It's no accident that we call pre-school kindergarden, it's a German word that means children's / garden. I think alot of us could stand to go back to kindergarden and hopefully unlearn some of this foolishness we've learned as adults! Once again, it's only a childrens movie !
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Dejavue says:Posted: 01 Apr 09
I'm simply excited at the fact that I can take the little black girls in my life to see such a film. It's rare that in the movie industry that we even see the black female depicted as a princess...Coming To America is the only film that I can really remember that's had one. So what if her prince happens to white???? The controversy sends the wrong message to little black girls everywhere! Are we not worthy of finding love with someone of another race or should it only be left to the black man to date out of his race. I agree with the LatinoLova...he hit the nail on the head! Good for Disney for shacking things up and getting people to open there minds to this issue. It will be interesting to see how the movies does at the box office and my hope is that all parents will take their young children to see the movie and embrace the change. I personally find it empowering!
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LatinoLova says:Posted: 01 Apr 09I am a Latino(Colombian)/white man who has noticed that after dating black women since sixth grade,having a bi-racial daughter with my first serious girlfriend and a bi-racial son by my ex-wife,that over the years I have started to notice more "reverse" racism from some black families and from many black males that only want black females to date/marry in the black community/ethnicity. I did some contoversy papers drawing on issues concering dating outside the black community from Ebony Magazine from January or Febuary 2004 dealing with black men dating any race they wanted and an article that was a follow-up for the black women that were scrutinized by the black community,but mostly by black men, in I think March or April 2004. From my personal experience& the articles published I just feel like their is a new kind of racism/conflict arising. I've always had to deal with alot of insecure black males saying/shouting she must be with him for his money,he must eat pussy good,or he's just trickin'off,cuzz it could'nt be because they love each other especially his wife& their mixed kids, or he's just sprung on dat black pussy kinda comments. These kinda comments about the movie along with the comments said and shouted in public that really make me regret having been willing to give my life in the wars and special operations while in the Marines as a ForceRecon Marine and as an Embassy bodyguard.
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Glock says:Posted: 01 Apr 09
Good point Cocoacutie, however your sexiness is noticed in society more than you think.
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PoeticwineJ says:Posted: 31 Mar 09Get over it... I think its a great step. This is nothing new. Keep up the good work Disney!
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AptlyNamed says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
I think if art imitates life - and animation is clearly an art form, then it makes sense that this particular reality be reflected. Even if its for children to see. It may plant a seed of open-mindedness and tolerance in a young mind. After all, it is Disney and they like their stories to have a moral. At the very least, it shows that couples don't HAVE to "match' for them to be a loving couple. It also fairly represents a large population of mixed race people - FINALLY, a positive media representation! Since this particular platform requests responses from its readers, I do not agree with Khamrii with regards to the topic being posted. It may be a cartoon, which generally is marketed to children. However, it is the PARENTS and adults who decide what the children would watch - since it's likely, they are paying for it and/or will bring it to a child to watch. NOTE: I also find it ironic that someone who would refer to another person as an 'IDIOT' can't spell 'ridiculous'. This is a forum, not a means to insult someone for opening up a topic for discussion. There are many perspectives one can hold - take it or leave it and move on with your day. For someone who doesn't watch TV - I appreciate the post.
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only_otter says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
As for disney caring about interracial things, it's only about the money,now saes of their merch will go up because for the first time, little black girls will have a princess to call their own and little white girls will still the dolls in their collection. I think it's a great marketing move. ******* mental note, invest in disney. **********
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Mahogany5 says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
Why is Inter Racial dating in a cartoon such a big deal. Love is Love off or on the screen Who cares what color people are??
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o says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
But wasn't Pocohantas' lover, John Smith, white, in real life? I am in support of the film as is and I plan to see it 10 times and buy 10 copies.
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o says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
But wasn't Pocohantas' lover, John Smith, white, in real life? I am in support of the film as is and I plan to support it.
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salsera77 says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
I say flood America with these bw/wm images so much so that it becomes commonplace and shuts up the naysayers!!! HA!
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Shellyb says:Posted: 31 Mar 09
This is not the first...Disney's Pocahontas ... Native American woman - European white man. Didn't we already have this controversy?
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homesteader says:Posted: 30 Mar 09
A carton , made into a Prime time Movie , Actors , actresses and real Life Drama . Halley Berry and Pierce Brosnan - Bond James Bond / Die Another Day .
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Chosen519 says:Posted: 30 Mar 09
I wonder what the box office numbers will be. Will this movie bring in the dollars? Are we really there yet??
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Cocoacutie94 says:Posted: 30 Mar 09I agree with you Brown girl. I think it's a great idea! Our sexiness hasn't been accepted as much in society, that's why you rarely see it. Now let's have a movie with real live people where the Black woman does not have to be paired with a Black man. Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Wesley Snipes and Don Cheadle have always co-starred opposite women of other races without it being an issue, so why can't Gabrielle Union or Kerry Washington do it without it being an issue. Peace and Love People!
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BrownGirlLDN says:Posted: 30 Mar 09
I remember reading this story a little while ago in the free paper on the tube and thinking WOW it's about time that a black woman wasn't immediately paired with a black man as a matter of course. I don't know why the assumption has to be that the black princess *should* have a black prince. Instead, isn't it better that our kids know there is more to choose from in the world of romance than just that which is portrayed time and time again on TV already, i.e. black women with black men...
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CutieHoney says:Posted: 30 Mar 09
The prince is not white. Hollywood get away with pairing blacks with any other race but black, so it will not be labeled a "Black Movie".
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brownpapi says:Posted: 30 Mar 09brazilian isnt a racial background..its a nationality
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areyouready says:Posted: 30 Mar 09
From what I have read, the prince is not a white man, but either a mixed individual (Creole?) or Brazilian & Indian (from India) mixed. I agree the fact that some people are jumping on the race of the prince in and of itself is racist. So black women can only have black princes? I do not think it is that deep with what Disney is doing. I think they are in the business to sell movies, not make social statements. It is we the people that say if it makes a statement and from the polls I have seen 70% or more of America does not care what race the prince is.
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also, why are you on an interracial site dolly if you think interracial relationships are wrong? wow, and we wonder why so many blk kids are growing up with "im the victim" mentality.. I think its some of our own people who teach them that. *shakes head*