Noticed this in the Princess and the Frog

When you see a typical Disney movie with a Princess you see castles and old european style families. Now why is it that in the Princess and the Frog thats not seen. Why is it that she is African American and in a Southern Bayou? Is that not a little racist or at least very strange. Why did they put all the other princesses in an old english setting but put the African American one in a Southern Bayou? The movie was depicting what many people have a stereotype of the South as related to them living near the swamps and things of that nature. Is that what Disney thinks of where an African American princess would come from or what? Any thoughts on this old english setting for the white princesses and a Southern Bayou for the African American one.