The Princess and the Frog

There has been a lot of talk of The Princess and the Frog on the blog.  I feel that Disney's intentions were in the right seeing that there isn't an African American princess until Tiana, but they could have been much more mindful when thinking about how the portrayals of African Americans are viewed in today's society. First off, Tiana's hair is not even the natural texture of what an African American woman's hair is, rather it is permed.  As one woman said, "Having her wear a perm is like telling us our natural hair isn't beautiful." There has also been quite a bit of uproar over the firefly.  Some say the way he talks is like Uncle Remus.  People are upset because it makes him sound unintelligent, and people don't talk like how he does anymore.  Not only does he speak like an uneducated person, but he is also lazy.  African Americans speak out to this stereotypical ideal that Disney is sending out to kids of all races. It was time for a black princess, but does this put all the other stereotyped movies aside that Disney put out like Jungle Book? Another thought that has run through the minds of many is the fact that Disney consulted Oprah for her input to make sure that the movie wasn't racist. I find this completely bogus.  Not every African American person in the United States is a billionaire with their own t.v. show. If Disney really wanted to ask what people thought, they should have gone to the people that matter. People that live the everyday life of an American, not a glamorized one.