Posted on 04/26/2009 6:46:26 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
WALT Disney's first black princess is steeped in controversy, with the studio changing her name and job, but still facing claims of racial insensitivity.
Following claims of racial insensitivity, the studio -- known for its wholesome and predominantly white family values -- has made several changes to its first African-American princess, Tiana.
Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is the star of a new animated film to be released this Christmas, titled The Princess and the Frog. Tiana's mother will be played by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.
Disney has changed the profession of the princess to an aspiring restaurant entrepreneur, instead of being a chambermaid.
It has also changed her name -- Tiana, instead of Maddy. Critics thought Maddy was too similar to Mammy -- a once-common term for black female slaves in white households.
The controversy has intensified after it was revealed the film would be set in New Orleans and Tiana would find love with an almost-white prince.
His skin has been described as olive-toned and he will be voiced by Brazilian actor Bruno Campos.
"What? No black prince? What's up with this?" blogged James Collier on Acting White, an anti-racism website.
"Perhaps Disney doesn't want the future mothers of dwindling white America being imprinted so early in their lives with the notion of a black suitor."
Another blogger, Angela Helm, complained to the Black Voices website that even though there was a real-life black man in the highest office in the land, Disney seemed to think a black man was not "worthy of the title of prince".
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
So Politically Correct — last I looked movie theaters didn’t issue barf bags so I will pass.
You obviously do not want to go see a movie with a black princess because you are a racist! /s
known for its wholesome and predominantly white family values ...
Man, you have GOT to be kidding me.
I was at WDW in Orlando and my kids watched Cinderella’s parade - All of the female characters were men drag queens.
And don’t get me started on gay day.
It honestly sounds like a team of PC "experts" sat down to pick away anything possible that could be found offensive. God help us.
This is the thanks they get for playing the Jackson/Sharpton PC sweepstakes. Karma’s a b*tch, eh Disney?
You are also a white racist!
What in the world are “White family values”? I guess they might mean traditional family values. If so that was true about 30 or more years ago. Disney has been a PC palace for a long time now.
"Who you calling Mammy?"
what would predominantly black family values be?
Why are they not the same?
This is hugh and series, folks. With Obama in the White House, the race-baiting industry is facing the appalling concept that he finally disproves their endless charges of rampant racism.
Something Must Be Done.
LOL. Damn. There’s just no way out.
I think you’re sidling into the point.
They want to denigrate traditional values,
so now they refer to them in a way that implies that those values
are racist.
No, give her an Asian non-white prince and I'll reconsider. *\;-)
(Make him Latino-Asian with adoptive Scottish ancestry and accent and you have a winner. Believe me. *\;-)
I think there IS no way out, now. The socialist/American split is too wide, and the differences are irreconcilable.
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