Comments on: The Princess and the Frog: Controversy or Innocence?

By: CoyoteCrow

CoyoteCrow — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:07:00 +0000

*sigh* Look, Powhatan was NOT a “monarchal” figure. Patriarchal, maybe. No native peoples north of the Rio Grande had an all-powerful ruler. Several had both a peace chief and a war chief. There were some who were both, but they always held council with the tribe. Native hierarchies were, and are closer to a true Democracy than anything else. Don’t believe me, look up the Iroquois Confederacy. And please, for the love of God, STOP calling Pocahontas an “Indian Princess.”
That’s gauranteed to ruffle some feathers on every rez in the country, heck, the whole continent. From the Tlingit to the Yaqui, to the Lakota to the Natchez, to the Ojibwe.

By: Chadric

Chadric — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:07:00 +0000

I watched this movie with my niece hadn’t even thought about Tiana being a black princess just a princess. Until I read this article.

If you ever wonder why racism is still alive and well, maybe it’s because people keep bringing it up over every little thing that they can point at and say that is racist and won’t let it die out.

By: Ms_amanda12

Ms_amanda12 — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:03:00 +0000

This is crazy! I love watching this movie with my daughter and there shouldn’t be any controversy over it. The fact that princess Tiana is black is great…It’s about time they have a black princess. I don’t see any problem with voodoo being in the movie..the movie is set in New Orleans so why not use voodoo…and they use it in good and bad. I loved Disney movies from when I was a kid and I love that I can enjoy this with my daughter, who loves to be called princess because of this movie. She see that there is such a thing as a black princess. So stop making a mockery of it. Its not that serious.

By: Bomazeverchick92

Bomazeverchick92 — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:39:00 +0000

so i dont get why ppl do this. like princess and the frog is a kids movie. ok yah there are some things that seem a bit racial and what not but why cant people set aside the racidy in there minds and when they watch t.v.like just because its a black princess doesnt mean blog about it and have contraversy over it. its a kids movie and most kids seem to love it so just set aside that other stuff. like i said even if there where racial things in it KIDS WOULDNT UNDERSTAND IT! PERIOD. UNLESS OF COURSE U ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE THA AUDACITY TO TRY AND EXPLAIN IT TO THEM!

By: I_love_consistency

I_love_consistency — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:34:22 +0000

I've seen this film.

The disagreement with this film is a sign that for some, there are simply no circumstances under which a film can be made involving mixed ethnicities that won't bring some people's derangement to the surface.

It's frickin sad.

By: Swloohoo

Swloohoo — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:20:00 +0000

Stereotypes? If your talking about how she had to work hard and go through struggles, Black people aren’t the only ones that do!! And if you think Disney was being racist towards Black people in that way, think again. Look at Cinderella. She was locked up in a friggin tower. Snow White, her step-mother tried to KILL her. Tiana was a strong, hard working, persevering person. If anything, I admire that. She had a loving family and great friends. Black people are not the only people who have to go through hard times. It’s not a stereotypical matter because there is no stereotype for who is most likely to struggle in life, kay?

And, actually, white people really do understand how stereotypes have hurt people. Actually, it seems nowadays that Black people like to stereotype against whites more often. We get it. No it’s not because she’s Black.

And what knowledge about African Americans do you speak of? African AMERICAN means they are AMERICANS just like every person in AMERICA. The only difference is that they have a different color skin. That’s it! Americans are a Americans. We all live HERE. NOW. Don’t use African background as an excuse for racism.

By: Swloohoo

Swloohoo — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:02:00 +0000

Since when was all Disney magic innocent? Look at Jafar’s sorcerer power. Ursula’s dark sea witch powers. Malificent’s sorceress curses Hades’ dark underworld powers?? There’s always. going to be a problem. A villain. Evil powers and forces. Voodoo is just another one of those powers. The fact that it’s a sort of religious practice doesn’t change the fact that it’s magic. That’s simply my opinion. Not meant to change minds. Just there to show another side. Thanks.

By: Swloohoo

Swloohoo — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:54:00 +0000

When was Pocahontas a damsel in distress. She defied her own father and shielded John Smith from his death. You don’t need to save a country to be a hero. What she did for her tribe and John Smith and his men was equivalent to what Mulan did for her country. They both created peace and resolved a proble,. And Pocahantas ALSO “saved a man’s tush.” Thank you very much.

By: Swloohoo

Swloohoo — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:46:00 +0000

her name is Belle.

By: Nadia

Nadia — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:27:54 +0000

I, personally, LOVE this movie! Honestly, why must we take an amazing Disney movie and make every little thing about it about race, or dark magic? Like it has been stated numerous times before, there is some form of “dark magic” in EVERY Disney movie. As for the whole race debate, I didn't see anyone in the previous comments talk about all of the caucasian characters in this movie. If everyone is saying they were being “racist” against African- American people, I could just as easily argue that they did the same towards white people.
I could question, because of the princes' butler, that they were implying white men give easily into their greed. Or that Charlotte, being a white girl, was spoiled and figured she could get anything she wanted through her father's money and wishing on stars. Or that she was so stupid she was blinded by her wanting to be a princess that she cuoldn't see it wasn't the actul prince. There's loads of things you COULD argue for both sides, so why aer we arguing? Tiana and Charlotte were BEST FRIENDS!! Is that racist in some undertone too???? NO!!! Stop all of the whining for goodness sake! It's a beautiful movie with a beautiful princess that has to overcome many hard obsticles, but finds that she can do anything she sets her mind to with the help of friends, and love, and hard work. I am glad that Disney isn't telling children that if ALL you do is dream and wish, everything you ever wanted will come true. Disney, I applaud you for an Excellent movie!

By: H. Jones

H. Jones — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:09:00 +0000

Maybe not have a problem with the racial aspects of Cinderella, but what about the sexism in it? Women need to wade in cinders and never worry about bettering themselves until someone comes along to save them? Granted, Disney didn’t come up with the story, but they did get rid of the ending were you see that Cinderella at least realizes her step mother is a bitch and uses her upper hand to make her pay. In disney’s version she is just a saint. Most disney princesses are offensive to women, and those that aren’t seem to be the “ethnic” ones like Mulan, Pocahantas, Jasmine and Tiana. And only one of those four is considered to be a princess by disney merchandising.
the fact is that you watch these movies from a very very young age and they give the country a common mythos to work from, so if they are offensive it is a big deal.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:08:00 +0000

You found offense because of your own personal experiences. But Disney shouldn’t be blamed for that. I’m not trying to sway you into liking the movie, but just because some of the public didn’t like it, doesn’t make it a bad movie.
I personally agree with Princess Tiffany, but that’s from my perspective.
And media does need to just chill. It’s a children’s movie. She came from almost nothing but came to realize her dream in the end. Where’s harm in that?

By: Chillout,It's 2010

Chillout,It's 2010 — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:16:00 +0000

OMG!!! Just because Disney made a Black princess doesn’t mean its in your shoes… Chill out. I’m Asian and no one said anything about MULAN… I loved it personally. In this movie The princess and the frog, NO one is making her a slave or treating her like crap, And what are you going to say about the Prince guy??? He’s not WHITE or Black. So take a Chill Pill, DISNEY is only doing entertainment. Not making a Racist statement. People who think that are Closed Minded. I’m sorry but The Princess and the Frog is a GREAT movie.

By: amj

amj — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:59:55 +0000

All four of my children love the movie, listen to the soundtrack non-stop, and are begging to go to New Orleans. It's about magic and dreams and working hard. That's it! Can we please leave the racist comments behind and use it to teach our children well?

By: Domo

Domo — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:20:33 +0000

I think it is totally ridiculous. My race has to make an issue about everything. They chose New Orleans because thats where African American music originated and the prince even mentions it in the movie. The only fault Disney ever made was even stating they were making the first BLACK princess storyline. They should have just come out with the movie instead of trying to get recognition for making a black movie so the african american children can have a doll to buy. OH PLEASE. As a child I loved the little Mermaid and Cinderella and had no issue with it. We need to stop mixing race inwith an ANIMATED movie its crazy. Time to move on NEXT.

By: monica

monica — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:51:00 +0000

I loved the movie and so does my 4year old!!! Super cute Disney movie

By: X-Ray-cmo

X-Ray-cmo — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:35:00 +0000

That’s ridiculous. Society is founded upon people having opinions. Freedom dies when people are silenced and, while I have no desire to control your thoughts-I don’t even know you-I’m going to share mine, and debate, should it come to that. Anyway, Disney’s magic was never ‘innocent’, that’s one of the factors that made films of the past note-worthy, the sweet taste of perversion. In the Film, the woman was hard-working, kind, resilient, friendly, optimistic, and and supported HERSELF. If anyone was discriminated, it was the white people(and southerners, that drunk lightening bug), because they’re used as obstacles she must overcome. And the Blondie matched the stereotypical role of blonds in our society. I know people of that hair color(and southern born) who are quite intelligent and down to earth, maybe they should be offended, too.
I found the film hilarious. Even though that bug irritated me.
Lighten Up.

By: David

David — Fri, 07 May 2010 02:27:24 +0000

Sonia, it's painfully obvious that your mother never let you watch any movies; otherwise you would not have made such a fool of yourself with your ignorance. Cinderella was not from royalty, she was originaly a “modest servant girl” who worked hard and was treated cruelly. How do you think she got her name? It was because she was forced to live in the cinders. Sleeping Beauty spent the first 16 years of her life hiding in the woods. Snow White was forced to work as a scullery maid. Please don't comment on movies you know nothing about!

By: Shaheed the Great

Shaheed the Great — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:49:46 +0000

Alright I just watched the movie, and I thought it was pretty good. I heard the hype about how racist it was before I watched it but…….. I saw zero racism.1) Granted the time the story was set in I can see where some of you are coming from, but when was the last time you took an african american history class. You can't set a story during a certain time frame and act like major things like segragation did not exisit. 2) New Orleans, a place I had always dreamed of visiting because of the culture. The food is seems delicious, and its the birth place of many Jazz legends. You're not going to find people that are down to earth like the people in New Orleans. Kansas City, used to be like that. My father used to take me down to the Muscians Association all the time to listen to them play. New Orleans's rich culture makes it beautiful. You can't say nobody practices voodoo in New Orleans. Tiana might not have became a princess, but I never knew in the history of the United States that we had Kings or Queens. Tiana was more real, she had a dream of opening a resturant that will become the jewel of New Orleans, and she did. And I think thats the type of role model black kids need now a days because their hopes are set on dribbling a ball or rapping a lyric, not believing that there are other ways to make it. I don't think the story could've been written any better. Good job Disney.

By: sonia

sonia — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:19:28 +0000

I just recently watched the movie with my boys and I was disappointed. I think if I had a daughter, I wouldn't let her watch it. When compared to cinderalla, sleeping beauty, snow white….they were all from royalty without having to marry into it. There was no recurrent theme of “you have to work hard for everything you want” in those movies, as there is in this one. I think little Black girls and their parents, were expecting to see a princess who was looking for true love, didn't spend the majority of the movie as a frog…and that a Black prince would be featured…not one from Maldonia. Why couldn't the prince be Black American? The movie was just not inline with all the other Disney movies. If they took the time to advertise that they finally had a Black princess, then you may as well take the time to hear the complaints. The whole gumbo pot bringing the neighbors to eat on the front steps scene? Why that and not a Black well-to-do family? Just too many stereotypes. Cinderalla, snow white,sleeping beauty–all graceful, not so hard-working, definitely princess–movies.