Race in Movies
As can be seen in the image above, the only racial princesses Disney has advertised are Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana, and Jasmine. Mulan is Chinese, Tiana is African American, Pocahontas is Native American, and Jasmine is Indian. Both fortunately and unfortunately, the roles these princesses fill go along with history’s interpretation of their cultures, often times falling right into racist stereotypes.
Some people believe that the racism in Disney's feature films is so terrible, that even though children may not understand that the film may have racist undertones, they should not be watching any movie that disgrace other cultures. Some of the movies more than others have more visible forms of racism. In reality, it’s very hard to tell children they cannot watch a movie with their favorite hero or princess, because they do not understand the implications of what they are watching. Disney scholar Kathy Merlock Jackson admits that ‘‘Disney’s influence [on children is] an almost inescapable part of growing up’’(84) (Lester, 294).
The common phrase in Disney's Snow White, "Mirror Mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?", has often times been related back to having the main objects of beauty being white (Lester, 295). The racism involved in Disney is sometimes subtle, but other times much more obvious.
Some people believe that the racism in Disney's feature films is so terrible, that even though children may not understand that the film may have racist undertones, they should not be watching any movie that disgrace other cultures. Some of the movies more than others have more visible forms of racism. In reality, it’s very hard to tell children they cannot watch a movie with their favorite hero or princess, because they do not understand the implications of what they are watching. Disney scholar Kathy Merlock Jackson admits that ‘‘Disney’s influence [on children is] an almost inescapable part of growing up’’(84) (Lester, 294).
The common phrase in Disney's Snow White, "Mirror Mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?", has often times been related back to having the main objects of beauty being white (Lester, 295). The racism involved in Disney is sometimes subtle, but other times much more obvious.
Table taken from Towbins article on Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
In 2009, Princess Tiana, the star of The Princess and the Frog, became the first black Disney princess, the first princess of whom was Snow White in 1937 (Lester, 296). "Many noted that the first and only African-American princess, unlike other Disney princesses, is not a princess by birth but rather becomes a princess through marriage to a prince. [Also,] Tiana aspires for a career in the service industry while other princesses remain ‘happily ever after’ in the ivory tower of fairyland bliss profession-less and career-less" (Lester, 297). Many have even gone to the point of comparing Michelle Obama and Princess Tiana, saying they have lived the same lifestyle by becoming "princesses" by marrying into the family of a "prince", and not having it as a birth right (Lester, 297). Princess Tiana unlike all the other Princesses is a female with brown skin and full lips and "clearly has an extra dose of ‘attitude’ and confidence though not enough to cross that finger-snapping, neck-rolling stereotypical manifestation of ‘African-American female attitude'.’’ (Lester, 299). In other words, it has been clear to the public that she is not your average princess. Princess Tiana ends up marrying a Prince by the name of Naveen, who is considerably white and most times very rude to her. Some believed this was racist in the way that this classified princes as always needing to be white; others thought of it as multicultural and realistic.
Cheryl Lynn stated in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog: The Pride, the Pressure, and the Politics of Being a First by Neal A. Lester:
-Most everyone in the movie including the Princess and Prince are economically poor.
-Tiana was mostly subservient to her best friend who was white.
-The prince was not black.
-Only 10 percent of the movie actually showed princess Tiana as a princess, and all other times she was seen as a frog.
All of these statements outraged many people, especially those who were African American.
On a brighter note, Princess Tiana became a milestone for not only Disney but little girls all around the world, and brought about a new meaning to the beauty of being a princess (Lester, 297).
Image via http://goo.gl/6pAb02
MULAN
Mulan, unfortunately shows both racial and gender discrimination like many other Disney movies. Although she shows similar characteristics to the other Disney princesses, she is not considered an official Disney princess, and is instead just a hero in Disney's core promotions (Lester, 295). In many Asian movies, the males are considered to be martial arts experts, while the females are beautifully exotic and somewhat coy (Towbin, 22). Mulan showed both male and female characteristics as well as being adventurous and independent, which did not go with the cultural expectations of the Asian race (Towbin, 31). Many of the Chinese ways were both realistic and over exaggerated in Mulan. Mulan is also one of the only known Disney movies that shows religious aspects such as praying to ancestors (Towbin, 33).
Asian movies were not very popular in the past, and when they came out they generally put all Asian traditions and lifestyles into one category, which is incorrect and stereotypical (Towbin, 22). Mulan was the first Disney movie to try to show the Asian lifestyle as accurately as possible, unlike the Siamese cats found in Lady and the Tramp, whose main attribute is their slanted eyes (Towbin, 37).
Image via http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mulan
Mulan, unfortunately shows both racial and gender discrimination like many other Disney movies. Although she shows similar characteristics to the other Disney princesses, she is not considered an official Disney princess, and is instead just a hero in Disney's core promotions (Lester, 295). In many Asian movies, the males are considered to be martial arts experts, while the females are beautifully exotic and somewhat coy (Towbin, 22). Mulan showed both male and female characteristics as well as being adventurous and independent, which did not go with the cultural expectations of the Asian race (Towbin, 31). Many of the Chinese ways were both realistic and over exaggerated in Mulan. Mulan is also one of the only known Disney movies that shows religious aspects such as praying to ancestors (Towbin, 33).
Asian movies were not very popular in the past, and when they came out they generally put all Asian traditions and lifestyles into one category, which is incorrect and stereotypical (Towbin, 22). Mulan was the first Disney movie to try to show the Asian lifestyle as accurately as possible, unlike the Siamese cats found in Lady and the Tramp, whose main attribute is their slanted eyes (Towbin, 37).
Image via http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mulan
POCAHONTAS
Pocahontas is a historical movie that can help children to understand what happened between the Native Americans and the colonizers of the United States, otherwise known as pilgrims. She is seen as both wise, strong and helpful to both her native country and the English when it came to avoiding war (Towbin, 30). She was also seen as heroic, athletic and adventurous, which is similar to Mulan and dislike many other classic Disney princesses. Much like Mulan, Pocahontas is also not considered one of Disney's official princesses, and is seen primarily as a heroine (Lester, 295).
Image via http://goo.gl/EHVH2C
Pocahontas is a historical movie that can help children to understand what happened between the Native Americans and the colonizers of the United States, otherwise known as pilgrims. She is seen as both wise, strong and helpful to both her native country and the English when it came to avoiding war (Towbin, 30). She was also seen as heroic, athletic and adventurous, which is similar to Mulan and dislike many other classic Disney princesses. Much like Mulan, Pocahontas is also not considered one of Disney's official princesses, and is seen primarily as a heroine (Lester, 295).
Image via http://goo.gl/EHVH2C
DUMBO
Racism is seen in very intense, yet submissive forms in Dumbo. "The crows appear to have African American voices; they depict stereotypically negative characteristics often associated with racist depictions of African Americans, such as being poor, unintelligent, and naïve. They also sing, “We work all day, we work all night, we have no life to read and write, we’re happy . . . we don’t know when we get our pay, and when we do, we throw our money away. . .”. (Towbin, 32). The crows were not only portrayed as African American, but also as villainous, giving children and adults the false and racist impression that all African Americans are villains. The crows were actually played by white males who imitated black men, and usually referred to each other as "brotha" making it more racist than if African Americans had just voiced the characters themselves (Matyas, 14)
Image via http://goo.gl/kKm7HR
Racism is seen in very intense, yet submissive forms in Dumbo. "The crows appear to have African American voices; they depict stereotypically negative characteristics often associated with racist depictions of African Americans, such as being poor, unintelligent, and naïve. They also sing, “We work all day, we work all night, we have no life to read and write, we’re happy . . . we don’t know when we get our pay, and when we do, we throw our money away. . .”. (Towbin, 32). The crows were not only portrayed as African American, but also as villainous, giving children and adults the false and racist impression that all African Americans are villains. The crows were actually played by white males who imitated black men, and usually referred to each other as "brotha" making it more racist than if African Americans had just voiced the characters themselves (Matyas, 14)
Image via http://goo.gl/kKm7HR
THE JUNGLE BOOK
In the Jungle Book, many accents show racist characteristics, and mannerisms of animals as well. "posh British accents went to characters with power, while The Black-coded characters speak a jazz lingo that reflects the most stereotypic African American dialect” (Miller & Rode 93)" (Matyas, 15). The Monkeys who are stereotyped to be like African Americans, sing to a Caucasian boy "I want to walk like you, talk like you" indicating that blacks and whites are not as equal as we believe and that "blacks want to be like whites" (Towbin, 36).
Image via http://goo.gl/AEcXWx
In the Jungle Book, many accents show racist characteristics, and mannerisms of animals as well. "posh British accents went to characters with power, while The Black-coded characters speak a jazz lingo that reflects the most stereotypic African American dialect” (Miller & Rode 93)" (Matyas, 15). The Monkeys who are stereotyped to be like African Americans, sing to a Caucasian boy "I want to walk like you, talk like you" indicating that blacks and whites are not as equal as we believe and that "blacks want to be like whites" (Towbin, 36).
Image via http://goo.gl/AEcXWx
ALADDIN
The Arabs in Aladdin are seen as dirty, thieving and cheap, which made a similar connection to Alice in Wonderlands Caterpillar, who was described as Middle Eastern, and was lazy, had a short temper, and did nothing but smoke a hookah (Towbin, 32)
Image via http://goo.gl/1jYoKi
The Arabs in Aladdin are seen as dirty, thieving and cheap, which made a similar connection to Alice in Wonderlands Caterpillar, who was described as Middle Eastern, and was lazy, had a short temper, and did nothing but smoke a hookah (Towbin, 32)
Image via http://goo.gl/1jYoKi
LION KING
Scar is the most notably racist character in all of the Lion King. He is seen as darker than all other lions and evil (Matyas, 14-15). Scar also tends to involve himself with hyenas of the pride who are portrayed as savage animals of Africa making them more like African people than the other lions (Matyas, 14-15).
Image via http://goo.gl/Slqd8N
Scar is the most notably racist character in all of the Lion King. He is seen as darker than all other lions and evil (Matyas, 14-15). Scar also tends to involve himself with hyenas of the pride who are portrayed as savage animals of Africa making them more like African people than the other lions (Matyas, 14-15).
Image via http://goo.gl/Slqd8N
CINDERELLA
As many people know, Cinderella is considered one of Disney's favorite princesses. In the cartoon movie, and most remakes, she is always seen as white, skinny, and beautiful. In 1997, Brandy Norwood, an African American female, played the role of Cinderella, and many people were in an uproar. To most Americans Cinderella has always and should always be a white female.
Controversy arose with this movie, as it brought about a whole new beauty of being a princess to young black girls everywhere, but outraged whites in many areas.
Image via http://goo.gl/K5AgD
As many people know, Cinderella is considered one of Disney's favorite princesses. In the cartoon movie, and most remakes, she is always seen as white, skinny, and beautiful. In 1997, Brandy Norwood, an African American female, played the role of Cinderella, and many people were in an uproar. To most Americans Cinderella has always and should always be a white female.
Controversy arose with this movie, as it brought about a whole new beauty of being a princess to young black girls everywhere, but outraged whites in many areas.
Image via http://goo.gl/K5AgD
Links to Sources:
Lester, Neal A. "Disney's The Princess and the Frog: The pride, the pressure, and the politics of being a first." The Journal of American Culture 33, no. 4 (2010): 294-308. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1542-734X.2010.00753.x/pdf
Matyas, Vanessa. "TALE AS OLD AS TIME: A Textual Analysis of Race and Gender in Disney Princess Films." (2010). http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=cmst_grad_research
Towbin, Mia Adessa, Shelley A. Haddock, Toni Schindler Zimmerman, Lori K. Lund, and Litsa Renee Tanner. "Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films." Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 15, no. 4 (2004): 19-44.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J086v15n04_02
Lester, Neal A. "Disney's The Princess and the Frog: The pride, the pressure, and the politics of being a first." The Journal of American Culture 33, no. 4 (2010): 294-308. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1542-734X.2010.00753.x/pdf
Matyas, Vanessa. "TALE AS OLD AS TIME: A Textual Analysis of Race and Gender in Disney Princess Films." (2010). http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=cmst_grad_research
Towbin, Mia Adessa, Shelley A. Haddock, Toni Schindler Zimmerman, Lori K. Lund, and Litsa Renee Tanner. "Images of Gender, Race, Age, and Sexual Orientation in Disney Feature-Length Animated Films." Journal of Feminist Family Therapy 15, no. 4 (2004): 19-44.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1300/J086v15n04_02