Isn't Princess and the Frog offensive?

[BrianLo]

I do not doubt there will be future black Disney characters (Pixar's Soul has a black lead). However, there will probably never be another princess, and if one should come along, it will probably be decades from now. The first princess of color arrived in 1992 with Jasmine; we have not seen another like her (mixture of Indian and Arabic cultures) since. We have not seen another Native American or Chinese/Asian princess either. Moana will most likely be the only Polynesian princess. I believe Disney is perfectly fine with giving communities of color their one princess, while continuing to create white princess narratives for the future.

True. I actually thought Raya was going to be a "Princess Movie", but now I am admittedly not so sure.

 

[Quinnmac000]

They didn’t have to go with that narrative though. They could have created a black character who was strong, successful, and wise with money. They didn’t.

Tiana could have still be strong and independent whether she was paired with another strong and independent character or not.

I think this is just something we will disagree on because like you said previously, long lasting black couples are considered "beating the odds".

Tiana is my mother, my grandmother, three of my aunts, my cousins, and more who couldn't rely on a well off black man to succeed and had to work hard to where they wanted to be. That realism is probably way more important than the idealism that black couples long lasting love.

I mean Tyler Perry does it with all his films and yet it hasn't changed one thing for black communities. (Always in Tyler Perry movies, a wealth or "good black man" rescues poor black woman who just needed a man to succeed in the world)>

 

[Californian Elitist]

I think this is just something we will disagree on because like you said previously, long lasting black couples are considered "beating the odds".

Tiana is my mother, my grandmother, three of my aunts, my cousins, and more who couldn't rely on a well off black man to succeed and had to work hard to where they wanted to be. That realism is probably way more important than the idealism that black couples long lasting love.

I mean Tyler Perry does it with all his films and yet it hasn't changed one thing for black communities. (Always in Tyler Perry movies, a wealth or "good black man" rescues poor black woman who just needed a man to succeed in the world)>

I come from generations of black couples in my family where both the women and men worked hard to survive.

Different perspectives, it looks like. I understand where you're coming from though.

I won't get into Tyler Perry.

 

[DrAlice]

When I first saw PaTF, I was happy that Disney had attempted to make a princess movie where the princess' values stem around hard work to achieve your goals. (AND that her goal wasn't to just get married to a prince) Throw in some, "family is important" ideas and good music and I enjoyed it. It's still one of my modern favorites. Is it perfect? No. But it's a Disney princess movie, what do you want? haha..

I remember talking to some friends about the movie after it came out and was told that there was a contingent of moms at my friend's son's school that were REFUSING to let their kids watch it. They were HORRIFIED that Disney would dare make this movie. Why? Because the "voodoo" in it was promoting non-Christian values, and perhaps Satanism.

So, to answer the OP's question. Yup, it's offensive to somebody.

 

[Rich T]

...there was a contingent of moms at my friend's son's school that were REFUSING to let their kids watch it. They were HORRIFIED that Disney would dare make this movie. Why? Because the "voodoo" in it was promoting non-Christian values, and perhaps Satanism.

So, to answer the OP's question. Yup, it's offensive to somebody.

When Pocahontas hit theaters, there were Christian groups protesting that the film was evil because it said (in song) that rocks and trees have spirits.

 

[solidyne]

[...] a contingent of moms [...]

Ugh, nothing worse!

 

[JD2000]

princess and the frog should be just as controversial. from inequality to stereotypes. it is all there. just read this quote from the movie: “exactly. which is why a little woman of your... background, would have had her hands full running a big business like that. no. your better off where your at.”

 

[Californian Elitist]

princess and the frog should be just as controversial. from inequality to stereotypes. it is all there. just read this quote from the movie: “exactly. which is why a little woman of your... background, would have had her hands full running a big business like that. no. your better of where your at.”

That scene is actually a more realistic portrayal of the experience of a typical black person in the 1920's. Much more realistic than singing, cheery, happy-go-lucky slaves who are eager to serve Massa.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I do not like the voodoo sequence in the film. If it takes up more ride time than the final lift hill, it will majorly change the overall flavor and feel of the ride for me. When we visited the real New Orleans, that crud creeped me out!

 

[JD2000]

That scene is actually a more realistic portrayal of the experience of a typical black person in the 1920's. Much more realistic than singing, cheery, happy-go-lucky slaves who are eager to serve Massa.

you mean ex-slaves. and they seem just as happy most of this film too.

 

[Californian Elitist]

you mean ex-slaves. and they seem pretty contempt and happy most of this film too.

Even as ex-slaves, they were coming off the heels of the Civil War. Things were far from great for black Americans.

PatF takes place during a different time. And that one scene you quoted is still way less insensitive.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

 

[Sharon&Susan]

Senator Johnson mentioned briefly in PaTF supported a law that disallowed Asian immigrants from owning land in California.

 

[Sailor310]

I'v seen PatF several times, long before this year actually. So what Naveen isn't Black. It never even dawned on me this was either a slap in the face from either end of suggested extreme perspectives. She fell in love with him and his color was second to it all. Isn't that ok?

I'm a White Italian, my wife is German. My White sister married a Mexican/Puerto Rican. And our first son is probably marrying his Black girlfriend very, very soon. My closest friends are Asian; my closest friends at church are three men of three different colors- Black, Brown, and White.

Fact of the matter is we are all 99% alike aside from the color of our skin. It's time to treat everyone with love, honor and respect and equal rights. Right?

Check our Dr. John Perkins' book "One Blood" or Miles McPherson's "The Third Option". Both are Black pastors with a fully Biblical mindset. They'll challenge your thinking.

I went to Mississippi with a construction team from my church several years ago. We spent a week with Dr Perkins fixing up a house to enable a family to own a home. Dr John Perkins is a very articulate voice for justice and reconciliation between the races. It was a real blessing to spend a week over breakfasts chatting with him about race relations, Christianity, and justice.

 

[Figurehead]

Lets keep this discussion civil.

Song of the South is considered insensitive due to it being a positive toned film in a time when African Americans were not treated well.

As time went on, the film received more criticism for this aspect than anything and is deemed racist.

With the ride of it's namesake now being removed, I honestly believe its replacement film will one day face the same criticisms as its predecessor.

Princess and the Frog takes place in the 1920s in America. Yet Tiana never faces any racism or issues that would be historically accurate for the time.

Tiana sings and dances at numerous points throughout this picture.

Her mother happily makes dresses to serve a rich white man and his spoiled daughter.

The film glorified New Orleans without showing any of the day to day discrimination African Americans faced.

Naveen is an African American male who grew up having servants fill his every need and is considered lazy and has to seek out a rich girl to marry.

The character's interactions with Caucasians are positive and not at all representative of what things were really like at the time, white washing the truth about the 1920s.

Can anyone else see this being an issue down the line? Princess and the Frog is typical Disney fare and glorifies a time period and does nothing to address reality.

I don't see how these issues won't come up in the future. IMO the only way to avoid controversy is to make an "honest/darker" film (which is not Disney's style), or to avoid early American stories all together.

A thoughtful analysis on your part. Thank you for bringing some sanity to all the hysterics about this.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Lets keep this discussion civil.

Song of the South is considered insensitive due to it being a positive toned film in a time when African Americans were not treated well.

As time went on, the film received more criticism for this aspect than anything and is deemed racist.

With the ride of it's namesake now being removed, I honestly believe its replacement film will one day face the same criticisms as its predecessor.

Princess and the Frog takes place in the 1920s in America. Yet Tiana never faces any racism or issues that would be historically accurate for the time.

Tiana sings and dances at numerous points throughout this picture.

Her mother happily makes dresses to serve a rich white man and his spoiled daughter.

The film glorified New Orleans without showing any of the day to day discrimination African Americans faced.

Naveen is an African American male who grew up having servants fill his every need and is considered lazy and has to seek out a rich girl to marry.

The character's interactions with Caucasians are positive and not at all representative of what things were really like at the time, white washing the truth about the 1920s.

Can anyone else see this being an issue down the line? Princess and the Frog is typical Disney fare and glorifies a time period and does nothing to address reality.

I don't see how these issues won't come up in the future. IMO the only way to avoid controversy is to make an "honest/darker" film (which is not Disney's style), or to avoid early American stories all together.

Makes sense. Disney should convert splash mountain with a unique story line, Mickey and friends go on a camping trip in the west, events are funny and eventually go comically wrong, and they end up in the log flume over the falls. Actuall there is probably a Disney short where Mickey goes camping, they could base it on that.

There will be plenty of merchandise to sell too

 

[TsWade2]

It's not offensive.

 

[mlayton144]

Lets keep this discussion civil.

Song of the South is considered insensitive due to it being a positive toned film in a time when African Americans were not treated well.

As time went on, the film received more criticism for this aspect than anything and is deemed racist.

With the ride of it's namesake now being removed, I honestly believe its replacement film will one day face the same criticisms as its predecessor.

Princess and the Frog takes place in the 1920s in America. Yet Tiana never faces any racism or issues that would be historically accurate for the time.

Tiana sings and dances at numerous points throughout this picture.

Her mother happily makes dresses to serve a rich white man and his spoiled daughter.

The film glorified New Orleans without showing any of the day to day discrimination African Americans faced.

Naveen is an African American male who grew up having servants fill his every need and is considered lazy and has to seek out a rich girl to marry.

The character's interactions with Caucasians are positive and not at all representative of what things were really like at the time, white washing the truth about the 1920s.

Can anyone else see this being an issue down the line? Princess and the Frog is typical Disney fare and glorifies a time period and does nothing to address reality.

I don't see how these issues won't come up in the future. IMO the only way to avoid controversy is to make an "honest/darker" film (which is not Disney's style), or to avoid early American stories all together.

This is not an issue for the future , this is an issue for RIGHT NOW. I suggest a new petition to stop this racist portrayal of a 1920s New Orleans before it even starts (might have to keep splash mountain for 30 more years while we find a non racist American era to portray)

 

[Brer Panther]

I like The Princess and the Frog and I personally don't think it's offensive, but I have indeed seen people both on this site and outside of it dub the movie offensive. So Disney won't be out of the woods just yet. People will likely start petitions to get it rethemed again.

 

[WDWmazprty]

Well, fact is anything can be offensive if you make it offensive. Seems to be a hobby of many people.