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Reload this Page The Frog Princess Walt disney's first black princess

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http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...s_N.htm?csp=34

This release could go a couple of ways




A stereotyped black princess (from Harlem)

Your archetypal white princes just painted black

Or a realistical black princess with stereotypical animalistic sidekicks ala dumbo the crows singing “ I see a elephant fly�


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p.s. sorry about the swearing, i thought the auto-censor would edit it.
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imported post - 10-03-07, 03:32 PM

It sounds like a long wait though, 2009.

Mar 10, 2007
Disney's newest princess
For the new film "The Frog Princess," Walt Disney will introduce its first black princess. »What's her name?


DISNEY'S 2009 ANIMATED RELEASE "THE FROG PRINCESS" TAPS INTO STUDIO'S RICH FAIRY TALE LEGACY
OSCAR-WINNER RANDY NEWMAN TEAMS UP WITH ACCLAIMED VETERAN DIRECTORS MUSKER & CLEMENTS
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – (March 8, 2007) -- The Walt Disney Studios will continue its fairy tale legacy in animation by taking moviegoers on an all-new "once upon a time" musical adventure with its 2009 release of "The Frog Princess," it was announced today by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. A musical set in the legendary birthplace of jazz – New Orleans -- "The Frog Princess" will introduce the newest Disney princess, Maddy, a young African-American girl living amid the charming elegance and grandeur of the fabled French Quarter. From the heart of Louisiana's mystical bayous and the banks of the mighty Mississippi comes an unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm at every turn.
"The Frog Princess" is based on an original story written by Disney's acclaimed filmmaking duo John Musker & Ron Clements ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Hercules"), who will also direct. Oscar®-winning songwriter/composer and New Orleans native Randy Newman ("Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Toy Story 2," "Monsters, Inc." and "Cars") will write songs and the score for this project. Peter Del Vecho, a 12-year Disney animation veteran, will produce.
Commenting on the announcement from The Walt Disney Company's 2007 Annual Meeting of shareholders, Cook said, "We're pleased to be here in the heart of New Orleans to announce 'The Frog Princess,' a great story with all the ingredients that go into making an extraordinary motion picture experience. Like many of Disney's most popular fairy tales, it has elements of magic, fantasy, adventure, heart, humor, and music. The film's New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture. We're also thrilled to have John Musker, Ron Clements and Randy Newman lending their talents and creative energies to this project. John and Ron helped to usher in Disney's second golden age of animation nearly two decades ago with 'The Little Mermaid,' and are on track to create the Studio's next great fairy tale adventure."
John Lasseter added, "Aside from being longtime friends and colleagues, John and Ron are two of the most influential and imaginative filmmakers in the animation medium, and I am so excited to be working with them in bringing their creative vision
for 'The Frog Princess' to the big screen. They've come up with an original story that is deeply rooted in the fairy tale tradition, and it's filled with great humor, emotion, and musical moments. Randy Newman brings fun and excitement to every project, and I couldn't think of a better choice to deliver some wonderful New Orleans style music."



An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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mike pain wrote:
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http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...s_N.htm?csp=34

This release could go a couple of ways




A stereotyped black princess (from Harlem)

Your archetypal white princes just painted black

Or a realistical black princess with stereotypical animalistic sidekicks ala dumbo the crows singing “ I see a elephant fly�

What is a stereotyped Black princess from Harlem? The Film is set in New Orleans.confused3


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imported post - 12-03-07, 03:25 PM

Who cares about this.

Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?

"Your archetypal white princes just painted black" - for real. Just looking at the drawing it's pain to see that this "princess" was drawn with european features. It may as well be a cartoon about Barbie for all I give a toss.


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Prince Hakeem wrote:
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Who cares about this.

Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?

"Your archetypal white princes just painted black" - for real. Just looking at the drawing it's pain to see that this "princess" was drawn with european features. It may as well be a cartoon about Barbie for all I give a toss.
Because Disney is an American company.I'm glad our young girls will have something to look at that reflects them.



Hell if it was set in an African kingdom folks will moan about that.


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Burning Spear wrote:
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Prince Hakeem wrote:
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Who cares about this.

Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?

"Your archetypal white princes just painted black" - for real. Just looking at the drawing it's pain to see that this "princess" was drawn with european features. It may as well be a cartoon about Barbie for all I give a toss.
Because Disney is an American company.I'm glad our young girls will have something to look at that reflects them.



Hell if it was set in an African kingdom folks will moan about that.

Hell if it was an African Kingdom folks wouldn't moan about that.


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Prince Hakeem wrote:
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Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?



Because, everyone knows that our history didn't start until they rescuedmine and yourancestors from thoseuncivilized barbarian savages in Africa. Our Heros
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arepunk ass rappers, dope dealers basketball playersand ho's. I thought you knew Prince Hakeem.




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IM SURE WALD DISNEY WAS A FREE MASON!


When a fool it told a proverb, its meaning has to be explained to him.
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imported post - 14-03-07, 01:48 PM

Prince Hakeem wrote:
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Burning Spear wrote:
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Prince Hakeem wrote:
Quote:
Who cares about this.

Disney has no problem portraying everybody else's historical greatness except Africans - why not do something basedon an ancient African kingdom?

"Your archetypal white princes just painted black" - for real. Just looking at the drawing it's pain to see that this "princess" was drawn with european features. It may as well be a cartoon about Barbie for all I give a toss.
Because Disney is an American company.I'm glad our young girls will have something to look at that reflects them.



Hell if it was set in an African kingdom folks will moan about that.

Hell if it was an African Kingdom folks wouldn't moan about that.
Yes we would !

We would complain because the writer would likley be non-blackandwouldnt 'understand' the culture/struggle.

If the accents were supposedly 'off' we would complain about that as well. Which leads on to my next point

No doubt there will be anti-African American sentiments as well if they took up most/all of the voice jobs


You ever heard of the Golden Rule. He who has the gold makes the rules!

He who asks is a fool for five minutes. He who never asks remains a fool for ever.
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imported post - 15-03-07, 12:46 AM

Atleast they are documentinga positive part of African American history. New Orleans at the height of the Jazz era is a good start. And I don't see films like Phocanotas and the Hunchback of Notredame as exactly reflecting the great aspects of Native and Gypsy culture respectively.
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Huh, this isnt African American history. Thisstory makes absolutly no sense,theres no "princesses"inAmerica let alone in New Orleans, we dont practice voodoo,and what black parent names thier daughter Maddy?confused3

Id rather see something about slavery or katrina spun into a love story..I respect what thier trying to do but the whole story as it is sounds retarted.
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Huh, this isnt African American history. Thisstory makes absolutly no sense,theres no "princesses"inAmerica let alone in New Orleans, we dont practice voodoo,and what black parent names thier daughter Maddy?confused3

Id rather see something about slavery or katrina spun into a love story..I respect what thier trying to do but the whole story as it is sounds retarted.
Voodoo is practiced in some parts of New Orleansand I don't think that she's actually a princess in that sense.Anyway jazz is a part of AA history and if they highlight that then that's a good thing. Also black parents name their children all kinds of things, lol, soI don't think Maddy is so farfetched.
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impactplayer wrote:

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inAmerica let alone in New Orleans, we dont practice voodoo,and what black parent names thier daughter Maddy?confused3

If you really believe that, then please heed this warniing and I am being very serious. If you are down there and a single woman offers you spaghetti or any dish with red sauce in it do not eat it.



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Voodoo is practiced in some parts of New Orleansand I don't think that she's actually a princess in that sense.Anyway jazz is a part of AA history and if they highlight that then that's a good thing. Also black parents name their children all kinds of things, lol, soI don't think Maddy is so farfetched.

MADdyisbilled as being a literal princess in 1920's America,and I dont care how much Voodoo is practicedits not representative of blacks and that bothers me more than anything.Voodoo is not seen in a good light here at all, its like theyre trying to make us complain.How come all the other princess get pretty names but we get this frog princess named "MADdy". MADdy is farfetched, its a dogs name.:X

I rather havethis filmcancelledthan have my people humiliated.
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impactplayer wrote:
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Voodoo is practiced in some parts of New Orleansand I don't think that she's actually a princess in that sense.Anyway jazz is a part of AA history and if they highlight that then that's a good thing. Also black parents name their children all kinds of things, lol, soI don't think Maddy is so farfetched.

MADdyisbilled as being a literal princess in 1920's America,and I dont care how much Voodoo is practicedits not representative of blacks and that bothers me more than anything.Voodoo is not seen in a good light here at all, its like theyre trying to make us complain.How come all the other princess get pretty names but we get this frog princess named "MADdy". MADdy is farfetched, its a dogs name.:X

I rather havethis filmcancelledthan have my people humiliated.
Quote:
Well according to Disney she's a chambermaid, okay. Where did you get princess from that? And where does it say that they are using Voodoo to represent all African Americans? They're not even using it to represent black people in New Orleans. Voodoo comes in because her "fairy godmother" is a voodoo priestess and the villain of the story is an evil voodoo master. They're showing both positive and negative aspects of Voodoo. And some black mothers will name their kids after all kinds of things. The singer Brandy is apparently named after her family dog.I think Maddy is a cute name, probably a short form of Madeline or something soget off your high horse.
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impactplayer wrote:
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Huh, this isnt African American history. Thisstory makes absolutly no sense,theres no "princesses"inAmerica let alone in New Orleans, we dont practice voodoo,and what black parent names thier daughter Maddy?confused3

Id rather see something about slavery or katrina spun into a love story..I respect what thier trying to do but the whole story as it is sounds retarted.
I take it you've never been to the American south. Voodoo or hodoo was and still is practiced in Loiusiana and parts of Alabama and coastal South Carolina.Ever hear of the Gullah Islands?

Also, why are you knocking it ?It as not been relaised yet.I mean why would you do a musical on slavery? or Katrina? That's asinine.The jazz period seems as good as any other time period.


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why are we discussing this shyte????? wgaf what crap Diss-ney is flogging now?


calling justine Adegor & Jeniece Adegor from Woolwich, South London..where are ya?
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I take it you've never been to the American south. Voodoo or hodoo was and still is practiced in Loiusiana and parts of Alabama and coastal South Carolina.Ever hear of the Gullah Islands?

You acting like Im supposed to have a Phd in Louisianaology, I couldnt give two drops a piss about the dump andsince when did parts of Lousianarepresent the entire south?.Okay sovoodoo is somewhat popular in NO, they even have a AFL team named voodoo butthe south is called thebible beltfor a reason.I guess it dosent matter because its not like im going to watch it anyway..The movie is narrowly targeted at little black girls, they couldnt even put a black prince in there for the boys.

I mean why would you do a musical on slavery? or Katrina? That's asinine.The jazz period seems as good as any other time period.

Asinine? and this nonsensical pile of frog princess sh*t isnt lol..Hey, dont knockthe slavery love story idea thats our history. If it was tastefully done id be first in line to see that.
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impactplayer wrote:
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Quote:
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I take it you've never been to the American south. Voodoo or hodoo was and still is practiced in Loiusiana and parts of Alabama and coastal South Carolina.Ever hear of the Gullah Islands?

You acting like Im supposed to have a Phd in Louisianaology, I couldnt give two drops a piss about the dump andsince when did parts of Lousianarepresent the entire south?.Okay sovoodoo is somewhat popular in NO, they even have a AFL team named voodoo butthe south is called thebible beltfor a reason.I guess it dosent matter because its not like im going to watch it anyway..The movie is narrowly targeted at little black girls, they couldnt even put a black prince in there for the boys.

I mean why would you do a musical on slavery? or Katrina? That's asinine.The jazz period seems as good as any other time period.

Asinine? and this nonsensical pile of frog princess sh*t isnt lol..Hey, dont knockthe slavery love story idea thats our history. If it was tastefully done id be first in line to see that.
Your talking out the sided of your ass. Knocking the south but looking for a tastefully done love story between slaves!!!



Its been done.Called Sankofa.


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I think the main problem is that for the most part Afro-American culture varies very little from what Whites living in the same area would. So in that case, producers are often forced to use sterotypical cliches' to get the piont across that this is suppose to represent Black Americans.

The voodoo part is OBVIOUSLY one of these "cliches" that they are using in the story line to try to make her clearly "black" even though AA people, even the ones in New Orleans are overwhelmingly Protestant. The empahasis on Jazz I can see, it started in New Orleans and worked its way up north to Harlem- it was very popular amongst different AA people nationwide. Voodoo however, has only had a handful of participants and has always been frowned upon by the larger society.

I'm trying to become excited about this project, because its the step in the right directions but I also wouldn't want to take any child of mine to a cartoon rule of cooning and other horrible racial sterotypes!


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imported post - 29-03-07, 07:35 PM

Mike Pain

there are tons of Black, Latin and other.....companies that produce high quality animation and films for those that want to show their children things they can relate to.


it's the interent age..if you are interested in finding something...it can be found.


It's not Disney's job to validate us.....we validate ourselves...
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imported post - 29-03-07, 11:47 PM

Greetings Community,

I just joined BNVillage, so I could contribute my 2 cents to this discussion. I'm writing you from the citadel of distortion and deception. No, not Washington, D. C.,.....but Hollywood. Actually from Los Angeles, but for some reason, many equate the two.

Last year, I got an email, that was bemoaning the fact, that Disney had no Black princesses. The writer was soliciting signatures, to send to the Disney Corp. and had acquired about 150when the email got to me. Here's her email, and it's followed by the responseI wrote the sister that was attempting to roust Disney to 'do right by us'.

Sent around the U. S.: May 31,2006

Interesting thought

Subject "How come there's no Princess here that looks
like me?"

Dear Disney Company,

In December 2005, I made my first visit to Disney
World with my family. The experience was breathtaking.
Throughout our journey, the adults were astonished by
how the themes were brought to life. The children were
fascinated and engaged particularly by the Princess',
Minnie's House, the fake snow that fell at night, the
parade, meeting the characters and asking questions as
well as taking pictures with the characters. Above
all, the girls were intrigued by the Princess' mini
shows. However, my daughter had a question. She said,
"How come there's no Princess here like me?" I asked,
"What do you mean?" She replied, "You know, a Princess
like "That's So Raven or Penny Proud". I responded by
saying, "Unfortunately, Disney has not created
fairytales for children like you. In other words,
there are no Princess' of African American descent."

As the evening came to an end, I began to ponder on
her question. I thought to myself...well, why aren't
there any African American Princesses in such a place
where the motto is "We Make All Dreams Come True". I
decided to email your company to ask why. A few weeks
later, I received a surprising call. The woman I spoke
to reassured me that my question and concern was taken
seriously and would be looked into further.

During this conversation, I asked why there aren't any
African American Princesses. The woman stated because
there aren't any African American fairytales. She
said, "Well we have Pocahontas who represents Native
America, Mulan who represents the Chinese, Jasmine who
represents the descendants of the Middle East and the
African Americans have Lion King out of Africa". That
reply left me with the thought that she just compared
African Americans to wild animals. After that
statement, I just laughed and respectfully ended the
conversation. One thing I realized was that I can't
blame her for her response. Disney has not created an
African American fairytale.

As an educator/parent, we all know that through life
experiences what we can touch, see, feel, taste, and
hear leaves a lasting impression. Disney, you hold the
power to make life experiences become a reality to a
melting pot world, which includes African Americans.
Disney's motto is "We Make All Dreams Come True".
Well Disney, my child and other children like her have
a dream and through their Disney experience, they are
depending on you to make it come true.

Thank you,
************************************************** ******************

Here's my response sent to all on the list: 1, July 2006.

Y'all forgive me if I have offended anyone....I was gonna send this to my sister for editing, deleting or approval, but ...oh well....here it comes~


I appreciate the questions that your visit to Disney's playlands elicited. However, I will try to keep my response simple and short, and ask you to pleasenever think I am lacking in compassion for your concerns and feelings.

The greater question for me is, 'Why would you expect Disney to create a character that presented a positive image of the African American life experience? Please do some research, see if you can find a good film library and review some of the first Disney cartoons and characters. I am sure you will realize that just like your good ol' U. S. Constitution, the founders of the Disney corporation held a tainted view of African descended people. In cartoons, just as in the Constitution, the value of our lives was not going to be regarded in the same way as the rest of the race deemed human.Quite naturally, thinking from such ignorance, their images, and characterizations would only depict Black characters to be laughed at (through speech, voice tones and physical movement), regarded as slow thinking, lazyand criminal, or as clowns and buffoons (the jive-talking crows in Disney's DUMBO).

In other words, knowing the circumstances of thebeginning, and the early history, accepting that for what it is, as being REAL about those phenomena, can help one to frame an undeluded understanding. There's nothing in Disney's beginning that says they would portray a beautiful sweet lovely African American princess in what they offer in the marketplace.

Now those are just my thoughts onthe Disney Corporation's beginning. However, if you've kept up with their latest shenanigans well documented in the financial and entertainmentpublications in the last 15 years, then you know that the Disney Corporation of todayis truly a hellhole at it's top. The treachery, the scheming, all speak of a value system at work that if buying consumers cared about integrity through and through.....well Disneyland wouldbe shunned.

But we know how life is. People do not really think deeply, so of course, they don't look deeply into what really is at work, in the situations and circumstances that we deal with. All that to say, thathumans are extremely influenced by the 'appearance of things', yet phenomena in Life is always much more than what it simply looks like. And here is a key to Disney's success....they play on the appearance, the pristine cleanliness of their parks, the painted smiles on the characters,-----the dazzling GLAMOUR of aprincess in pinkstanding before a beautiful castle that is actually a hollow facade.

My question to you at this point is....Is that what we want our children to buy into? A dream of a life as a 'princess or prince' in the context of the minds of Disney creators, America's value system,or European history as in the King Arthur/Camelot myths. Let me qualify here, European history as we knew it before films like Braveheart, hit the screen that for the first time, allowed us to really see the type of people (murderous, afflicted with vile diseases, wicked, ugly beings), these'held on high pedestal' kings and queens of England and Europe truly were.

Can we free our minds from wantingsomething, just because it's been glamorously portrayed and promoted to us as being desirable.....but that in truth is really a questionable way to "be in the world". Before we start yelling, "Hey....we don't have that! We should have one too," can we give ourselves permission to QUESTION...DO WE REALLY WANT, DESIRE, OR NEED that? Especially today. Come on my Beloveds....I think we can do better.

In any case, sharing thestory ofprincesses of African descent is primarily our responsibility asparents, blood and extended family members. Researching and teaching truth is also a function ofour role as educators. Disney's role is not to educate or even to enlighten it's audiences. It is simply a creative business. Whether through animation, marketing of theircopy-written, patented and licensed characters,and or designing theme parks, Disney is about using creative genius tobring greater financial wealth to it's owners. It's not about morals....for all we know, the folks that haverun this business have never even considered the issues thattroubleyou.

In closing perhaps instead of sending 1000 names to Disney to ask them to do something they will probably laugh at, let us have some fun. Let's do some research, let's tap into our creative genius and see what we come up with. Let's accumulate the names and stories of 1000 'princesses and princes' that we want our children to know about. They can be real histories, and fantasies that teach lessons or just tickle the funny bone. The bottom line is why spend the energy trying to force someone to see your vision?!?! Let's justbring our vision into manifestation. Who knows, the stories may be so interesting, fun and valuable, that they may become a Saturday cartoon show, or a series of books. Today we havethe abilitytouse our creative genius to also design a theme park, that children all over the world would beg and bug their parents to visit.I've had an idea for a retreat site with an area set aside to enable those desiring, to have a virtual experience of certain periods in our history. I invite anyone interested in discussing it, to contact me.

Well meaning, and useful in the past, I question accumulating 1000 names to send to a corporate head. It's an old paradigm.To make an impact, we must come up with new, fresh, and cutting edge solutions and means to create the world thatwe'd like to see.Our activities, our movement has nothing to do with anybody else. We don't need to change Disney. We need to change ourselves. We are endowed with the autonomous authority to make our world. Even if it starts outsmall asa weekend theme park that we pull together with artists, writers, producers, musicians,setdesigners, sound and light designers, story tellers, actors/actresses, engineers, magicians and performers. It could be the final day of the one of our majorconferences (IE: Essence, or the National Black Lawyers, AKA, Delta, Black Educators, Black CivilServants Union, whatever.)

A phenomenal day where everyone pools their talents to give the children our vision of who and what they are today, who we have been and what we've done here and globally thruout history. Imaginerides and exhibits that demonstrate that we use these moments of Beingness not arguing,debating,angry or sad,but GRATEFUL and fulfilled, because the Grace that enables us to capture Divineideals and dreams and quickly manifest them inrealityinsuresthat all the 'giggly ones'* face no blocks in realizing their potential.


Sincerely,

Kentke

Kentke is my sacredname. It is the ancient and formal version of Candace (pronounced Kendahsi).The name is actually an ancient title from the Merotic civilization, which was located in today's nation of Sudan. The title means Your Majesty, Your Highness, or Ruling Queen, which is the title given to a lineage of women that ruled from 340 BC to 340 AD. The women were priestesses, rulers, legislators and warriors.
Todays Kentke is a writer/producer/actress/educator. Among other functions, she ignites joy and enlightenment by facilitating LaughterYoga sessions in the corporate world.


*'giggly ones' = children, because if they are allowed to be children, laughing isone of the ways they spend most of their time....

PS. Here's a few links.
The firstto a site that asked a question about Blacks in recent Disney movies. I don't consider this authoritative, but just gives you an idea of what the masses think.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006030506797

This link I would definately consider authoritative. Read it all,it's definately deals with ourdiscussion.
http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/resources/lessonplans/hs_es_popular_culture.htm
And to be fair...here's a link to Disney's online educational site, to let you see what they do to offer educators support for classroom and historical curriculum.
http://dep.disney.go.com/educational/lessons?id=202

Below are the Product Notes for the Disney film DUMBO. I showed the short film Dumbo to a primary age audience not too long ago. I swore that the voice of the 'jive-talking' crow, giving advice to Dumbo was that of Rochester, of Jack Benny fame. He wasn't listed, but here's some info on that film, where the Crow character was undoubtablysupposedto be Black. Interesting too, that though the Crows were supposed to be humorous,as also seen in the Little Rascals films, the Black character was the one with the wisdom, that ultimately saves the day!


Product Notes
Deceptively simple, beautiful, moving, and hilarious, DUMBO is often overlooked when considering Disney's greatest films because perhaps of its lack of extravagance, its brief running time, and its simple story. Baby elephant Jumbo Jr. is delivered by the stork to his elephant mom with much fanfare but soon receives a cold shoulder from the snobby female pachyderms and the rest of the circus due to his oversize ears. When his mother goes on a rampage in order to protect him from some snickering rubes, she winds up locked away. Dumbo is left without a friend in the world until the street-smart Timothy Mouse decides to become his manager and a telephone line full of delightful jive-talking crows convince him he can fly. Highlights include Dumbo accidentally getting drunk and experiencing the surreal musical sequence "Pink Elephants on Parade" and a soundtrack packed with such priceless songs as the Oscar-winning "Baby Mine" and the crow's soulful number, "When I see an Elephant Fly." There's nary an imperfect moment to be found in this raucous, tender, sublime film, which has been delighting audiences for generations.

Theatrical release: October 23, 1941.

Rereleased in 1949, 1959, 1972, and 1976.

DUMBO is the fourth full-length animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures.

Shot in three-strip Technicolor.

The film won the 1947 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Animation Design.
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imported post - 25-04-07, 09:54 AM

Last Laughblkbrukteet

Anika Noni Rose to Voice 'The Frog Princess'
Posted Apr 21st 2007 2:03PM by Erik Davis
Filed under: Animation, Music & Musicals, Casting, Disney


Though Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson stole the Dreamgirls spotlight from Anika Noni Rose, it is Rose who apparently beat out Hudson (as well as ladies like Alicia Keyes and Tyra Banks) for the lead role in Disney's upcoming animated musical feature, The Frog Princess. (I'm sorry, but if Tyra Banks thought she had a chance here, then I'd love to have a little bit of what she's been smoking.) Rose will voice Maddy, Disney's first ever black princess -- a role that garnered the interest of practically every black actress/singer in Hollywood. And who can blame them -- heck, this is history in the making. Go Disney!

Set during the 1920s Jazz Age in New Orleans, The Frog Princess will be based on the classic fairytale and feature music from -- who else -- Randy Newman. Pic will also mark the first 2D Disney film since 2004's Home on the Range, and hopes to tap into the spirit of the Broadway-style musicals that were so successful for the Mouse House throughout the late '80s and '90s. In addition, Ron Clements and John Musker (directors of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid) have been tapped to write and direct. The first images of Princess Maddy have already been released, and though it's said to be early concept art, both pictures are in line with what you'd expect from an animated Disney Princess, in that she's pretty and petite with not an ounce of fat on her. How do you feel about the film? Is it just me, or does it feel slightly odd that it's 2007 and we're actually celebrating the fact that a major studio has decided to create their first animated African-American princess? Is this something that should have been done years ago?



An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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My first post in months!!!banana.gif

Disney need to make a ton a money from this film so dont expect an all black cast.

Which reminds me, who's playing Prince Harry?
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