Role Model

What impact will Disney’s first black princess have on kids? The Independent’s Paul McKenzie asks why even watching the advert has got his daughter so excited. “Why does this film resonate with her so much? I’ve been shying away from what I feel is the obvious answer for a while, but as the film’s opening weekend nears, it’s time to confront it. The answer, I suspect, is that Tiana is a black princess, and there are not many of those on the big screen. I’d rather it were otherwise. Her mother and I have tried to shield Esme from the ugly, complex nature of racism until she hits her teenage years. But the more she talks excitedly about the upcoming film, the more convinced I am that The Princess and the Frog is striking a chord with her because the leading lady shares her shade of colouring. Esme has always loved the Disney/Pixar magic regardless of colour. Ariel, Cinderella, and Tinkerbell all have a piece of her heart. But it’s worth noting that until Princess Tiana showed up, her three favourite characters have been: Lilo, a spiky, dark-skinned Hawaiian girl; Mulan, a Chinese warrior princess; and Dory an absent-minded Blue Tang fish.”