In a recent newspaper article, an author claimed Disney broke barriers by presenting the first African-American princess to audiences across the globe. Ribbit! Had I too been kissed by a frog? You see, I have seen African-Americans depicted as royalty in life and in film – years ago and now. What were they talking about? Darn, I thought, am I going to have to sit and watch the movie to critique it? Would I have to donate my hard-earned cash to an enterprise, let’s say one in which I am still sorting issues? My issues do not seem to bother my two young daughters who were clamoring to view the film and are not in the least bit moved by my philosophical issues (paraphrasing my youngest). Argh!
I have told myself in order to open a discussion about the first depiction of an African-American princess, I just might have to see it for myself. I tried to tell myself viewing the film might provide good fodder for the real argument – White-male affirmation and meta-narrative. But before I see the film, I am going to write the first piece of this paper because I am certain to be at odds with the ‘first story’ about African-American royalty ever presented to the world. Ribbit.
My issue? You see, while folks are getting all excited about ‘the enterprise’ finally telling a cartoon story about an African-American princess, I am wondering why this story has to be incorporated into some Disney meta-narrative in order for the idea of African-American princess to have any sort of face validity? I could be misinterpreting, but with all the hoopla I don’t think so. I still argue this is not the first time, so some folks are “tardy for the party”. In fact, I can think of a few films both TV and big screen where African-Americans were portrayed as royalty- Eddie Came to America, Michael Remembered the Time and Martin Luther and Coretta Scott KING, well they reigned supreme for social and racial justice. I can also think of many historical role models whom African-Americans consider majestic. The message I am receiving is we need to break out the cotillion ball gowns and tux. If the enterprise tells the story, then African-American royalty in film has in some way been legitimized and are incorporated into the meta-narrative – an American dream has come true. We have arrived. Somebody grab my dress for the cotillion!
Darn! Can everyone just read or reread Paulo Freire’s chapter one of Pedagogy of the Oppressed? It should be a must-read for everyone before they leave high school. I just want to scream in Spike Lee-movie style. Remember the part that says “As long as the oppressed remain unaware of the causes of their condition, they fatalistically ‘accept’ their exploitation.”
This isn’t the first time or only genre in which we have seen this need for cultural affirmation, need to become one with the meta-narrative or a fixation on being legitimized. Same can be said of Tiger Woods without specifically paying any attention to his transgressions. He is under significant fire for his transgressions – up to 16 alleged relationships with women outside of marriage. I am sure he is stunned because he is receiving so much attention. Interestingly, I am inclined to be somewhat stunned too, until I start to analyze the ‘shiggady.’ I can think of many a celebrity who has had or is participating in transgressions at the same magnitude and perhaps more. There is a difference. Those other transgressors are insignificant for a couple of reasons. Most are not a part of an interracial marriage, and if they are, no one seems to give a hoot. Why? I think that has a lot to do with type of sport. In other words, golf ain’t having it – transgressions. There’s one more important piece, I believe. Again, I am theorizing, the attention may have something to do with how Tiger has presented himself to the world.
Many high-profile celebrities, specifically those in particular sports, seem not to be too uncomfortable with their phenotype. They are not sharing with talk show hosts how they identify racially and ethnically. In fact, not only does the discussion not come up, but no one seems to care. They just assume. In Tiger’s case, however, how he identifies himself and how the world decided to identify him seem to not only matter – but they are contradictory. Tiger claims to be Cablinasian but the world sees him as Black. As one of his transgressees said, he is the whitest Black man.
Funny the way Mendelian genetics and phenotype seem to work. While I am not mad at that brother for claiming who he is, he is quickly learning the ‘Bl’ part of his constructed reality, Cablinasian, and his phenotype, seem to overshadow his self-proclaimed identity. I can’t help but wonder why. This is America and need I remind you again that we have what Tiger might describe as a Cablack president- who routinely refers to himself as Black and so does the world. I guess sometimes race still matters – at least in the presidency and golf.
