The Princess and the Frog: The Most Complex Disney Film to Date?

With a reputation that allows no leeway for controversy, we must applaud Disney for at least attempting to address the subject of race in its 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. The lack of acknowledgement of Tiana's blackness and Naveen's ambiguity, as Sarah E. Turner argues in her article "Blackness, Bayous and Gumbo: Encoding and Decoding Race in a Colorblind World", illustrates Disney's desire to be politically correct, but their sensitivity to the topic is quite understandable. In a nation that at once places an emphasis on one's cultural background but also prides itself upon being race-blind, it is no surprise that Disney must act cautiously. Though critics may target the film for failing to truly reference race in a meaningful way, I agree with Turner's statement that the representation of color is a complex issue that cannot be viewed in black and white.

I believe that Tiana's race, coupled with her distinguishing personality traits, is enough to portray her blackness in a positive light. Contrary to past Disney princesses such as Snow White, Ariel, and Jasmine whose accomplishments are inextricably linked to the aid of their male counterparts, Tiana is characterized as a strong individual from beginning to end. Even as a small child, she shies away from the traditional fairytale of marrying a prince and living happily ever after; contrarily, Charlotte, the stereotypically white foil to Tiana's character, more closely resembles these past Disney princesses as she quests to marry Naveen and become a "real princess". While other, older Disney princesses are often saved from peril by their love interests, Tiana is the one who does the saving-- she rescues Prince Naveen from the jaws of hungry alligators, and ultimately gives him life by marrying him and transforming him back into a human. Thus, although race is not explicitly addressed in this film, the dynamic created by Tiana's empowered character and her identity as a non-white princess serve to perpetuate positive messages about race for children. In a world in which the role of race is addressed, or not addressed, differently in every situation, Disney's ambiguous portrayal in The Princess and the Frog warrants neither excessive praise or criticism. It is merely another perspective on this complex issue.