Why Disney shouldn’t make a black Ariel
“The Little Mermaid” live action movie poster courtesy of Disney.
Disney announced they’d be making a live action “Little Mermaid,” featuring Halle Bailey as the star. I believe making Ariel black is unnecessary, it’s as simple as that.
I’m not against black Ariel because she’s black, I’m against it because of what it shows and the meaning behind it. A black Ariel would be okay if it wasn’t being made in a place of guilt. If Disney were making it just to add more racially diverse characters that’d be fine. It’s happening because they need more black characters, and they feel the need to push and announce their diversity.
I grew up watching Disney, I saw white girls wearing crowns and winning the prince. I never cared much about it, and I always found Rapunzel to be my favorite princess.
As a black girl, I did sometimes wonder why there weren’t any girls ‘like me’ on TV. Then I watched “The Princess and the Frog.” Finally, a black girl wearing a crown. While I appreciated the movie, I didn’t like It. I still don’t like the movie.
Disney has made a few non-white princesses in the past, including Mulan, Pocahontas and Moana. Disney has expressed multiple times that they are ‘inclusive’ of all. Making a black Ariel is pushing It. To have a black Ariel knowing Ariel has been white in three movies, isn’t okay.
Disney came back at some of the hate saying this isn’t their first ‘diverse’ character and hopefully won’t be their last. Diversity comes in many forms. Racial diversity isn’t the only ‘diverse’ thing we need on TV. If Disney really wants to push their diversity, make a gay character. Not one that’s secretly gay like those easter eggs placed in movies but an out and proud gay character.
Not everyone believes Disney is diverse and that’s okay because the majority of people believe they are. I don’t mind Disney making black characters; that’s good. Turning an already known character black is both weird and rude to those who grew up watching it a certain way. A black mermaid? Sure. Call it something else, and give it a meaningful story and connections. Black character, new movie. Not an off-brand remake.
If Disney really wanted to show more diversity, make an LGBTQ+ character. That’d show more diversity. Racially diverse characters is old news now, we need and want to see more LGBTQ+ people on TV. That’s diversity. That’ll show more inclusivity.
Freshman Lynae Faughn is first year reporter on the Burke Beat but brings experience to the staff as she was the sports editor of the yearbook and newspaper...
Clementine • Feb 12, 2023 at 6:09 pm
I found your article because I believe black Ariel is necessary as well. What bothers me the most is that the prince is still white. I don’t know about you, but growing up as a POC in America, I feel like I was brainwashed as a child to believe white men were the superior choice instead of finding a parter with my own ethnic background. It wasn’t until I began exploring my own ethnic background and values that I realized this and was disgusted by the amount of people in my ethnic community who have married white men to seemingly improve their social status. Don’t get me wrong, there are couples out there in love and fully incorporating both cultures, but I’ve seen too many disregard their heritage to embrace the one they marry into. I look forward to seeing more princes of color.
Jaziira • Oct 25, 2022 at 8:19 pm
The fact that you said “racially diversity is old news now” is absurd like movements concerning people of color aren’t just now happening in this century. Especially after poc are still being oppressed today instead of hating on it why don’t you advocate for both sides you don’t have to just choose one side. It makes no sense for you to say they’re making it out of a place of guilty like there’s not other poc characters. You said you wouldn’t mind seeing other poc characters and for Disney to add more but just for them to not do it out of guilt. regardless of how they do it their going to have to be guilty because Disney was mostly always white characters, Disney’s founder Walt Disney has been accused of multiple allegations of him being racists with facts to back it up so obviously there’s something to be guilty about at least their trying to take the initiative now to do it right. It’s sad to see you as a black person would disregard seeing black people have a win for once regardless of it being unoriginal or old news. You’re right about Disney needing more diversity not just people of color and not just LGBTQ+ where’s the cultural diversity religious diversity etc. but this isn’t about other types od diversity your talking about why Ariel shouldn’t be blacks so your just talking about racial diversity your adding irrelevant topics to your writing if your gonna add other types of diversity and you need more of it to be seen add every single one if you can’t then just stick to the one your talking about and make a better argument instead of just saying it’s old news.
Lynae Faughn • Nov 5, 2022 at 4:14 pm
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I appreciate you opening my eyes to a different perspective. I’ll take it into consideration on my next article. Thank you, Jaziira.