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Two years ago while I was studying abroad in Paris, my younger sister called me from the U.S. giggling that she had delicious news to share with me. She announced breathlessly that Disney was creating its first black princess movie. Despite the fact that I was a sophomore in college and my sister was a senior in upper school, we all but swooned. Oh, I had my reservations – as someone who is African American, Native American, Asian American, and English American, it seemed that Disney had misrepresented the better part of my various heritages. I’m not even talking about...

WALT Disney's first black princess is steeped in controversy, with the studio changing her name and job, but still facing claims of racial insensitivity. Following claims of racial insensitivity, the studio -- known for its wholesome and predominantly white family values -- has made several changes to its first African-American princess, Tiana. Voiced by Anika Noni Rose, Tiana is the star of a new animated film to be released this Christmas, titled The Princess and the Frog. Tiana's mother will be played by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. Disney has changed the profession of the princess to an aspiring restaurant entrepreneur,...

The arrival of a black First Lady in the White House might have been greeted with celebration around the world, but the similarly historic debut of Walt Disney’s first black princess has not been received so warmly. The studio, known for its wholesome and predominantly white family values, has made several changes to its first African-American princess, Tiana, who will star in a new animated film this Christmas entitled "The Princess and the Frog," amid accusations of racial insensitivity.

Disney unveiled the cartoon image and the doll of their new black princess about a month ago. Tiana, the cartoon “princess”, works as a waitress, and then she kisses a frog and then she becomes a frog… then there’s a swamp and a voodoo curse, and maybe she becomes a princess and her frog friend becomes a prince, something like that. But all hell is breaking loose!

Almost two years before its hoped-for release of its first hand-drawn animated film produced under the supervision of Pixar's John Lasseter, Disney has already drawn fire for alleged racial and ethnic insensitivities that were detected in its original announcement of the film, according to Disney watcher Jim Hill. Since the original title, The Frog Princess, might be regarded as a slur on the French, the title has been changed to The Princess and the Frog. The main character, named Maddy -- who was to become Disney's first black princess -- has had her name changed to Tiana, since Maddy reportedly...