I had to stop watching the Twitter thread of the little Black girls, watching the trailer for next year's re-boot of "The Little Mermaid." It really does matter, and you can see it in their faces. I had to stop, because I had to teach; I can't be crying in the middle of the school day. (And if we are honest, "The Little Mermaid" could benefit the most from a re-imagining. Be honest with us, and yourself.)
It got me thinking back to high school, when Disney re-did "Cinderella," live-action, with a predominantly Black cast, including my first celebrity crush, Brandy Norwood--noted R&B singer and actress generally known simply as, "Brandy." I watched it less than 2 years ago; it was like I was 17 again. I love her. The End. Anyway, in those simpler times,--before everything folks didn't like was "woke,"-- most people went, "Wait, what? We've never had a Black Cinderella?" And it was pretty great. Pete's sake, her fairy Godmother was "Queen" Whitney Houston herself! Who else would it be? [You forgot to tell people they can watch it on Disney+ right now, or any time.--ed.]
I guess the only points I want to make are these: We White people have most things; it's not like we will lose our grip on all power, if there is a Black movie. I will readily concede that "progressives" can find a way to ruin or suck all the enjoyment out of anything. A sort of race essentialism, that thinks people should be separate, and generally hostile, has indeed taken hold in some places. The White racists of ages past couldn't dream of the thought-space some alleged White "anti-racists" have gotten themselves into. Even so, some of us are so afraid of "leftism" that we can't even celebrate little kids feeling a little less alone in the world. Suffice to say, I never wanted to be that kind of "conservative."
I think most normal people can look forthrightly at the histories of racism--I say "histories," because almost every people group has a story of being excluded, and/or actively harmed--and say, "Let's learn from this, and do what we need to do to prevent repeating these things." That's altogether different from someone saying, "It's your fault for this, and you must be punished." (On the other hand, if people are actively doing racist things, and cultivating racist attitudes, well, maybe it is *their* fault.)
I have been telling my students that they probably have been dealt some bad cards along the line. And yet, no one will hand you anything in this world. You have talent, and something important to do. And that I love them, and would do anything within reason to help them achieve their goals. If a Black Ariel helps them to believe that, and to believe in themselves, count me in.
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