The Little Mermaid is Finally Part of Our World
The Little Mermaid Trailer was released a few weeks ago, starring African American actress Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Cue the trolls and animosity.
The hashtag #NotMyAriel has recently surfaced on the internet as millions rioted over the casting of African American actress Halle Bailey as Ariel in a new rendition of The Little Mermaid. . The backlash this film’s trailer gained is blatantly racist with over 2 million dislikes on YouTube and a surplus of hateful comments, according to Forbes. Even though the mermaid is a completely mythical creature, some are still appalled that this mermaid could be black. Bailey’s response to the hate, however, spoke volumes: “It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear [my grandparent’s] words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you.’”
In recent weeks, mothers of young black girls on Tik Tok have been recording their daughters' reactions to the live-action trailer. Their responses range from, “I wanna watch it!” to, “Mommy, she’s brown like me!” These little girls definitely pull on our heartstrings as their faces light up with pure joy at watching their favorite princess, Ariel, fill the screen. Despite the shocking flood of negativity, parents are pushing back with these Tik Toks to show how excited their little girls are to see a princess who is a reflection of them. Bailey commented, "I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they're special and that they should be a princess in every single way.” Bailey is carrying the burden of judgment on her shoulders as millions continue to shed hateful and derogatory comments. In spite of this, she continues to uphold a position of positive influence; she encourages girls to be happy with who they are.
Disney has achieved great strides in the inclusion of diverse princesses that are intelligent, independent, and inspiring. No longer does the media portray a blonde-haired, blue-eyed “damsel in distress” needing to be saved by a prince. We must keep demanding diverse roles of women that we see in the media. Although Disney still has a long way to go before truly achieving diversity, recent princesses represent many different cultures and backgrounds, redefining what it means to be a princess. This sets the tone for children everywhere as they watch their role models through the screen exude female empowerment.
Let’s think about the theme of The Little Mermaid. It is a film that is beloved by many who have felt like they don’t belong; it is about love and acceptance. Ariel’s character is a metaphor for anyone who feels like an “other” in society, and Halle Bailey embodies this role perfectly while serving as an inspiration for girls everywhere.
Written by McKenna Madis, Graphic Design: Madelyn Okruhlik, Social Media: Camila Ponce