A Response to “Why I Reject Princess Culture”… Why I EMBRACE Princess Culture For My Black Daughters

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A few weeks ago Baby and Blog writer Angele wrote a very popular and thought-provoking piece about why she rejects princess culture for her daughters. Here, Baby and Blog writer Darcel writes an equally thought-provoking response.

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I remember the way I felt watching princess films as a child and now I’m able to watch many of them with my children. I loved playing in the tub and swimming in the pool, pretending to be Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Sleeping Beauty was and still is my favorite Disney Princess. I’m really looking forward to seeing Maleficent!

I think we have to be very careful not to put out thoughts and feelings onto our children. I listen to and watch my girls pretend to be characters from their favorite films and it always takes me back to my childhood. We have collected almost all of the Disney Princess books over the years and they remain some of the favorites to be read over and over again.

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

~Albert Einstein

These fairytales are about so much more than princesses marrying a prince. I see hope, friendships, and overcoming what can seem like impossible circumstances.
Maybe I don’t have a problem with the princess culture because I don’t give it any power. My girls enjoy the Disney Princesses as much as they enjoy Mario Bros. One isn’t better than the other in my eyes.
We have had conversations, read books, and watched documentaries on princesses all over the world. And you know what? I want them to grow up and be with someone who treats them like a princess!
I can see why people have a problem with the traditional princesses, and I do wish they had more ethnic diversity in their characters, besides Jasmine and Tiana. Even Disney has taken the hint a little bit and changed it’s view on the traditional princess.
It’s not all about beauty, money, and marrying your prince.

I’ve seen and heard so many discussions against the color pink, sparkles, heels, and makeup. How is trying to sway your child from that any better than forcing it on her?  My girls enjoy sitting with me while I put on makeup and they even have their own little makeup kits to play with at home. I mean if you really think about it, applying makeup is an art! I like the way I look without makeup but I also like the way I look after applying a little. I like dresses, high heels, my favorite color is pink, and have a small collection of sparkly lipgloss. My children know that I wear makeup and put on heels from time to time for me, no one else. I like the way it makes me feel and that’s what matters.

For me, the princess films are simply another part of their childhood, just like the museum, the library, and the beach. We can hang out together watching the movies the same as visiting the places I mentioned.
And since we’re being honest, I think they know that life doesn’t always turn out with the girl marrying the guy and living happily ever after..I’m evidence of that!
I do want them to grow up believing that they can create their own fairytale.

 

Darcel White is the author of The Mahogany Way.

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