Disney's First Latina Princess Isn't Latin Enough For Some
By now, you might have already heard hos from every block hollerin' and crying about Disney's first ever Latina princess who is looking a little too white girl-ish for some. It took a while for Disney to even admit that Princess Sofia, who should've been named Princess Concepcion, is Latina. Then when Disney finally admitted that she's Latina, hos kept pressing them on specifics. They finally said that Princess Sofia is half-Enchancian and half-Galdizian. Disney just made that shit up. Those are made-up fairytale lands that are supposedly Latin countries. This is worse than your self-hating cousin Maria telling people her name is Marie and that she's from the southern part of Spain when the bitch is really from El Salvador.
/Slash says that on November 18th, Princess Sofia will make her debut on Disney Jr. in the TV movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess and then she'll star in her own series next year. Sofia's mother has darker skin than the other characters, but they never say where she's from either. Joe D'Ambrosia, the VP of originally programming at Disney, says they have no plans to get into what Princess Sofia's race is. Joe says that they kept her race vague on purpose, “We never actually call it out. When we go into schools [to talk to young students about the show], what I find fascinating is that every girl thinks that they’re Sofia.”
The CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition is not happy about Disney being so vague:
“We need more heroes right now that are very identifiable. We’re in a time where Latinos are taking the blame for everything that is wrong with America. This is not a time to pussyfoot around. If you’re going to promote this to the public, and Latinos in particular, do us a favor and make it a real Latina. Are they afraid that some people are not going to accept this princess because she is Latina?" he asked. "The more I think about it, the more bothered I get. I really would like to hear what the execs have to say. What are they afraid of?”
I have had full hate for Disney ever since I went to apply for a restaurant host job at Disneyland and they made me a damn janitor instead, but I have to slightly defend their dumb asses here. There are many light-skinned hispanic beauties. Cristina Saralegui, the Duchess of Alba and Walter Mercado are all beautiful, fair-skinned Latina women. And when I first looked at Princess Sofia, I saw a Latina girl. But only because she looks like my cousin Cindy whose signature hair color is Feria Ruby Rush and who always wears emerald blue contacts she bought on clearance at a beauty supply store. Cindy even had a purple quince dress. Just throw a hickey on Princess Sofia's cheek and there's my cousin Cindy!
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blah, blah, blah.
you are a little kid who watches a lot of television (because your mom is afraid to let you g out on the street lest you be molested, tortured, drawn and quartered, and they find your foot in some "quiet, but normal-seeming" loner man's freezer - but that's another story).
and of the dozen or so of the princesses you love to share your imaginary adventures with, NONE of them look like you.
Dora's cool, but she's not a princess and anyway you are too GROWN-UP for Dora.
what does this say to you? first, you wonder what it means. then you may draw some conclusions:
"I'm not important."
"I'm invisible."
"I must be bad, somehow, in some way."
"Maybe I should look like they do. Maybe I AM actually white!"
"It's better to be white."
Stop trying to look at it from an adult perspective and you might see why it is important to have some ethnic (or racial, or whatever the fuck you want to parse it as) diversity in the media, particularly in children's programming.
There are plenty of studies about this topic. No, I won't Google them for you.
I also have personal experience with this, both within my family and with those of friends and others whose children grew up with mine. No, I won't detail it.
Whoever mentioned Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" - you got it exactly. Thank you.
The Great OZ (actually Elphaba) has spoken!
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God don't like ugly.
Salacious asked: "Is there a place where gingers are a majority?"
In Scotland they make up a significant percentage, although not the majority (the "ginge" genes are recessive). Interestingly, those genes are expressed quite a bit among Ashkenazi populations.
I long for the days when they remake The Little Mermaid with all-black characters and more singing fish. Because Disney is my look into reality. Not.
Submitted by Scott in NYC on Sat, 10/20/2012 - 1:04am.
Way to entirely miss the point. But then, based on your entire posting catalogue, what else does anyone here expect from you.
This is so stupid. I'm hispanic and resent it when people stick the label hispanic not bc I'm ashmaed but bc it creates an expectation to be a stereotypical version of the person I really am. Of course this lame "coalition" has to comment bc for everything we have to continue to segregate ourselves and deem eachother as different.we really are not that different. He's angry bc she doesn't look like that hispanic? What does a hispanic look like? Why can't a hispanic b blone (naturally)? I get these comments often not about my looks but more about my accent (I don't have one) and my views. So hispanics can't be athiest and pro choice ? Please, we need to break the mold and be progressive and I'm afraid that organizations like this set us back to ignorant thinking that hispanic people are all dumb and all we do is have kids and speak with a huge accent.
Disney does not employ hundreds of thousands of people. Those it does employ say it is a job from hell.
People that see red head from this pic need to get their eyes adjusted.
Seriously.
What's wrong with you people?
Submitted by Dirk Diggler on Sat, 10/20/2012 - 1:35pm.
Let's get some facts straight here:
1. Disney sucks.
2. South America isn't teaming with red heads with green eyes.
3. We don't care what your background is. We d-listers like any slutty type who drinks.
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Is there a place where gingers are a majority?
http://christophreilly.hubpages.com/hub/Redheads-Myths--Legends--and-Fam...
Sure there aren't millions, but they're not such a rare sight like an albino is either. Latin American cities are as much of a melting pot like NY or Toronto, so it just depends on the places you've visited in SA. That said, gingers are not that uncommon where I'm from. I know quite a few and one of my best friends is a drunktard ginge. XD
One thing though, we are not as obsessed with racial heritage as people in other countries are. It's just not proper to discuss it or to ask someone why they look the way they do, and I've never heard anyone say something like "oh I'm 1/4 russian by the way of Argentina, 2/8 french and 2/4 peruvian... :S
I once heard an american girl here introduce a friend of mine to other people this way: "This is Mary, and she's half salvadorian and half filipino. Isn't she pretty?". Good intentions aside, it was uncomfortable to everyone else in the room, my friend included.
I am not a fan of modern Disney but loved the old movies and so did my children.
They give jobs to hundreds of thousands of people who are able to support themselves and their families.
Let's get some facts straight here:
1. Disney sucks.
2. South America isn't teaming with red heads with green eyes.
3. We don't care what your background is. We d-listers like any slutty type who drinks.
Let me get this straight - they are angry because this cartoon character is not more stereotypical? Perhaps she could be voiced by Sofia Vergara, would that be better? Same first name too! Or Charo?
Also: "We’re in a time where Latinos are taking the blame for everything that is wrong with America." Really? Do they expect to be taken seriously when they say inane stuff like that?
This is the thing. There are a lot of Latinos in the US. The majority of those Latinos are Mexican and 90% of them look like more like Dora than Princess Sofia. Yes, I personally undestand that there are many Latinos that look like Cameron Diaz or pre-brunette Sofia Vergara but these darker skinned children in the US would probably prefer a doll that looks more like them than a blonde actress in a telenovela.
MJT - YES! It was all over the news and the talk at work after it happened. It blew up on social media as well. Poor Big Tex..:-(
Cashew Time - Girl, YES! The weather here has been awesome!! Love it!!
I am surprised that the CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition is so MISINFORMED!
Once and for all people, Hispanic is an ETHNIC GROUP, NOT a race!!
An ethnic group can consist of many different types of races/colors within it. It is true that Hispanic people with ancestors from South America, like Mexicans, tend to be darker skin; this is due to the ancestral mix of the European colonialists and the indigenous native American populations (Aztec, etc.). Many Hispanics from European heritage like Spain tend to be lighter color skin. Hispanics from islands like Puerto Rico may also be a mix of the original island natives and the European colonialists. So you will see people with all different skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors who are Hispanic - which simply means their ancestry comes from either South America, Central America or Europe (Spain/Portugal). There are many "black" Hispanics, and there are equally many "white" Hispanics. Look at Cameron Diaz or Christina Aguilera, who have fairer skin and blond hair.
I am of mixed Puerto Rican heritage, and my skin has always been very fair. My brother is more naturally dark. Same set of parents. I really am disappointed that an actual Hispanic group is so misinformed, and so quick to dismiss some Hispanics as "inauthentic" for European coloring.
I'm too confused about this to really comment about it but some people I can tell just by looking at them that they speak Spanish and others I would never know until I heard them talk.
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European is neither a race nor an ethnic group. It's a place with a common history, comprising as of 2004, 87 distinct 'people of Europe'.
It's programmed into us to be hierarchical. We will use anything to appear better than someone else. If that's what you are into.
Hate me some Disney. I was programmed too by the corporation into white girl destructive fantasies. Its all bad with Disney. Do they take an interest in the mental health of their child actors? Disney is a cultural abomination.
Can Sofia Vergara be the voice of Latina princess ?
Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. For that reason you'll see white Hispanics, black Hispanics, mestizo Hispanics, etc. People like to think of the mestizo Hispanic as the epitome of what a Hispanic person should look like: brownish skin, dark eyes, dark hair, short. But that's just one type of Hispanic. There are many types, I wish American society would just get that. There's always the whole, "oh you're Hispanic? I thought you were white" that's because the person IS white AND Hispanic. Basically, Hispanic is so all encompassing that you might as well just parallel the term to European to sort of understand. Italians, Germans, Frenchmen, are all European but can look radically different. Crank that radical difference up 10X and now you've got the term Hispanic. So basically if someone says they're Hispanic just nod and accept it no matter what they look like.
Submitted by Vicvoc on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 9:54pm.
Duches oF Alba is european, not latin
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Actually, "latin" applies to spaniards, italians, portuguese, french and romanian, as they speak romance languages.
She's perfectly cute. The CEO went overboard but I can see why someone would want to encourage having more "princesses" and "heroes" that all kids could relate to. That's a good thing. There's no need these days to draw all the characters in the same manner. Disney is taking baby steps here, perhaps this is a good opportunity for other companies? Anyway, it's just a cartoon...
MK, did you mean Quinceañera dress? Ok, uno cinco! olllol
@Sal, hi there! ;p
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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I see no issue with this depiction as I have many relatives with that skin tone and eye color.
The whole issue is some nonsense from a small, shit-stirring organization that wants some media coverage. "Not latino enough" my ass, just watch a freaking telenovela and you'll see plenty of fair skinned / blonde women in them. Are all these actresses not an fair representation of hispanic women? It seems to me that those self-hating idiots just want to fulfill a white audience's stereotype of what latinas should look like.
Alexis Bledel (aka Rory Gilmore) is half Mexican, half Argentinean, do they complain that she gets roles for "white people" and that she doesn't represent latinos either?
My niece is Latina and she looks just like Princess Sofia. We come in all colors.
The race thing is always bizarre. There are tons of different colors for "Hispanic" people. I know MANY blonde/blue eyed Chileans. Let us not forget the German Argentinians. The language a group speaks is a reflection of colonialism, not ethnic bloodlines. There are Chinese in Macau who speak Portuguese.
The "Latina" princess could be as blonde as Barbie. Heck, just make Snow White Latina.
My niece is Latina and she looks just like Princess Sofia. We come in all colors.
Any supposed progress in racial understanding is purely superficial. There will always be issues, hang-ups, labels, stereotypes and general ugliness around race. It's laughable that groups who advocate for "equality" continue to spout the same bullshit they accuse others of spewing and perpetuate the same ignorance they seek to eradicate. Latinas and latinos have endless combinations of coloring but the National Hispanic Media Coalition would rather have a fake cartoon character created in the image of a stereotype, thereby alienating latinas who don't have the same coloring? Think about it. And then think about something more important than a cartoon character.
One of my best friends from college had light brown hair, green eyes, very pale ivory skin, and basically looked like this: http://tinyurl.com/8vk8gv3
But when she opened her mouth, she sounded like the biggest chola you'd ever encounter. People were constantly doing double takes when she spoke. But yeah, Latinas can look white and sound like La Smiley, but they can also look like me, a cross between Pocahontas and Cher who sounds like a total Valley girl (people do double takes when I speak, too).
One thing about the two of us: we are both over 5'9" - something which REALLY disorients the white people. Latinas are supposed to be short and squat, doncha know?
Latina!? If you say so Diss-nay...
I don't like her dress or the way her face is drawn. I just don't like the choices the cartoonist/artist made. She doesn't even have that Disney look. She looks like the budget version DVD Belle.
This is regardless of the character's heritage and lineage. I'm not stepping in that pile of scat.
I'm not Latina, but I kinda understand the feeling. When I was growing up, the black standard of beauty was light skin, long hair and light eyes. The closer you were to white, the "prettier" you were.
However, just like black people, Latinos come in all colors. I went to high school with this foine Mexican guy. He was half white and totally ginge (the only ginge I've ever found attractive). I have had Latina friends with blonde hair and blue eyes; just like I have black relatives with blonde hair and blue eyes.
I hope that one day we get over thisrace thing. I don't know why we obssess over our differences. It would be laughable if it weren't so pathetic.
Bitch is flashin' gang signs behind her back and shit. That's what they do in the barrio. She's straight up hood.
Princess Sofia looks beautiful，and when i am a young girl,loves her sooooooooo much!!!!!!!
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She's clearly not latina. Latina women have nice big tits! I have spent enough time in south america to know!
Give her bit tits. Its a fucking cartoon, doesn't cost any more to do it right! And a nice hot ass, too. And some tight clothes, not that 1978 prom dress...
Srsly---blue eyes?
I hope I am taking this important issue seriously enough.
Might as well get some human group to start complaining that her head to body ratio is not representative of a human being.
Jillian She's Latina American...go to a different country if you want 100% Latina!
Submitted by registereduser on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 8:34pm.
We've got people living in poverty and without jobs sure let's all bitch about this.
Very valid point.
Duches oF Alba is european, not latin
Why is the CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition making statements like:
"...do us a favor and make it a real Latina."
The fuck? You are part of the damn problem. How can they say that little girl isn't a real Latina ? You haven't even seen the movie-you don't know her fucking life. Plus, it's their shit-let them do it how they want then either support them with your money, or don't.
I'm part Latina and embarrassed that this was even said.
Kids don't even give a shit about race/skin tone/hair color until they are taught to and statements claiming one is not "a real Latina" are insulting to all Latinas.
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Love the Moms in your life. It would suck with out them.
I get this shit all the time from white people and even hispanic / latino people. 100% hispanic, english is my second language, had a fucking quince just like every other girl in Miami but I don't "look" hispanic enough. My dad also gets this shit because he's pale, blue eyes, and blonde hair. It's a huge stereotype and it is annoying. Funny enough this dumb ass shit never existed 50 to 60 years ago.
Trust me, little latino girls don't give a crap about skin and hair color. We just like princess stuff just like every other little girl of any other race.
In the Latin community they don't have bigger fish to fry than this?
Priorities people
No one's gonna disagree with the necessity of having a familial network to nurture a child. I think the point here is a child seeing someone he or she can identify with in the greater world. Somebody mentioned the novel "The Bluest Eye" and it's a perfect example to what this is about.
Not wanting to start anything but a certain group just doesn't get it unless it happens to them. A good case in point, when the movie Thor came about, the blogs got very heated when some characters weren't represented the way they traditionally are in the comic.
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You smell kinda pretty. Wanna smell me?
We've got people living in poverty and without jobs sure let's all bitch about this.
Mefunigirl, well said. Also others. The character's cute, don't see the problem at all. That CEO is going a bit far. Is he not aware that not everyone looks the same? Probably not. Those who don't like the character or the story, should skip it.
Not sure how "half-Enchancian and half-Galdizian" would translate to latina but I agree, she "should've been named Princess Concepcion" - MK, OLOL ;p
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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Submitted by bambam on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 7:57pm.
Submitted by But.Seriously.Folks on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 7:45pm
Agreed!!
and a more contoversal comment on a DOLL post.
IMO, what our children need is parents that love them and grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
etc... to love them and nuture them. A child's self esteem needs to come from within and
love of family---NOT A DOLL.
Submitted by But.Seriously.Folks on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 7:45pm.
America has itself to blame for being so race fucked. "Latino" and "Hispanic" aren't races anyway--they're ethnic groups. There's too much divide and conquer in America to this day. You can be black, white, Native and Latino. My future ex is a white Hispanic Puerto Rican. Our daughter is all of the above. Why does it still matter so much?
*le sigh*
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I saw a report on race on PBS recently, it included most everybody, asian, white, black, hispanic. I won't get into details but it definitely put some things in a perspective I hadn't thought about before. It's not about race so much, it's about class. Race only clouds the issue and it's not a coincidence.
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You smell kinda pretty. Wanna smell me?
@But.Seriously.Folks:
I am over it, also. I just wish we could all concentrate on something different. Being Caucasian is not a bad thing, and neither is being Latina. We are all human, dammit. Why have we forgotten this?
I agree - so much widening of racial groups. My mother is Mexican and my Dad is basically a hodge podge of Eastern European ethnicities. Who cares?
I cannot even tell you the questions I used to get. Questions like "So, what are you anyway?" "You are dark-skinned, so you MUST be latina. You have got to be a Mexican". It went on and on...it was a bummer. I was friends with everyone, or at least I tried to be. Everyone wanted to put me in a little box. It was maddening.
Submitted by Whamo on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 7:32pm.
ubmitted by jim on Fri, 10/19/2012 - 6:25pm.
THESE FUCKING MINORITY GROUPS ARE SEGREGRATING THIS FUCKING COUNTRY.
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Hey Jim I think in this case the complaint isn't trying to separate anyone, just the opposite, the Latino community simply wants to be represented and be included not excluded.
Regardless of whether they get the exact representations of a group of people's skin colour bang on shouldn't be the point, they simply want to see a character that has identifiable darker skin tone so other kids that are darker can look at the character and say hey that kinda looks like me. They just want included that all. Let's face it in the past most kids never saw any other colour other than white and felt left out.
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Agree with Whamo.
I've been asked if I'm Hispanic, Middle Eastern, half Vietnamese (???), etc over the years. I always wonder why anyone cares. Why is it "exotic" to be anything other than white? White is actually the minority on this planet. People of color are all over. Sometimes I think white people need to get over themselves. No offense, I have plenty of white fam. Personally, I'm just over the race thing.
Zac Efron is latina, no cierto?
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"She's Black & I'm Gay--- we create culture."