Princess Tiana vs The Honey Voiced Homeless Woman

The question...

"Why is it that when blackness is seen through the prism of White America it never equals the sum of its parts?"

Disney has yet again taken that which is rich, full and particular and stripped it to its skeletal frame like an El Dorado in Watts. As I sat at the midnight showing of their new animated film, The Princess and the Frog, I couldn't help but feel betrayed and misled. I expected to see a fantasia featuring and spotlighting the African American experience but what I got was a one dimensional, pitiful after-thought that seemed like the forced product of some affirmative action arm twisting. Ouch.

Louisiana's cultural landscape is quite particular. Can someone explain to me at whose behest they replaced the circle line music which is the aural cornerstone of this place with washed out Randy Newman bluegrass? Creative license huh? The music for Aladdin had more Afro-influence than these hackneyed tunes. Strike 1. I could forgive this misstep if the next weren't so grievous. Egregious. Flagrant... THE ACCENTS! The Bayou wordplay and melodic cadence is so specific and cannot be faked! Playing fast and loose with this dialect was only indicative of the overall lack of care and attention to detail. Strike 2.

Can someone please explain to me why Disney set out to make a movie starring African American characters but found it acceptable to employ ZERO African American creative minds? UGHHHHH! Strike 3.

Why was the animation straight out of 1992? I mean, we've seen Shrek and UP so, we know that animation has moved FAR beyond the 2 dimensional creations of the past. Why did this particular movie have to retro-grade? Strike 4.

Finally, don't bill the flick as being about the first black princess if its TRULY about the first FROG PRINCESS! She was a frog for 85 % of the movie! I know this is part of the story and to some I may seem callous but ... So What! Strike... Oh damn, you get it! LOL!

Fast forward to an early morning in NYC...

As I danced smoothly and uncontrollably on the subway platform to Ledisi's new album, the sweetest voice cut through the air and grabbed immediately for my heart. I had to stop, un-ipod my ears, and listen. There stood a homeless woman belting out one of my favorite Clark Sisters' hits, "Endow Me". I immediately put Ledisi on pause and missed the next 3 trains in order to be audience to this Carnegie Hall worthy performance. Her voice was so big and full. Aching. I ached inside of it. Wow. I thought to myself, "... this is it, the heart that was missing from the movie last night... the heart of true experience... the ability to stir up spirit... that authentic-ness that we as proud Afro-Americans connect to immediately and without hesitation... " Before I could man up, I found myself crying and listening. This Honey Voiced Homeless Woman had done in 20 seconds what Disney (with all their infinite resources) had failed to do. Move me. Make me believe. Make me proud to be black... Home run.

Oh well...

As always cover and flank me with your prayers as I am always doing the same for you...

Scooby