DISNEY POC »

But sure let’s pretend the WoC princesses are least popular in spite of everything that indicates most of them being popular fan favorites, much more so than Aurora or Snow White?? And even if it were true, popularity of merchendise is manufactured in itself. Tired of people acting like certain princesses are associated as princesses more just by chance. It’s because they’re marketed that way! Think of how- even after Tiana came out- WoC princesses are tokenized in any princess merchendise.

ASIAN AMERICAN DISNEY PRINCESSES:
by Kim (annakimskywalker) & Donnie (donniekompany)
11x17 inkjet prints

Most of us grew up watching Disney classics featuring the beautiful Disney princesses we all know and love. Disney was and continues to be a staple in the lives of many children. However, despite how much we admired these princesses, it was difficult relating to them because they didn’t physically represent us. Take a look at any Disney princess product and you will see the preference towards the White princesses, white washing of princesses of color (skin color, facial features, etc), and the shoving of these princesses to the side.

In the 76 years since Snow White was released, there have been 11 (soon to be 12) Disney princesses, only 4 of whom are women of color (Jasmine in 1992, Pocahontas in 1995, Mulan in 1998, and Tiana in 2009). It took 55 yearsto portray a woman of color as a princess, and these portrayals also came with problematic and inaccurate representations of their respective cultures & histories (not to mention Tiana was a frog more than half of the movie).

How are young APIA children supposed to believe in “happy endings” when we don’t see them happening to people who look like us? All of the above was the inspiration behind this photoshoot. We believe physically showing some of our favorite princesses as Asian American women will allow us to build more of a connection with the princesses who weren’t women of color, but who still possess qualities we admire and/or see in ourselves. [MORE]

shoomlah:

Finally updated Pocahontas!  I don’t think this is what people were expecting as the next entry in the series, but some of the criticisms of my first design have been eating away at me for years now and I needed to get off my ass and address them.

So hey!  Spunky age-appropriate Pocahontas/Matoaka, sans feathers in the hair/European imagery/other superfluous details.  This is closer to accounts and illustrations of Powhatan dress from the period, and I kinda think it’s closer to the Disney design anyway. WIN/WIN.

Thanks to everyone who’s educated my ass over the past couple of years, includingmoniquill, apihtawikosisan, this-is-not-native, and numerous others.  You’ve made me a way more thoughtful artist in the process. :)

-C

See the rest of the series HERE
Read the FAQ HERE
Buy prints HERE