-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Fwd: Disney Doesn't Dream Black Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:13:21 EDT From: Miriam Lee Hilton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: GIRLFRIEND <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hello: I thought that I would share this e-mail I got from my listserv this morning. Please read, sign, and pass along. Peace - Miriam Greetings, Everyone: The message below is both intriguing and disturbing. On one hand, it would be wonderful to see Disney follow through with the production of an African American fairytale; but, on the other hand, it is troublesome to think that our fairytales do not count unless they are validated by a Disney production. As librarians/historians/writers/educators, we all know of African American fairytales, such as, the stories by Virginia Hamilton and others. I wouldn't want Ms. Helm to be inundated with e-mail from us, but perhaps a short list of titles about AfroAm fairytales from someone in BCALA (a Children's specialist?) would be appropriate. Are there any takers? (Note: I am forwarding Hurley's article, "Seeing White: Children of Color and the Disney Fairy Tale Princess" from The Journal of Negro Education to her. Maybe someone has additional suggestions.) Jean Currie Church Chief Librarian Moorland-Spingarn Research Center Howard University Washington, DC 20059 Phone: 202-806-7497 Fax: 202-806-6405 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: shwesterfield Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 8:56 PM To: Subject: Fw: Disney Doesn't Dream in Black - Please sign and pass on ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 7:57 AM Subject: FW: Disney Doesn't Dream in Black - Please sign and pass on > Dear Disney Company, > > In December 2005, I made my first visit to Disney World with my family. > The experience was breathtaking. Throughout our journey, the adults > were astonished by how the themes were brought to life. The children > were fascinated and engaged particularly by the Princess', Minnie's > House, the fake snow that fell at night, the parade, eting the > characters and asking questions as well as taking pictures with the > characters. Above all, the girls were intrigued by the Princess' mini > shows. However, my daughter had a question. She said, "How come there's no Princess here like me?" I asked, "What do you mean?" She replied, "You know, a Princess like "That's So Raven or Penny Proud". I responded by saying, "Unfortunately, Disney has not created fairytales for children like you. In other words, there are no Princess' of African American descent." As the evening came to an end, I began to ponder on her question. I thought to myself...well, why aren't there any African American Princesses in such a place where the motto is "We Make All Dreams Come True". I decided to email your company to ask why. A few weeks later, I received a surprising call. The woman I spoke to reassured me that my question and concern was taken seriously and would be looked into further. During this conversation, I asked why there aren't any African American Princesses. The woman stated because there aren't any African American fairytales. She said, "Well we have Pocahontas who represents Native America, Mulan who represents the Chinese, Jasmine who represents the descendants of the Middle East and the African Americans have Lion King out of Africa". That reply left me with the thought that she just compared African Americans to wild animals. After that statement, I just laughed and respectfully ended the conversation. One thing I realized was that I can't blame her for her response. Disney has not created an African American fairytale. As an educator/parent, we all know that through life experiences what we can touch, see, feel, taste, and hear leaves a lasting impression. Disney, you hold the power to make life experiences become a reality to a melting pot world, which includes African Americans. Disney's motto is "We Make All Dreams Come True". Well, Disney, my child and other children like her have a dream and through their Disney experience, they are depending on you to make it come true. Thank you, Katrina Y. Helm and others Please press forward and circulate to everyone in your address book. When we reach 1000 names, return to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks! 1. Katrina Helm, CLT, NC > 2. Shewana Gamblin, CLT, NC > 3. Hunter Heath, CLT, NC > 4. Steven White VA > 5. Arielle White VA > 6. Dion Stith NY > 7. Alexandria Stith NY > 8. Itasha Hilton, NY > 9. Qiessence Coleman, NY > 10. L. Buchanon, NY > 11. K. Wallace, NY > 12. K. Penn - NY > 13. D. Wall - NY > 14. J. Scott - VA > 15. A. Jackson - OR > 16. D. Bailey-Braxton - OR > 17. M. Raiford - GA > 18. A. Shaw - GA > 19. C.Burke - OR > 20. A. Pledger - OR > 21. A. McCoy - IL > 22. T. Pledger - IL > 23. C. Lobbins - IL > 24. J. Lobbins - IL > 25. Jessie Whitaker, IN > 26. Vernell Ball-Daniel IN > 27. Charlotte D. Pfeifer-Gillam-IN > 28. R. Crowelle, Hbg, Pa > 29. J Hall - PA > 30. L Thomas - PA > 31 T Plater Hbg > 32. J. Hunter PA > 33. A Thompson > 34. M. Wright > 35. P Barron - PA > 36. C. Newberry > 37. B Blue, PA > 38. E. Randolph > 39. C. D. Blair > 40. Sharon Straughn, GSO, NC > 41. Michele Ford, GSO, NC > 42. Shonel Watson, NC > 43. M. Ratliffe - NC > 44. T. Davis - NC > 45. S Oates NC > 46. J. Collins Clt, NC > 47. C. Jones, VA > 48. G.McKinney > 49. S. Ghee, DC > 50. T.Hester, DC > 51. L. Treadwell > 50. N. Offutt, MD > 51. L. Walker, MD > 52. L. Graham, MD > 53. P. Achy, DC > 54. K. Bush, MD > 55. Stephanie Holmes > 56. T Edmonds > 57. Ambi Scott, DC > 58. F. Stringer > 59. B. Penick, DC > 60. L. G-Jones, NC > 61. E.A. Reed, NC > 62. L. E. Williams, Ral, NC > 63. Y. Williams III, Ral, NC > 64. M. Tunstall, Charlotte, NC > 65 J. Tunstall, Charlotte, NC > 66. Giannelli T. Evans, NC > 6 7. Lawrence Boyd, NC > 68. Patricia K. Selby, NC > 69. Sheila E. Reinhardt > 70. Helen Downing > 71. Kenneth Joe > 72. M. Kelley Far-Rockaway, NY > 73. R. Kelley Far-Rockaway, NY > 74. C. Moorer, Far Rockaway, NY 75. M. Katrina Wall, Far Rockaway, NY 76. J.Brown , Bronx, NY 77. J. Wilson, Danbury, CT 78. B. Carter, Brooklyn, NY 79. Y. McCoy, Brooklyn, NY 80. Renee Birch, Bronx, New York 81. Jessica Burton, Laurel, MD 82. Linda Jones, Takoma Park, MD 83. Rhonda Jackson, MD 84. Lutricia Jackson, MD 85. N. Ogletree, Waldorf, MD 86. M. Sanders, District Heights, MD 87. Miriam L. Hilton, Dayton, OH ~~~ When we go though life giving ourselves the bare minimum to get by, it should come as no surprise that life returns to us the same! Excellence is the child of effort, whose parents are known as Patience and Love ~~~ > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! 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