Recently, Walt Disney Studios released the teaser trailer for the live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. In this live adaptation of the 1989 animated classic, the lead role of Ariel is played by Halle Bailey — an actress and half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle. Oh, and did I mention? She’s Black. We write a lot on The Inclusion Solution about how representation matters, and this is another example. Bailey’s role in The Little Mermaid is one of the few times a Disney princess has been played by a Black lead.
Following the release of The Little Mermaid teaser trailer, videos appeared all over social media from parents of young Black girls in awe and mesmerized seeing someone that looks like them on the screen. “She’s Brown like me!” one young girl exclaimed in a video on TikTok.
Following the release of The Little Mermaid teaser trailer, videos appeared all over social media from parents of young Black girls in awe and mesmerized seeing someone that looks like them on the screen. "She's Brown like me!" Click To TweetTexan Dad Sterling Shanks also recorded his daughters as they watched the trailer. “Seeing an actual manifestation of something you love and are passionate about makes that thing more realistic and makes you feel included; that’s my hope for them. Seeing Halle Bailey as Ariel makes something they love more attainable and relatable,” he said.
Unfortunately, this celebratory moment has not come without racist backlash. Since the announcement of Bailey being cast as Ariel back in 2019, white people have expressed their displeasure. The recent release of the trailer has brought this outrage back to the forefront. The teaser trailer has racked up nearly 2 million dislikes on YouTube from fans claiming Bailey is #NotMyAriel because she is not the white redhead from the original film. Many critics stated that the casting of Bailey as Ariel was an example of “woke culture” gone mad (insert eyeroll). The main argument is that the casting of Bailey is not sticking to the original and, therefore, it destroys the classic of the character and the movie itself. Newsflash folks: mermaids are fictional, mythical characters. They can be any color we choose. One writer for CultureXchange asked, “How committed to white supremacy [do] people have to be, to be upset about a fictional character’s skin [color]?” Great question.
Newsflash folks: mermaids are fictional, mythical characters. They can be any color we choose. Click To Tweet One writer for CultureXchange asked, 'How committed to white supremacy [do] people have to be, to be upset about a fictional character’s skin [color]?' Great question. Click To TweetThese same folks up in arms about a Black Ariel are some of the same ones making hiring and promotion decisions in organizations. If there is such opposition to a fictional character, it is not surprising that we do not see more Black and Brown people in higher level positions traditionally held by white people.
These folks up in arms about a Black Ariel are the same ones making hiring and promotion decisions in orgs. It's not surprising that we don't see more Black and Brown people in positions traditionally held by white people. Click To TweetThis unfortunate response to Black Ariel shows just how much work we still must do in the name of diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation.
I’d like to end this on a positive note. I invite you to watch this compilation of videos of reactions from Black girls as they watch the trailer for the first time. I guarantee it will warm your heart and make your day!
