Take some time to read the following below written by Chad Taylor who is currently seeking to signatures to petition on Change.org about the lack of black characters in animated movies:
Every current high-budget, computer animation movie, has little or no characters of African or Latino descent. Millions of African-American and Latino children consist of the vast percentage of young movie goers, but fail to see their likeness depicted in these delightful stories that they so enthusiastically have their parents take them to see. Of the recent animated blockbusters, there have been absolutely no African-American, Latino or Asian characters of substance. Examples of these top grossing computer animated films with no diversity of characters are: Toy Story One, Two and Three, Shrek One, Two, and Three, Up, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Astro Boy, Tangled, Brave, Mars Needs Moms, A Christmas Carole, Despicable Me, Gnomeo and Juliet, How to Train Your Dragon, Bolt, Tin Tin, Planet 51, Mega Mind, The Ant Bully, Arthur Christmas, and Monsters Vs. Aliens. This is only a fraction of the movies that feature Caucasian-only characters on the animated screens.
For close to a century, African-Americans have appeared in Big Studio films with small roles as singers, dancers and musicians, and then gradually as maids, butlers and hired hands. Now, African-American characters make up a great percentage of our movie-going experience, with strong and emotionally complex, enviable leading characters. In perplexing contrast, when it comes to movies for children, it’s the complete opposite. No animation studio has shown responsiveness for the diversity of its American audience. No studio has shown sensitivity to the minds of these impressionable, young viewers. Folks, this has to change.
While many studio execs may claim that more white characters would make it more mainstream and therefore, more marketable, the true success of a film is all about the message behind the story, the careful attention put into the production value. No doubt a very important aspect of the success of a movie is the strength and admiration of the characters. When the radical portrayal of an African-American detective hit the movie screens in the late 60’s, blacks as well as whites were enamored by Poitier’s realistic performance of a highly competent, authoritative, highly-intelligent detective that could captivate your imagination in such a awe-inspiring way, that it made you re-think what Blacks were capable of. It made American re-think what Latinos, Asians, and other immigrants were capable of. This film, and others with leading non-white characters, led many to appreciate the potential of all Americans. And it did wonders for lifting the American psyche to remember how truly brilliant all Americans are. But, this was only possible because of the radical white producers that backed such revolutionary films. Where are those radicals now?
With my step-childrens’ excitement and glee of going to see the latest 3-D animated film, I become somewhat embarrassed with each animated, movie-going experience. I cannot explain to my children why there aren’t any characters that look like them, that are smart like them, that are important like them. They see what I see: Caucasian or sometimes animal characters, with the long blond or red hair, cities upon cities and villages upon villages of white characters, and no one of color.
I think about the decades-long, and steady results of the experiment of the black children who, by far, adore the white doll over the black doll. Isn’t this because this is what black and Latino children see most of the time in books, television, and movies? They want to be a part of the group, and be accepted and loved. What about the white children? Is there is an adverse affect on them when they see their likeness on these immense screens each and every time they see a Disney or Pixar movie? Whether we want to believe it or not, it does effect the white child as well.
Is it possible that a white child can play with a black doll every now and then, and imagine an African-American or Latino animated hero in their youthful stories? Can this help them appreciate their Latino and Black-American neighbors more? Can it help them to remember that a variety of culture is essential to their growth as people and as a nation?
We are a truly beautiful and diverse nation: The United States is the most diverse in the world, but yet still has a way to go in terms of appreciating it. Let’s learn to incorporate the true face of America when creating multi-million dollar productions that many of our children take part in seeing. After all, these are our future fathers, mothers, singers, Presidents, teachers, business leaders, and artists. Our children will one day rise above our failures, and one day, will discover the joy and value of celebrating each other’s differences.
Click HERE if this cause interests you.
