While the title of this post's origins speak to a citizen's relationship with the government, nothing could spell out the importance of representation more.
We've used representation, and the idea that one---or a group---speaks on behalf of a whole, as the backbone of our own government. City councilmen represent various wards in their municipality. Mayors represent the entire city. Governors represent the state. Congressmen also represent the states they hail from but on the legislative level. A president represents the country. Everything seems to come back to representation. It is then not surprising to see the backlash over Halle Bailey being cast in the new, live-action version of Disney's The Little Mermaid. What those up in arms fail to recognize is by participating in the Twitter hashtag #NotMyAriel, the case for why representation is important is solidified. Look at other entities of note that share Ariel's 'known' race/ethnicity: Jesus Christ, Santa Claus, Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Frodo Baggins...the list goes on. Nevertheless, I appreciate coming up in an age that showcased figures in the media that resembled myself. Albeit fictional, the stories and portrayal of Black families as normal I'm sure did more to help the Black cause than it did to harm. From animated series such as The Proud Family and Static Shock to sitcoms such as A Different World and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it wasn't simply the representation but the content itself that was so powerful. For instance, who could forget this iconic clip from the Fresh Prince: These shows were influential beyond measure and related, specifically, to an audience that Sleeping Beauty nor Malcolm In The Middle could ever dream to reach. For a population so forgotten and downtrodden, it meant the world to see representation not only in skin color but in lived experiences. The power was to see that American 'normalcy' was indeed attainable, that the nuclear family model was also a story that could be told of a Black family. Privilege is kin to perspective, and when you have a privilege---particularly one you did not work towards earning---it is nearly impossible to understand how something seemingly so minuscule like Ariel from The Little Mermaid looking like you could be a groundbreaking concept to someone else. This too explains Barack Obama and why there existed, and still does, a fervor of support for him. As his policies and effectiveness during his eight-year tenure as President are certainly up for critique; he is a proxy in the realm of representation that even he, himself, has no control over. This extends to the four Congresswomen of color affectionately referred to as 'The Squad' that has met the ire of the sitting President. It is imperative that these women represent the experience they do outside of any ties to the political affiliation they belong to. As trailblazers in the way they have gone about the platform afforded to them they are one in this collective, amplifying voices that have been stifled for far too long. It is because of this that I will go see the new Lion King film that has Donald Glover and Beyonce headlining its cast. I will see Lion King---and The Little Mermaid---the same way I, and others, flocked to Black Panther. The same way I have supported Jordan Peele's films. Its acknowledgement of the power of representation. And as a heterogeneous nation comprised of many cultures and ethnicities the truly American action is to champion this newfound accessibility to representation. I would hope this trend continues and extends especially to the Native American and First Nations population. Every culture deserves to see itself portrayed. Not because this casting of Bailey will inspire young Black girls to try to become mermaids but because it actually reinforces that inclusion is a tangible action and not just a buzzword that feels like the right thing to say. Comments are closed.
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Ty FosterQuestion everything. WQHC Archives
June 2020
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