Following in the footsteps of 'The Lion King,' 'Aladdin,' and 'Mulan,' 'The Little Mermaid' is also getting its live-action remake. Among the actors privileged to bring these characters to life is Halle Bailey, a young Black woman who wears dreadlocks. While some online users have criticized Disney for casting an actress of color, the majority are thrilled to finally see diverse casting.
The Controversy Surrounding the New Version of The Little Mermaid
To the dismay of all opponents of this new version, who criticize Ariel for being Black, they put forward the most absurd arguments day after day, such as the impossibility for a mermaid at the bottom of the sea to be Black because sunlight doesn't reach that depth – using scientific explanations to support their foolishness, and apparently ignoring the fact that mermaids don't exist.
Some even went as far as lightening the character's skin...Whyyyyyy?
For your information, legends featuring Black mermaids have existed in Africa and the Caribbean, notably under the name Mami Wata. The Yoruba people of West Africa also have a little mermaid called Olokun, and Ghana's little mermaid is an important character in Ashanti folklore.
Seeking such ridiculous arguments to oppose this new version of The Little Mermaid is proof that some are unwilling to accept that fairy tale characters can be any color other than white.
Anyway, let's refocus on the event; these negative and sickening comments prevent us from focusing on the film and the actress, Halle Bailey! Let's take a closer look at her...
Who is Halle Bailey, the New Black Little Mermaid?
Halle Bailey is a 22-year-old woman from Atlanta. She is an actress, songwriter, and singer with a powerful voice, and is part of the musical group Chloe x Halle with her twin sister. Their music was noticed by Beyoncé in 2015 thanks to their videos published on the YouTube platform, and they subsequently signed a contract with her label Parkwood Entertainment.
Their debut album, The Kids Are Alright, was released in March 2018 and was critically acclaimed. Halle Bailey also starred in the television series Grown-ish, broadcast on the Freeform channel.
She is now considered one of the most influential Black women of her generation, and she was chosen to portray the main character in the new film The Little Mermaid.
The Little Mermaid: A Timeless Classic
The animated film The Little Mermaid, based on Andersen's tale and released in 1989, tells the story of Ariel, a young mermaid who lives under the sea with her father, King Triton, and her family. She is fascinated by the human world and dreams of one day living on the surface.
When she meets Eric, a young man who is soon to be married, she falls in love and decides to do everything to meet him. Ariel then asks Ursula, a sea witch, to give her a human body in exchange for her voice.
See below for the teaser of Disney's The Little Mermaid with Halle Bailey:
Blackwashing?
The term blackwashing refers to the act of erasing the skin color of a Black character in a film or television series. It is often used to denounce Hollywood productions that feature Black characters without addressing issues related to race.
This is a fairly recent phenomenon, and we have observed that more and more films and television series have started to erase the skin color of certain Black characters.
For example, in the film The Last Samurai, one of the main characters, Katsumoto, is played by Ken Watanabe, a Japanese actor. In The Lion King, the character of Mufasa is played by James Earl Jones, a Black actor, but his face is erased, and we only see his lion.
In the television series Hawaii 5-0, one of the main characters, Kono Kalakaua, is played by Grace Park, an Asian-Canadian actress, but her face is also erased, and we only see her body.
Blackwashing is a problem because it sends the message to audiences that Black characters are not important enough to be shown on screen, and that their skin color doesn't matter, and this seems to bother no one.
This is why the new Little Mermaid is important. Indeed, it shows a Black little mermaid on screen, and this allows young Black girls to see themselves represented on screen.
Why Did Disney Choose Halle Bailey to Portray The Little Mermaid?
Halle Bailey's detractors are not necessarily racist but defend an idealized image of The Little Mermaid, that of a little white girl with long hair floating in the waves. The question is, why is it so important for these people that Ariel maintains the same image? Isn't the important thing the Little Mermaid herself and her story?
Disney has decided to evolve its image by making it more diverse. Indeed, for several years now, the company has made efforts to represent diversity in its films; we think notably of Moana, Vaiana in the original version, who is a young Polynesian girl.
Or even more recently, Rey in Star Wars, who is a strong and independent young woman.
If Disney chose Halle Bailey, it's because she is an excellent singer and her vocal timbre is particularly suited to the role of Ariel. Indeed, The Little Mermaid is first and foremost a story that highlights music and fairy tales.
So yes, The Little Mermaid is Black and has dreadlocks, so what?! That changes nothing about the story and takes nothing away from its charm. Quite the opposite, it allows young Black girls to see that they too can be beautiful and represented on screen.
Look at these little girls delighted to see a little mermaid who has the same skin color as them, isn't that cute? Enough to forget this ridiculous controversy, right?
And what do you think?
