Why disliking the new Disney “The Little Mermaid” is racist
The upcoming live-action remake of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" has sparked controversy and debate, particularly surrounding the casting of Halle Bailey, a black actress, in the traditionally white role of Ariel. While many have praised the casting as a step towards greater diversity and representation in Hollywood, others have criticized it as "political correctness gone mad" or even "reverse racism" (I mean, how can you with Halle’s beautiful voice?). Some have even gone so far as to claim that disliking the casting choice is not racist. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that these objections are not based on artistic merit or storytelling choices, but on deeply ingrained racial biases. The backlash against a black actress playing Ariel highlights a deeper issue of systemic racism and the exclusion of people of color in mainstream media.
The controversy surrounding Halle Bailey's casting can be traced back to the notion of white normativity, which is the idea that whiteness is the default and normative experience in Western societies. According to scholars, this concept is deeply embedded in the cultural psyche of many Westerners and shapes their perceptions of race and identity. When a character who is traditionally portrayed as white is recast as a person of color, it disrupts this norm and challenges the status quo.
To understand why the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel has been met with resistance, it is important to examine the history of racial representation in film and television. For decades, people of color have been marginalized and stereotyped in Hollywood, relegated to supporting or minor roles that perpetuate harmful and negative stereotypes and are often not rooted in true lived experiences. Studies have shown that even when people of color are cast in leading roles, they are often subject to unfair criticism and scrutiny compared to their white counterparts (Yan & Nisbett, 2018). This is especially true for black actresses, who face extra challenges in Hollywood due to the intersection of race and gender (Holland, 2017).
The backlash against Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel can be seen as a continuation of this history of exclusion and marginalization. This is particularly relevant in the case of "The Little Mermaid," as Ariel has always been depicted as a white, red-haired mermaid. The fact that Halle Bailey, a Black woman, has been cast in the role has caused some to view the decision as a departure from the original source material. However, it is essential to note that the original story by Hans Christian Andersen does not specify Ariel's race or skin color. The notion of Ariel as a white character is therefore a product of cultural norms and representations created over time. For example, the original 1989 animated film featured a white actress, Jodi Benson, as the voice of Ariel and other iterations of the story have been made across time and cultures with different races and variations of the story (not to mention that the original story had Ariel chop her legs off and kill herself). Therefore, it is possible to imagine and create new versions of Ariel that deviate from the Disney version or even the original story, without necessarily being less authentic or valid. This, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of Disney princesses have been white, has led to the assumption that Ariel is white as well. This assumption is itself a reflection of the dominant cultural narrative that whiteness is the norm and anything else is "other" or "different".
The criticism of Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel is thus not simply about a fictional character's race, but rather reflects deeper anxieties and prejudices surrounding race and representation. Research has shown that people who are not used to seeing people of color in leading roles may feel uncomfortable or threatened when they are confronted with such representations (Dixon & Linz, 2000). This discomfort may be rooted in a fear of loss of power and privilege, as well as a lack of exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences (Banaji & Greenwald, 2013). Therefore, it is the exclusion of minorities in vast representation that leads to racism.
Furthermore, the objections to Bailey's casting reveal a deep-seated discomfort with the idea of racial diversity and representation in media. Research has shown that representation matters, particularly for marginalized groups who have historically been underrepresented or portrayed in harmful ways in media. Studies have shown that seeing positive representations of marginalized groups in media can help to increase their self-esteem and sense of belonging, while negative or stereotypical representations can lead to feelings of exclusion, inferiority, and shame (Greenberg & Mastro, 2000).
Some have argued that the backlash against Halle Bailey's casting is not necessarily racist, but rather a response to the perceived politicization of entertainment or “wokeness”. The idea that the casting of a black actress in a traditionally white role is inherently "political" or "divisive" is itself rooted in a narrow understanding of what constitutes the norm in society. In reality, diversity and representation are not political issues, but rather reflect the complex and varied experiences of people from different backgrounds. By excluding people of color from mainstream media, Hollywood is perpetuating a narrow and exclusionary vision of what it means to be "normal" or "mainstream". They argue that casting decisions should be based solely on talent and suitability for the role, not on diversity quotas or political correctness. While it is important to prioritize talent and suitability for any role, this argument ignores the fact that the lack of diversity in Hollywood is not a matter of talent or meritocracy, but rather a systemic issue of exclusion and bias (Smith & Choueiti, 2019).
Moreover, the argument that Bailey's casting is a result of "racial changing" ignores the fact that Hollywood has a long history of whitewashing and exclusionary casting practices. For decades, white actors have been cast in roles that should have gone to actors of color, from Mickey Rooney playing a Japanese character in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to Emma Stone playing a half-Asian character in "Aloha." This practice reinforces the idea that only white actors can be "universal" or "relatable," while actors of color are relegated to narrow and stereotyped roles. By casting Bailey as Ariel, Disney is challenging this norm and recognizing the talent and potential of actors of color to play a wide range of roles, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.
Furthermore, the argument that disliking the new "Little Mermaid" movie because of Bailey's race is not racist because it is based on the character's traditional portrayal as a white woman is flawed. Race is not a neutral or inherent characteristic, but rather a social construct that is shaped by historical, cultural, and political factors. In other words, the concept of race is not just about physical features, but also about power, privilege, and identity. Whiteness, in particular, has been historically constructed as the norm and the ideal and has attained so much power, while non-white identities have been marginalized and stigmatized. Therefore, when someone expresses dislike or disapproval of a person or thing solely based on their race, they are perpetuating and reinforcing racial stereotypes and hierarchies, whether consciously or not.
In conclusion, the backlash against Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel in the new "Little Mermaid" movie reflects deeper issues of systemic racism and exclusion not only in Hollywood but in the world at large. While I am not saying that everyone who will dislike the movie is racist, the fact that it caused such a huge controversy, to begin with, is proof that these are divisive issues that will not be settled with this movie. That being said, it’s important to always raise questions and discussions when it comes to these issues as it helps, even if for just a bit, bridge the gap between people and their beliefs. And before passing judgment on a movie, go watch it.
References
Banaji, M. R., & Greenwald, A. G. (2013). Blindspot: Hidden biases of good people. Delacorte Press.
Dixon, T. L., & Linz, D. (2000). Overrepresentation and underrepresentation of African Americans and Latinos as lawbreakers on television news. Journal of Communication, 50(2), 131-154.
Greenberg, B. S., & Mastro, D. (2000). African Americans' perceptions of advertising: A survey. Journal of Advertising Research, 40(6), 27-34.
Holland, K. (2017). The intersectionality of race and gender in Hollywood: Challenges faced by Black actresses. Journal of Black Studies, 48(7), 639-657.
Smith, S. L., & Choueiti, M. (2019). Inclusion in the director's chair? Gender, race, and age of film directors across 1,000 films from 2007-2018. Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
Yan, V. X., & Nisbett, G. S. (2018). Casting race: Bias in Hollywood films and their effects on the industry. Journal of Media Psychology, 30(3), 123-135.
