Carol’s Daughter, the natural hair and skin care line geared toward African Americans, has launched a line of products tied to Disney’s film, “The Princess and the Frog.” The movie portrays a young African-American woman growing up in New Orleans and her journey with a frog prince.
The first African-American Disney princess, Tiana, is celebrated with shampoo, conditioner and bubble bath that display clips from the movie on each bottle. The partnership is projected to benefit both companies.
By endorsing the movie, Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, has also served as an advertising tool. The hair and body products are intended to help promote and stimulate anticipation for the upcoming film.
Senior political science major, Ayisha Mapp, believes Disney chose this product because “they knew that they needed an African-American ‘brand’ to be paired with the movie. They couldn’t be any safer choosing a company that promotes a natural lifestyle for African-Americans.”
The use of an African- American made brand will possibly reinforce the positive roles the movie strives to portray. Price built her empire in the kitchen of her home. She is an example of the classic rags to riches story, the American dream, of making it against the odds. There is a similar story line in Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog.”
The projected success of the movie has been discussed heavily by people everywhere. Mapp is concerned that unlike minority parents, majority parents are not going to take their children to see the movie.
Freshman biology major Ashley Hinton states, “although Carol’s Daughter is suitable for all races, its ingredients are aimed at African-American textures [of hair] in particular.”
Having this product support the film could raise awareness in the African-American community. Yet the question, what is Disney’s ability universally to promote the movie, is still unanswered.
While some have their doubts freshman marketing major Corrine Bridge-Water is confident the movie will surpass many expectations and be more than a success.
According to Duclas Charles, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major, Disney’s decision to create an African-American princess is great. “It’s showing that times are really changing. This is a new era,” he said.
Though it is exciting to many, Mapp is apprehensive.
“Disney having an African-American princess is long overdue,” Mapp said. “It shouldn’t be 2009 and we’re just now about to have the first movie with a black princess.”
Nevertheless an African-American princess is a great accomplishment. Now African-American girls will have a princess that identifies with their culture and color.
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