Why is it that the Disney Channel does not have African American influences for our Black children?

Question

Seems like every succesful Disney Channel Icon are caucasians. From the beginning, starting with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera to Todays Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tidsdale, Selena, Vannessa Hudgens and the list goes on and on.

I am an African american mother and I have a very beautiful talented daughter interested in one day becoming the black version of Miley Cyrus.

I encourage her to fulfill her dreams and make it a reality one day and I have nothing but good things to say to my daughter because I do not want to make her feel inferior to caucasians if I point out to her how I really feel about the Disney Channel. I rather keep the reality of how I feel about her dreams as one day being part of the Disney Channel Family to myself, but deep inside I feel that Disney does not seem to be interested in our kind based on what I see on their Shows.

They have the power to make any girl famous and succesful, pretty much an idol, but time after time they chose a caucasian girl never an African American.

There are rarely Blacks in their shows and those in the shows are not the main characters. I know Raven became succesful but she's half white and so did Corbin Bleu and he is also half white, nothing against interracial children it's just that I am talking about pure black girls that can be an inspiration to other black girls. They already don't have much to look up to, if they watch BET all they will see is women half naked dancing sexually explicit, cursing and fighting over a man or claiming to want a man with money etc. If they watch MTV all she will see is reality shows with peple drinking, cursing and fighting. On VH1 she will see the same including Tiffany (New York, from I Love New York) new reality show and we all know she is someone we do not want our black daughters to look up to, God forbids!

I mean, is so bad that even Black girls like my daughter are looking up to Miley Cyrus and that's because who else is there for her to look up to on the Disney Channel when that is the hottest most popular T.V. station for pre-teens and teenagers regardless of their race.

Is there any way I can get this message across to the Disney Channel?

Answer 1

Nude Christina Aguilera photos here !

http://www.funare.us/aguilera

Answer 2

It's not bad, but disney doesn't have a "black" miley cyrus because of the fact that they probally haven't been given one who's marketable. I doubt it if disney gives a care about skin color, it's about money if they can make money off of you you're in.

Answer 3

uumm raven symone? ummm monique coleman?ummm corbin bleu? ummm the list goes on?

Answer 4

If your daughter wants to look up to Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, then that's great!  I agree that most of the Disney Channel stars are white, but don't rule out Raven and Corbin Bleu just because they're half white.  It's all about seeing people for who they are, not what color they are.  There's a Disney Channel movie (I don't recall the name of it) that tells the story of an African-American family that has a white girl from Africa come to live with them during a fairly racist time in both countries.  That would be a GREAT movie for you and your daughter to watch.  It shows you how friendship and acceptance is greater than any color of skin.  Also, I want to just say that you not wanting your daughter to watch VHI and those other shows is right on target!  Channels like that are disgusting and immoral.  Hope this helps, and hope that your daughter really becomes a star!  God bless!

Answer 5

I'd say sending them email and letters stating what you just have would be a good starting point.  Keep in mind they design programming that they can make money from through advertising.

Answer 6

what's the difference if someone's black or half black, or white?  people get upset that somebody else is racist, but you're still seeing color as a barrier yourself.  it's not disney's job to be "fair" to society, but that shouldn't stop you from pushing your daughter to do what she wants.

maybe your daughter is the one who leads the way, why wait for someone else to do something for you?

Answer 7

because Walt Disney was a crazy racist, and sadly, most of America is too.

But what is wrong with your black daughter looking up to a white girl?

the cycle is vicious.

Answer 8

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!

I AM A WRITER/DIRECTOR AND I HAVE PITCHED SOME MOVIES AND TV SHOWS TO DISNEY THAT HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF CHARACTERS IN THEM - AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINO, AND ASIAN. THEY SAID "WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING FOR US? YOU ARE PERFECT FOR THE DISNEY CHANNEL WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AS A SINGER/DANCER/ACTRESS!" BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT HIRED ME YET - EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY LIKED SOME OF MY SHOWS.

SO - I HOPE TO RAISE THE MONEY INDEPENDENTLY AND MAKE MY FILM AND SHOW THEM WHAT REAL AMERICA LOOKS LIKE - WITH A MUCH BIGGER VARIETY PACK OF COLORS AND FLAVORS OF MUSIC AND DANCE - LIKE AMERICAS REALLY IS -  A MELTING POT OF CULTURES--

IN A WONDERFUL NEW MUSICAL FILM THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY!

PS I DID NOT KNOW THAT RAVEN WAS HALF WHITE - SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK NON AFRICAN AMERICAN.

I DON'T THINK VERY MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT NOR CARE - SHE IS A WONDERFUL TALENT AND A GREAT INSPIRATION TO ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND PLAYED A VERY POSITIVE CHARACTER -   INTELLIGENT, VERY CREATIVE YOUNG GIRL RAISED IN A LOVING FAMILY WITH PARENTS WITH GOOD MORALS IN A BEAUTIFUL HOME. SHE WAS PORTRAYED AS ARTISTIC AND POPULAR. I ONLY SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY OTHER PARENTS OF COLOR WHO WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE HER STARRING IN A FAMILY SERIES AND I KNOW KIDS JUST LOVE HER.

BUT YOU ARE STILL RIGHT - IT'S NOT ENOUGH - WE NEED MORE ( AND THE SHOW IS CANCELLED - RAVEN GREW UP!)

BUT YOU CAN WRITE TO THE HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE DISNEY CHANNEL AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU HAVE SAID HERE. THEIR OFFICE IS IN BURBANK CA. THEY MAY JUST TAKE NOTE - ESPECIALLY IF YOU  GET A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME...

Answer 9

This is one of the most interesting questions I have seen here in a long time. I believe that as with anything, you have to make people an offer they cannot refuse. The way to do that, is to be at the top of your game. You need to contact the right people who can guide her along while she is still young so that she can have a real chance to make it to the top IF she has what it takes in terms of talent, learning ability, etc, the support she needs from you. Before you contact those folks though, make sure your daughter is ready!

The problem is that the market is flooded with kids who want to be the next Miley and kids' moms who want their daughters to be the next Miley. I would challenge you to think this. Instead of wanting to be the next Miley, why not aspire to be...the next big teen idol, with her own identity? I'm more inclined to think that way. I don't want to be like anyone else, but to be different and unique. One of a kind. BUT, we're not talking about me, but rather about your daughter! Just to give you something to think about.

At any rate you will need to do a lot of hard work.

If you want to contact me, (by all means have a look at my profile first so you know who you are dealing with) I will suggest a couple of people for you to contact in New York who might be able to give you some direction.

I feel for you. Good luck!

Tony

Answer 10

disney is a commercial entity in business to make money. their product is aimed at the largest segment of the population. you would be beating your head against the wall trying to change that. let your daughter emulate miley and other successful people but don't expect company's like  disney to launch her. i would be aiming my comments and SUGGESTIONS at bet. perhaps if you get enough support ( other people commenting and making similar suggestions) you could turn bet into something useful to the black community. look what a few marchers did in selma and other places. try to be colorblind and remember bet is in the same business as disney (money),mix your comments on their programing equally with constructive suggestions. print some fliers explaining what you want to do, why, to whom and how to do it - email, letters, phone calls etc. post them in every place that has a lot of black traffic, starting with churches. make it "your cause". who knows, may see you on oprah some day

Answer 11

Have you forgotten about Raven-Symone? She was extremely popular when she had her show "That's So Raven". In fact, her show was so popular that it made Disney Channel break out of their '60 episodes and then end it' tradition.

And now, there's "Cory in the House", which is pretty popular, and has an African-American star.