Awesome Every Day

Why I find that picture of the little girl with Princess Tiana so emotional

The little girl dressed up in the Tiana costume with the actress kneeling and signing her book really moves me. Every time I see it.

There is an entire generation of little Black girls who are walking the earth right now, learning to tie their shoes and reading the Pokey Little puppy. These tiny girls are the first African American generation who will never wonder, “Why isn’t there a Disney princess who looks like me?”

These same black little girls will never wonder, “Will there ever be a president who looks like me?” Barack and Michelle Obama are spectacular role models, and every time I see Michelle doing anything, I’m prouder of my blackness. This has to be doing amazing things for the self-esteem of people who haven’t experienced the dregs of being a grown-up yet.

These girls are born into a world filled with possibilities. Sure, racism is still running rampant through the veins of plenty of ignoramuses. But these little girls don’t have to use their imaginations to create a world where these things exist.

These mini-princesses can go to Disney World and see a beautiful black woman dressed in a fancy gown, just like in the movie. That gorgeous woman will tell countless little black girls that they are special and that their dreams can come true.

I hope the actress who plays Tiana at the park really understands how magnificent her role is, and how many lives she is effecting. Little girls will grow up remembering when Tiana told them that they were beautiful, and reinforced that black is beautiful at a park that has reinforced white beauty since before their parents were even born.

That is so powerful!

The shift has begun, and there is an entire generation filled with little black girls whose pop culture icons, political figures and dreams are filled with hope, and that is wonderful.