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Entry #1: The Proud Family

The Proud Family is a children's cartoon that aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2005. The series centers around the main character, 14-year-old Penny Proud, and follows her life as she navigates growing up as a young black girl. As the show progresses the audience gets to see how Penny and her family members handle various trials and triumphs in their lives. Whether they be in her school activities, friendships, family relationships, or personal self-esteem struggles, there is always a lesson to learn from the very thoughtful, relatable, and dynamic characters in this show. And, while this program is extremely entertaining and fun, it also touches on some very important and necessary topics. Show creator Bruce W. Smith even stated that "he was inspired to create this series because of the lack of African American empowerment in animation". Some of the socially relevant themes and topics that The Proud Family discusses include LGBTQ rights and toxic masculinity, women empowerment, and racial stereotypes.

Specifically in the episode “Who You Calling Sissy,” conversations about the LGBTQ community were brought to light. "Penny’s friend Michael, a flamboyant designer and fashionisto, is called a 'sissy', after surprising everyone with his athletic abilities during a pick-up game of basketball" (Vaughn 2019). The word 'sissy' holds a lot of weight in this situation. The insulting term, typically used in regards to an effeminate man and carries connotations of being homosexual, is heavily used in the Black community. This episode also addressed issues including bullying, women accessorizing gay men, respecting gender identity and sexual orientation, and also the idea of toxic masculinity - the construct that doesn’t allow men to feel liberated without judgment.

Women empowerment is a constant theme throughout the series and can be noticed in almost any episode. One clear example can be found in the episode "She’s Got Game”. "Penny joins the boy’s football team after her crush mocks her and insists that girls can’t play. Comments from the football coach and other teammates show that they are still holding onto ideals from the 1950s - that women belong in the kitchen and Penny should go home and bake instead" (Vaughn 2019). However, Penny proves herself in crunch time, when the coach is forced to put her in the game, and she shows everyone that women can be good at sports too.

Similar to the consistent display of women's empowerment, racial stereotypes are often addressed in episodes of The Proud Family. “Culture Shock”, is an episode that showcases many stereotypes of Muslims. "The father is portrayed as angry and sexist, the mother as a servant of the family, and the daughter Radika feels displaced in the Proud Family house, not having to serve a male authority figure". "Toward the end of the episode, Penny shows more appreciation for the Zamin family - wearing her hijab, getting to know her host family, attending Eid, and delivering a speech about how the Zamins are just like any other family" (Vaughn 2019).

Some of these concepts have been discussed in recent media, however, The Proud Family was extremely early to the party - blazing a trail for other shows and movies to include such powerful and inclusive content. To not only show underrepresented and marginalized groups, but to dig into their true feelings, thoughts, and obstacles and the people who oppress them is truly what makes The Proud Family such an impactful program.

Sources:

Vaughn, Mikeisha. “The Proud Family Is the Representation We Needed—Then and Nowhellogiggles.” HelloGiggles, 15 Oct. 2019, hellogiggles.com/the-proud-family-representation/.

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Entry #2: Moana

Moana, a Disney movie that came out in 2016, revolves around the main character of the same name. Set in the ancient islands of Polynesia, 16-year-old Moana sails out on a daring mission to save the people of Motunui.

Moana is a movie that depicts the conquering of submissive female gender roles. Moana, as a young woman, is determined to save her island from vegetation death and loss of fishing grounds, despite her father overshadowing the importance of her journey. Her grandmother, often considered to be the wacky outcast of Motunui, is actually a strong female role model for Moana. She encourages Moana to shun cultural norms, to go against her father and the elders, and to follow her heart. During her journey, Moana befriends Maui, a demigod, who doubts her ability to make an impact and save her island.

"The film also takes great care to present a respectful and authentic depiction of the Polynesian people, their mythology, and their way of life" (Bytes 2023). The film boldly celebrates Polynesian culture while also challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. For example, Moana is portrayed as an extremely brave and resilient character, not a passive or submissive young girl, as some might expect a Disney princess to be. Instead, she is strong-willed, independent, and fiercely determined to save her people.

Moana also marks a significant step forward in the representation of people of color in animation. Historically, animation has been criticized for its lack of diversity, with many popular characters being white and male. This has led to a dangerous trend and a limited range of stories being told. "Research has shown that children who see themselves reflected in media are more likely to develop positive self-esteem and a sense of belonging. For many Polynesians, the film has provided a much-needed platform for their culture and heritage, which has often been marginalized or ignored by mainstream media" (Bytes 2023).

Lastly, the movie has led to greater awareness and appreciation of Polynesian art, music, and dance, with many communities organizing cultural events and performances inspired by the film. Moana has had a profound impact on representation in animation and beyond. The film’s celebration of Polynesian culture, its positive portrayal of diverse characters, and its themes of environmentalism and sustainability have all resonated with audiences around the world. The film has become a symbol of the broader struggle for equality and inclusion, and has inspired important conversations about cultural appropriation and representation. 

Sources:

Geekybytes. “The Legacy of Moana: How the Film Has Impacted Representation in Animation and Beyond.” Medium, Medium, 8 Apr. 2023, medium.com/@geekybytes1/the-legacy-of-moana-how-the-film-has-impacted-representation-in-animation-and-beyond-bea9156ea009#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20significant,and%20their%20way%20of%20life.

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Entry #3: Alex Newell

Alex Newell is an incredible Broadway, film, and television actor, singer, and activist. Their work in the arts is truly astonishing, but what's even more showstopping is their dedication to supporting so many organizations that create safe spaces for people of all different backgrounds, sexual orientations, body sizes, etc. Alex is one of the first gender non-conforming performers to win the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor. This win was monumental in the Broadway and theatre community. Not only did Alex share their success with all non-binary artists in the world, but they also started many impactful conversations about the binary system of award shows. Should there be a separate category for non-binary performers? Should the artist get to choose what category they fall under if nominated for an award? Is it unfair to certain performers to mix the talent pool? All of these are incredibly interesting and important questions, from which Alex has played a huge role in making the theatre community, and film and television sets, more inclusive spaces. Like Alex's character's name in the wonderfully entertaining TV show Glee, being unique truly is one of the best qualities you can have, and Alex supports that idea wholeheartedly in everything they do.

Alex has a clear mission to celebrate people's differences and their impact on the LGBTQ community is one of their most notable. For example, their work in the NBC series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was significant in taking LGBTQ visibility and acceptance to new heights. Alex's character Mo is the gender non-conforming neighbor of Zoey Clarke, the main protagonist in the show. In an interview about the new series, Alex shared that they "very intentionally wanted to craft a character that many people had not seen on television before. 'There are a lot of things that I would love to see on television. You never really see a gender non-conforming [person’s] dating life ever on television…you don’t see someone that is effeminate or plus-size have a love interest on TV. I said, "Let’s do that. Let’s do something that people don’t see often” (Sharvey 2020).

Along with Alex's performances in many roles that made history, including Unique Adams in Glee, Mo in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Asaka in Once on This Island, Lulu in Shucked, and more, every character they take on holds a deeper purpose than just being in the show. Alex wants people to feel seen and represented by the roles they play. They continue to fight for the equality of all non-binary people, they work to make people of all sizes feel included, and they celebrate and encourage people of all racial backgrounds to be proud of who they are and where they come from. With the courageous leadership and passion for change that Alex displays, there is hope for making the world a more inclusive and safer place.

Sources:

Sharvey. “Alex Newell Takes LGBTQ Visibility to New Heights in His Role as MO in NBC’s ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.’” GLAAD, 8 Feb. 2020, glaad.org/alex-newell-takes-lgbtq-visibility-new-heights-his-role-mo-nbc-series-zoeys-extraordinary/.