Racists are trying to use 'science' to prove mermaids can't be black. Yes, really
Posted 18 hours ago by Narjas Zatat in news
When all else fails, a cheeky bit of eugenics will go a long way, said no one ever.
People are trying really, really hard to justify why Ariel from The Little Mermaid should be played by a white actress.
This comes after an announcement that singer and actress Halle Bailey, who is of African American descent, has won the role, with many arguing that the mythological fish-person should remain “authentic” to the original aesthetic – that is a white mermaid with red hair.
As those arguments have been exhausted and proven invalid for multiple reasons, outlined in a previous indy100 article, some people have turned to science.
More:
https://www.indy100.com/article/racists-use-science-proof-disney-little-mermaid-ariel-not-black-8988571
= new reply since forum marked as read
The Brazilian Orisha of water, Yemanja, was a beautiful black mermaid. Most maritime cultures have merfolk that reflects native racial characteristics, and the oldest mermaid myths came from the Phoenicians, who were probably not as dark as the Egyptians but would have been considered "black" in modern-day America.
Indeed, one of my favorite mermaids, Sandra Rozar, is a superb black mermaid:
It saddens me that people are so caught up in their hatred that they cannot appreciate the diversity of humanity.
secrets and, of course, women -especially pregnant women - and children.
Olokun, orisha of wealth and the deep sea who is androgynous, depicted as female or male. I love the male depiction because there are so few imagery of mermen.
Oftentimes Oshun, the orisha of freshwater, rivers and love is naturally depicted as a mermaid.
The most renown through the Caribbeans is Mami Wata, the mother of all waters. I've never gone far enough to place her squarely in West Africa but I suspect she is a combination of Iyemọja, Olokun and Oshun.
when Denzel rode on screen playing an Italian Duke in "Much Ado About Nothing." But of course, he nailed the part.
When talented actors apply themselves to a role, little things like race and skin color kind of fall away. I'm old enough to know those feelings of racism that used to be "normal" in day to day life. We weren't full on racists where I grew up, but we had our share of ethnic and racial jokes that circulated. Been trying to grow up a bit since the 60's though.
Some roles require racial "accuracy." Probably doesn't apply to fantasies, though.
Last I heard, science says that we're all one species. Variations in appearance depend and come from environment and anthropology.
