Brandy’s Cinderella Continues to be a Game-Changer For Black Entertainment

Nowadays, Black princesses and superheroes still aren’t a mainstream idea, but it doesn’t feel as shocking as it did when R&B star Brandy was cast in the title role in ABC’s 1997 TV movie special, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.”

To say it was transformative to see the “Have You Ever?” singer as one of the most iconic characters of all time would be an understatement. It wasn’t just the representation of having her in such a pivotal role, it was the fact that she was a modern Cinderella. Yes, she had a horrible stepmother and shady stepsisters, but she never felt like a damsel in distress. She was a smart, independent, beautiful Black girl who just needed an opportunity to get away from her family.

Brandy, and executive producer Whitney Houston, didn’t portray the character as a Black girl stuck in a white princess stereotype. She kept her braids and sang in her familiar soulful voice. She’s absolutely a Black princess.

She was a new Cinderella for a new era. And it didn’t hurt that she was surrounded by legends like Houston; Whoopi Goldberg; Victor Garber; Jason Alexander; Natalie Desselle; and Bernadette Peters.

Though Brandy’s Cinderella wasn’t officially canon, fans never accepted that, kept the pressure on and she eventually became an unofficial, yet important, part of the princess’ history. This was crucial, as “The Princess and the Frog’s” Tiana was not introduced as the first Black Disney Princess until 2009. That’s more than a decade before the company finally decided it was time to bring a Black princess into the canon.

A singer playing a fairy tale princess may not seem like a big deal, but you can draw a direct connection between Brandy’s Cinderella and projects like “Black Panther,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The Acolyte.” Her unforgettable performance, as well as the musical’s sustained popularity showcased that Black characters and stories could capture the attention of mainstream audiences. Granted it took a while for those hits to get made, but that’s because the kids who watched Brandy in 1997 had to grow up and make them.

If you’re from a group that regularly sees yourself represented in film and television—for example, straight white guys—getting more of that doesn’t really mean much to you. However, if you’re constantly shown that people of color are only good enough to be props in that straight white guy’s story, you see yourself as secondary to them.

A Black Cinderella getting her happily ever after proves that we’re worthy of being the focus and inspires the next generation of artists to center us in all types of genres.

As she returns with a new version of the classic role in the new Disney+ movie “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” it’s crucial that we never forget how pivotal Brandy’s Cinderella is in the evolution of modern Black entertainment. She is a literal game changer who deserves all the flowers and glass slippers we can give her.

“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and “Descendants: The Rise of Red” are available to stream on Disney+.