Popular culture’s vision of mermaids is especially interesting. For instance, Disney imagined “The Little Mermaid” as white with hair flowing down her back, taut abs, and a shell bra. Her underwater world is populated by talking fish, singing lobsters, and other beautiful mermaids — none of whom are Black, Latina, or Asian. Still, Ariel, the most recognizable mermaid in pop culture, has since become the standard. This focus on white mermaids ignores an entire canon of Black folklore populated with water divinities, like Yemaya and Mami Wata. Even Beyoncé has noticed: It’s not accidental that she went underwater in “Lemonade” or for her recent maternity shoot. A legion of Black merpeople are following in Beyoncé’s footsteps by reclaiming the sea. Here are 12 Black mermaids who are making underwater life more inclusive:
title: “Black Women Mermaids Who Are Making The Sea More Inclusive” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-04” author: “Joseph Hardnett”
Popular culture’s vision of mermaids is especially interesting. For instance, Disney imagined “The Little Mermaid” as white with hair flowing down her back, taut abs, and a shell bra. Her underwater world is populated by talking fish, singing lobsters, and other beautiful mermaids — none of whom are Black, Latina, or Asian. Still, Ariel, the most recognizable mermaid in pop culture, has since become the standard. This focus on white mermaids ignores an entire canon of Black folklore populated with water divinities, like Yemaya and Mami Wata. Even Beyoncé has noticed: It’s not accidental that she went underwater in “Lemonade” or for her recent maternity shoot. A legion of Black merpeople are following in Beyoncé’s footsteps by reclaiming the sea. Here are 12 Black mermaids who are making underwater life more inclusive:
title: “Black Women Mermaids Who Are Making The Sea More Inclusive” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-24” author: “Pamela Garcia”
Popular culture’s vision of mermaids is especially interesting. For instance, Disney imagined “The Little Mermaid” as white with hair flowing down her back, taut abs, and a shell bra. Her underwater world is populated by talking fish, singing lobsters, and other beautiful mermaids — none of whom are Black, Latina, or Asian. Still, Ariel, the most recognizable mermaid in pop culture, has since become the standard. This focus on white mermaids ignores an entire canon of Black folklore populated with water divinities, like Yemaya and Mami Wata. Even Beyoncé has noticed: It’s not accidental that she went underwater in “Lemonade” or for her recent maternity shoot. A legion of Black merpeople are following in Beyoncé’s footsteps by reclaiming the sea. Here are 12 Black mermaids who are making underwater life more inclusive:
