10 Reasons Your Multiracial Children Need To See “Annie”

On Christmas, we took the kids to the movies. It’s a holiday tradition set from my years in Vegas and, since we celebrate Cuban Noche Buena anyway, it ends up being a great way to spend Christmas morning. This year, we saw ANNIE. As a Latina mom raising multiracial children, I loved the film. LOVED!

Before I give you 10 reasons why our mixed babies need to see this film, let me tell you a few things: I’m not a movie critic. Also, I never saw the original ANNIE. As immigrants, my parents didn’t expose us to pop-culture in the early 1980’s, so this movie never made it on my radar (same goes for The Godfather or Scarface. Shocking, I know.) I say that because I have absolutely no emotional sentiment for the original film and watched this latest version with a fresh set of (multiracial mom) eyes.

I’m recommending the 2014 version of ANNIE strictly from the perspective of a multiracial mother looking for mainstream reinforcements of my children’s biracial identity and celebrations of diversity.

For a review from a trusted Latina mom that’s also an informed film and theater buff, check out Yolanda’s ANNIE review. She’s my go-to resource for age appropriate, mom-type film reviews.

10 Reasons Your Kids Should See ANNIE!

After watching the film, I immediately downloaded the soundtrack. We’ve been rocking out ever since! While I love (age appropriate) conversations on resilience and empowered identity, sometimes music is just as efficient at making a point.

So, in honor of our head-bobbing, beat-making and singing off-key, here are the 10 reasons why your multiracial children – and all their friends – should see ANNIE… with a bit of lyrical prose mixed in.

Track #1: MAYBE

Maybe far away or maybe real near by, interracial marriages won’t be given such a hard time from mainstream society (or individual families). ANNIE shows a black man as the main character who, after falling head over heels in love with a charismatic foster child, realizes that his white assistant is another woman he can’t live without. So maybe now it’s time for multiracial mothers to take control of the marital images that our mixed children see. When my daughter asked, “Mama, is Annie’s new mom white like you or white like Emma’s mom?” I committed to exposing my multiracial children to all forms of marriages and partnerships that mainstream television offers them.

Track #2: IT’S A HARD KNOCK LIFE

Can multiracial moms really afford to ignore this film? It’s a hard knock life for those of us trying to expose our children to positive images of biracial identity and diversity – we don’t always have so much at our disposal – so when a movie comes around, filled with positivity and classic charm, take advantage of it!

Track #3: TOMORROW

When sung by the adorable Quvenzhané Wallis, this song is reason enough for multiracial moms to see the beauty and hope this film affords our kids. Hearing my daughter sing along with Annie – a girl who looks very much like her – that the sun will come out tomorrow and that she’s going to stick up her chin and grin and sayyyy.… the importance of this film on my child’s self image is obvious to me.

Track #4: I THINK I’M GONNA LIKE IT HERE

The lively track and musical scene when Annie first entered Will Stack’s home and her new room was so endearing. The tempo is high, Annie’s energy so sweet and gracious, but this moment in the movie reminds our kids that not every child is blessed with loving parents and a stable upbringing. After the film, my little girl asked me why Annie kept sleeping on the floor and later thanked us for giving her a warm bed to snuggle up in.

Track #5: YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE

The world can be an ugly place. Foster kids exist. Bad foster parents exist, too. Despite all the struggle in their lives, though, Annie and her friends teach our kids that they’re never fully dressed without a smile. A great lesson for kids who seemingly have it all, but still aren’t happy or grateful. Your clothes may be Chanel, Gucci, your shoes crocodile, but you’re never fully dressed without a smile. That’s right, Annie! There’s nothing more beautiful or more valuable than self worth and a happy disposition.

Track #6: LITTLE GIRLS

Cameron Diaz plays Hannigan, Annie’s mean foster mom and sings about her hatred of little girls because, every day I eat, sleep and breathe them. My daughter and I had an interesting conversation about her feelings of this character and I’m grateful that all types of diversity existed in this film; including a tall, skinny blonde woman as the antagonist. Images like Cameron Diaz are rarely seen in negative roles – even more rare as the adversary of a black, main character – and it was just kind of cool to change up the same ol’ rhetoric. Tall, skinny, blonde (beautiful by society’s standards) can act foolish and ugly, too.

Track #7: The City’s Yours

I support positive images of black fatherhood in mainstream media, and ANNIE is no exception. Especially if your child has a black father (and even if they don’t), take the opportunity to watch as Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) showers his new, little girl with love, direction and fatherly advice: This is the start of your story. If you’ve got guts, you get glory. Anyone can make it, even you.

Track #8: Opportunity

This song is my FAVORITE! As Annie stands in front of Stack’s audience, she sings a solo performance that brings the whole crowd to tears. Her voice is angelic. We all fall in love. Looking majestic in a red gown, Annie is center stage… and my daughter wants to be just like her. Isn’t that powerful? Not an animated princess. Not a animal (she loves acting like a dog). My daughter is pretending to be Annie. Under the glow of the very bright light, I turn my face towards the storm, night sky… and I’m not afraid.

Track #9: WHO AM I?

Sung by three of the main characters, our children learn that transformation is always possible. From bad to good. From alone to in-love. And from a foster kid to the center of the universe. ANNIE shows our children that people change, that they learn from their mistakes and that, perhaps, forgiveness is a formidable ally in moving through the struggles of a biracial identity.

Track #10: I DON’T NEED ANYONE BUT YOU

Seriously. What kid doesn’t need to hear these words: Together at last. Together forever. We’re tying a knot. That never can seether.

We loved ANNIE. Did you watch the film? What do you think?