Hollywood Popular Artists

Aug 23rd 2013, 12:18, by Claire Biggs

Which Emoji would you use to tell a friend, "Wow, Jennifer Hudson looks amazing as Tiana in this new Disney Parks photo?" If you think that Apple's Emoji selection and JHud's royal role aren't related, think again.

While the singer slays it as the first African-American Disney princess, Apple's keyboard still lacks a lot of racial representation, especially where their Emoji are concerned.

Hudson calls the experience of portraying Tiana "quite emotional" because it "means and stands for so much." Getting to serve as the real-life version of the first African-American Disney princess is, she said, really a "Disney dream come true." JHud wears a gorgeous yellow and green gown in the portrait, which reads, "Where you always follow your heart."

If DoSomething has anything to say about it, you'll follow your heart over to their new petition asking Apple to diversify its Emoji selection. As the organization deftly points out on its petition page, there are two different camels on the Emoji keyboard, but there are only two Emoji out of more than 800 that resemble people of color. Although there company has included inclusive Emoji in the past, Apple still has a long way to go to make sure everyone feels "visible and represented."

Although, as DoSomething points out, Apple doesn't "own" the Emoji, the company can still influence which ones make the keyboard. Hudson's portrait is a powerful reminder that representation, no matter what the medium, is so important. If youbelieve there should be Emoji that represent people of color, sign the petition now.

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