1 of 1 Photo: Getty Images
Black mermaids showed out in a special way at the 41st annual Mermaid Parade at Coney Island following the release of Disney's live-action version of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey.
Over the weekend, a number of individuals dressed in elaborate sea creature costumes marched down Surf Avenue to participate in New York City's annual Mermaid Parade, which organizers called the largest art parade in the nation.
Hip-hop legend Kool Keith portrayed King Neptune and Laurie Cumbo, the commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, dressed as Queen Mermaid in the parade that celebrates artistic and self-expression.
This year, the event was symbolic for several participants who came to represent Black mermaids, inspired by Bailey's role as Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
Black mermaids described the assembly of their breathtaking costumes to NBC News.
"I've been working on my aquatic crown piece for two weeks, but I was conceptualizing long before that," Jacqueline Myers told the outlet. "I went to the pet store and bought all this aquarium stuff. It was my first time building a piece like this."
Other parade participants touched on the backlash Bailey received for taking on the iconic mermaid role as a Black actress.
"Halle Bailey auditioned for the role just like any actress does," said Ivan Perez, a student at the High School of Fashion Industries. "Disney did not go out and look for a specific person. She was the right person, and she just happened to be Black. The real story has nothing to do with her race. It has to do with her voice, and I cannot imagine someone else playing the part."
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