Since 1500, Africa has been exploited, politically undermined, and raped of its resources. As Africa was being pillaged of its culture and peoples, the “Global North” was reaping the benefits. This is what’s known as exploitative colonialism, a system where profit is made from the trade and commerce of exported goods in a region, oftentimes with little regard for the environment or people it is affecting. There are countless examples of the West’s disregard for the voices and lives of Africans, South Asians, Indigenous peoples, and Latin Americans, but She-ra and the Princesses of Power (SPOP) provides an interesting subversion of the colonialist narrative. In She-ra and the Princesses of Power, the main characters known as the Princes Alliance, are fighting against a group called the Horde, who are trying to conquer the planet.The Horde is run by Horde Prime, a semi-omnipotent being who wants access to the magic of Etheria. 

Season 5 poster for She-ra and the Princesses of Power

Etheria represents a colony that is being encroached upon, while the Princess Alliance are the rebels fighting against the occupation of their planet. The Horde would force people into submission after destroying their villages. That is direct imperialism, which was a common way of conquering colonies by militarily suppressing peoples. It was often used by France in places such as modern day Vietnam and Somalia. Another form of imperialism was exemplified with the First Ones, who were an alien race of explorers from Eternia who sought out magic to support their own planet’s needs. Unlike the Horde who conquered militarily, the First Ones used elements from both settler and exploitative colonialism. By the end of season four, the First Ones’ plans of exploitative colonialism are exposed and they go from being the mysterious heroes who fell victim to the Horde to villains complicit in the eradication of planets. Both groups competed for planets to colonize, which led them to war. This relationship mirrors that of France and England which were two prominent imperialist powers. 

Catra (left) surrendering to Horde Prime (right)

Unfortunately, SPOP does not introduce any First Ones colonists, but it does give insights into Horde Prime’s justification surrounding conquering planets. He views Etherians as emotional, weak, and predictable. His simplified generalization of Etherians are reminiscent of stereotypes of exploited peoples’ educational capabilities and lack of “civility.” These stereotypes were a way of dehumanizing the people that were exploited. Similar to Horde Prime, the West’s “moral obligation” to the world was not to better it, but rather to monetarily capitalize off of cheap or forced labor of “subhuman” groups. I love how in SPOT the audience is told a colonist story  from the perspective of the exploited. There are no colonial saviors because both the Horder and the First Ones seek to drain the magic of Etheria leaving the planet destitute.

She-ra and the Princesses of Power also addresses aspects of eco-coloninalism and neo-colonialism. Unfortunately, I cannot include them in this analysis, but I encourage you to read/watch my sources to understand how the effects of exploitative colonialism are still felt today. I highly recommend watching this show. It was definitely not intended for 18+ year olds to watch it, but many of its fans are adults. There are so many great themes and lessons talked about in this show. If you don’t watch it, maybe force your younger sibling or cousin to?