After 21 years away, The Proud Family returns to TV this week with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, a Disney+ sequel to the 2001 show. Following the misadventures of a newly-14 Penny Proud along with her family and friends, Louder and Prouder rockets the original cast — and some new additions — from the early 2000s to the thick of the 2020s. Chaos, of course, ensues, but amid the waves of change, some things have stayed the same. Among them are the bond between Penny and her Suga Mama, which is as strong as ever.
In a recent press event, CBR got to speak with the voice of Penny Proud, Kyla Pratt, and the voice of Suga Mama, Jo Marie Payton. The pair spoke about their experience returning to these beloved characters and what’s changed about the show after 21 years. They also discussed the importance of love and respect and why everyone needs a Suga Mama.
CBR: How does it feel to be back playing these iconic characters again? Suga Mama and Penny were such a big part of so many people’s childhoods.
Kyla Pratt: It feels absolutely amazing! Literally every other day of my life there is someone coming to me and talking to me about making sure The Proud Family comes back. For it to be coming back and [for me] to be able to work with these beautiful, talented human beings again and bring a character back to life that so many people have grown up with and can relate to and loved as a little kid (or as an adult)… Now to be able to have the next generation and the generations after that be able to enjoy it, and updating it for nowadays but keeping the essence of what it is… I’m just feeling extra good. [laughs]
Going off that, it’s a long time between 2001 and 2020. How did it feel bringing the Prouds up to speed?
Jo Marie Payton: It feels wonderful to be able to get back in this space where you can just tell the truth about what it is and where it is. We were pertinent back [in 2001], telling it like it was and using everyday experiences to portray [that] on the screen, in our animated way. Now we are a lot different. Things are a lot different 20 years later, but we are still the same as far as being able and being honest — telling the truth about things. We’re not timid about anything. We weren’t timid then, we’re not timid now. We’re shouting louder and prouder that it’s important that we know this, that we do this, that we say this, and that we respect people for who they are, what they are, and where they are.
The Proud family is not just an African American family. It’s an everyday, anybody, anywhere family, is what it is. It’s important that we have that physical interaction — which I’m happy about with The Proud Family. Penny still interacts [physically] with her friends down the street and her classmates and everything is not held in her hand. All her relationships are not held in her hand on a machine. She comes home to her parents and it’s okay to get mad with your parents about them trying to make you do the right thing. It’s okay to get mad with them, but come home and know that you’re safe with a roof over your head and food in your mouth. It’s okay to say some of the things that you wanna say, but have that level of respect behind them — but also know that your Suga Mama got your back too. [laughs]
We are touching on some subjects that people consider taboo, that we’re afraid to deal with. They have to be dealt with because people are here and they’re gonna be here ’till the end of time. Families — not people, families… I have some family members that I’m happy are going to be eased through their life experiences behind some of the subjects that we touch on and some of the people that we’ve added to this cast now, in order to express the importance of love and respect.
That importance is apparent in the show — it’s all love, even when it’s tough. This is especially clear in the relationship between Penny and Suga Mama. What can fans learn from a relationship as solid as theirs — especially now, 21 years later?
Payton: When you reach that crossroads that kids like Penny are in, it’s hard. It’s easier when you have someone you feel like you can depend on and that you know genuinely loves you. That’s how Suga Mama is with Penny. Sometimes you’re not happy with your parents. Sometimes you’re not happy with anybody, but if you are happy with your grandmother or your favorite aunt or your teacher or somebody… Suga Mama represents all of that.
This particular relationship that Penny and [Suga Mama] have is just magical. It’s the relationship that I use for me and my granddaughter. I have one granddaughter — she’s 13, going on 14, so I’m experiencing that Suga Mama-Penny thing to the hilt. Just like Suga Mama protected Penny, that’s the same way I protect my girl. She is my baby, she can do no wrong, but when she does do wrong, I know how to make her understand that it’s better to do right. That’s what Suga Mama does with Penny.
Pratt: I think it’s one of the most beautiful relationships, and it touches a lot of people because that’s how the family dynamic is. You have this older relative who you feel like, “Oh my goodness, she’s crazy!” Then, no matter what, this person has my back. This person is looking out for me in every single way. Sometimes they might not see it until they get a little older, but everybody either has a Suga Mama or wants a Suga Mama. I think Penny appreciates that so much. I love that. We just did a [personality] quiz, and my character came out to be Suga Mama. [laughs]
Payton: When I did it last night, it was Penny! [laughs] Also, when I look at my granddaughter, the same way Suga Mama looks at Penny, I feel blessed because that’s an extension of me. Maybe I’m doing something right and God said, “Okay, I gave you a daughter and I gave you a granddaughter.” That’s the essence of me. That’s still here. I hope that kids will pick up that you are an extension of who you are around, who you’re associated with. Hopefully, that’s somebody that you love and respect, because if it is, then you’re blessed on that side. You’re in front of the game on that side.
Penny and Suga Mama return in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, debuting Feb. 23 on Disney+.
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