Noah Barker is a new character in the Disney+ Original Series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. He is a child actor in the show Odder Things, which makes him the center of attention when he transfers to Willie T. Ribbs Middle School. He first appeared in the episode "The End of Innocence".
Background[]
Personality[]
Noah is a confident young boy due to his fame and is used to people giving him attention. Quite rarely, he will initiate a conversation with someone else, with Zoey Howzer one of the few exceptions.
History[]
Early Life[]
At some point, he appeared in the popular TV show Odder Things.
The End of Innocence[]
Noah is first mentioned by Michael to Penny after she asks why everyone at the cafeteria is glued to their phones, who says that he is an actor from the popular show Odder Things who is transferring to Willie T. Ribbs Middle School. Penny, Zoey, Maya, LaCienega, DiJonay and Michael then watch an interview where Noah discusses transferring to their school because he wanted to experience somewhat of a normal life and date a normal girl. He also talks about wanting to go to the school's Valentine's Day Dance with a date. The three girls swoon over him, hoping to be the girl chosen by Noah. Kareem and Darius join the table to see what the fuss is about, and Kareem can tell that Penny wants to be his date. Darius says Dijonay will be chosen by him but she disagrees.
Moments later, a teacher announces that Noah has transferred to their school, with students cheering and vying fr his attention. He blows a kiss and one student catches it, with the exception of Maya who is unimpressed by the fact that he only dates white girls. As he walks in their direction, Penny, LaCienega, Michael and Dijonay take turns trying to get his attention, but instead of noticing them, he approaches Zoey. Zoey assumes he is asking for her table and stands up to go elsewhere, but Noah tells her she is beautiful and asks her out to the dance. At first Zoey assumes it is a prank, but when she realizes he is being genuine, she looks at Penny, LaCienega, Michael and Dijonay for reassurance, only to see a mix of anger and confusion on their faces. Anxious herself, she tells Noah she would love to.
Later, Penny is having a video call with Maya, LaCienega, Michael and Dijonay to discuss their upcoming party where they all dress as their favourite princesses. Dijonay tells Penny they have to talk about the incident about the cafeteria and expresses anger at Noah for choosing Zoey. She says Noah only likes Zoey because she is white. LaCienega also critisizes him for this, saying he likes "no chocolate, no caramel, no sprinkles, no nothing". When Dijonay asks what's wrong with them, Michael says they don't have enough time for that conversation, and is subsequently kicked out from the call. Penny rebukes this and says that they don't know that for sure. Maya disagrees and says that according to her cousin who lives down the street from him, "he only dates vanilla". Penny replies that just because her cousin says so, it doesn't mean it's true. Dijonay then reveals that the four of them voted, and "Becky with the Red Hair", (the nickname she invented for Zoey) is no longer invited to their princess party. Unbeknownst to the four, Zoey was listening in on their conversation and after hearing Dijonay's insult, appears in the call and repeats it. This causes everyone to quickly leave the chat except for Penny, who feels awkward being faced alone with an angry Zoey.[1]
At the princess party, Dijonay approaches Zoey and insists that Noah only likes her for being white. Zoey responds by saying Dijonay is just jealous since a celebrity likes her. This leads to Penny, Zoey, Maya, LaCienega, Michael and Dijonay having an argument and not letting each other speak, instead yelling over each other. Penny calms them down and tells them to speak to each other in a less aggressive way. Dijonay and Michael ask Zoey why she's going out with someone who likes her just for being white, and Zoey says she wouldn't do that. LaCienega says that he obiously likes her for being white because no other boys have asked her out before. Zoey rebuffs this by saying Myron asked her out three times, and asks Dijonay if this means Myron only likes white girls too. Dijonay, frustrated, says Zoey doesn't get it and leaves, with LaCienega, Michael and Maya following. Alone with Penny, Zoey asks her if she really thinks that Noah likes her if she is white. When Penny tries saying that she was trying to look out for her, Zoey leaves, with Penny on the verge of tears and slowly starting to cry.
At the dance, Zoey confronts Noah and asks her if he only likes her for being white. When he confirms that he does, she breaks up with him. Maya, LaCienega, Michael and Dijonay approach her and apologize for their behaviour towards her, noting that it was never her fault that Noah was attracted to her. She forgives them and they become friends again.
Afterwards, Noah is then seen dating a blonde haired blue eyed girl from the school.
Trivia[]
- Even if Noah didn't have a crush on Zoey, or had a preference for white girls, it is unlikely that he would pursue Penny and Dijonay as they already have boyfriends (Kareem and Darius, respectively).
- Michael is implied to have a crush on Noah, though Noah seems to be primarily interested in the opposite sex.
- Out of all of Penny's friends, it is only Zoey who calls him out for his racism and racial preference. Maya, Penny, Michael, Dijonay and Lacienaga don't, despite being the most vocal about their disappointment and frustration about his rejection of them.
- When Noah says he prefers white women to black women, he is practicing Colorism, an issue in the black community faced by black women in particular. He can also be said to practice Misogynoir.
- Colorism isn't just about black men preferring white women, it can also be said about preferring light skinned POC. This is demonstrated when he likes Zoey, who is paleskinned but Jewish.
- Many viewers joke that he looks like Huey from The Boondocks.
- The show he's starred in, Odder Things, is a parody of the Netflix series Stranger Things.
