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DEL.ICIO.USWhy would kids think they’re in the wrong skin?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The baby doll coos if she’s happy and cries when upset. It’s brown-skinned.
The other doll doesn’t have batteries. It’s pale.
Both were placed in front of Olivia.
“Which one do you like playing with the best?” I asked. She pointed to the pale one.
“Which doll looks like you?”
Last week, I conducted a “doll test” with my precocious, pretty, moody, maddening 4-year-old. It was a quiz to glean some sense of her self-esteem, how she feels about herself, her brown skin.
In the 1950s, Dr. Kenneth Clark, and his wife conducted doll tests to help persuade the Supreme Court to strike down segregation in its Brown vs. Board of Education decision.
The experiment involved 16 black children, ages 6 to 9. They asked the children their perception of a white doll and a black doll.
Eleven of the students said the black doll looked “bad” and nine said the white doll looked nice.
Decades later, we have a similar experiment. Kiri Davis, a 17-year-old student from New York, conducted a doll test for “A Girl Like Me,” her 2005 short film about black girls and standards of beauty (view it at www.uthtv.com /umedia/collection/2052).
In the seven-minute film, 15 of the 21 black children in a Harlem day care center favor the white doll over the black one. The white doll is good, they say; the black one bad. When asked to select the doll that looks like her, one little girl seems to hesitate before she reluctantly picks up the black one.
This hesitation, along with the kids’ overall perception of race has alarmed the masses. Folks are professing shock that some vulnerable young minds seem to think that the skin they’re in is the wrong skin to be in.
My take is — why are we surprised?
Browse through the magazine rack in grocery stores. Look at the waifish runway models. Whites, naturally, dominate most everything in America because they are the majority. That, to some degree, may explain why the kids in Davis’ film believe beauty and goodness comes in shades of white.
Now juxtapose the typical image of whites with the general, limited image of blacks in pop culture. It’s not multifaceted. It’s unappealing. Half-naked women, licking lollipops, gyrating to some trashy song. Young men with “grills” in their mouths, pants to their knees. Nonsensical songs about who owns the baddest car, the biggest house, the magic touch.
Yet we feign shock and sorrow and look aghast at the results of Davis’ experiment. We ponder the possibility that low-rent stereotypes can impact self-identity and that race can trample self-esteem. And we are surprised to see that racial images can penetrate the youngest of minds, even those of 4- and 5-year-olds.
Truth be told, we didn’t need a doll test to expose the ugly truth. When it comes to beauty, we already knew what America values, and what it doesn’t.
Olivia looked at the two dolls after I asked her which one resembled her the most.
She touched the tummy of the black one.
And she did it without hesitation.
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Comments
By Tuckergal
October 14, 2006 10:59 PM | Link to this
Rick, I do get your point. For decades, the rows and rows of white dolls far outnumbered the African-American and Hispanic/Latina dolls.
But I think the tide has started to turn more than you might think. I see more confident, classy African-American young ladies gracing high end ads on TV and in print than ever before. Queen Latifah represents Maybelline, if I’m not mistaken. And I think Halle Berry represents another line, maybe L’Oreal. Add Beyonce Knowles to the mix in even more ads I’ve seen lately.
Ad agencies, if anything, are seeking more diversity in their models to appeal to more customers of all races. Cadillac, especially, seems to be highlighting more African-American families in their ads. Not exactly their standard pitch of trying to grab aging white guys who play a lot of golf.
Turn on Project Runway on Bravo on Wed. nights and you’ll see a number of beautiful African-American models strutting their stuff on the catwalk. Some of their fashions were made by African-American contestant Michael Knight, an Atlanta native who made the PR top four.
It may not be as wide-spread as you might like, but it is happening.
By Eric
October 15, 2006 07:08 AM | Link to this
Rick, I think you connected the dots with this one, and I would have thought it was because of store space before your reasoning. All kids start out innocent, and if the images being presented in the media by black entertainers are generally negative it would be easy to see why a pure soul would choose the other option. Children aren’t born thinking that acting like prostitutes is attractve, but that’s what they’re seeing if they’re seeing MTV, etc. Unfortunately, that purity doesn’t last long for many or the problem would be gone in a generation as the culture would change and that garbage would be gone. Many fall and will continue to fall into the trap if they’re inundated by it.
By Racism Again?
October 15, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this
I’ve never seen as many ethnic dolls as I have the past 10-15 years. It used to be all white dolls, and the only black ones available were those made by black families for their children. Now, they get “equal billing” on the store shelves. White, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. You want it? It’s there!
It’s all in what a child is brought up to believe. They are clay that we mold. If they are brought up to feel that they are inferior, not pretty, beneath others, then that is how they will live. (“Children live what they learn”.) It is up to the parent to explain (if need be) why there are less blacks, Hispanics, etc. on the runways, in magazines, etc. If your child grows up thinking they are a low rung on the social ladder, they will learn to have no faith in themselves. If your child has low esteem because of their race, then you need to look in the mirror…there’s the reason why.
By SharonH
October 15, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this
Oh now Rick, really, it starts looooong before the kids get to their first MTV video. How about, it starts at birth. We coo and smile over the beautiful new baby and we smile approvingly at their hair, fretting over when it will turn “bad” and hoping against hope that it will stay “good”. In the crib, the new parents beam about their pretty new skin while anxious relatives check the back of the ears to see just how dark the poor little ones will turn.
I was already in my early teens when MTV beamed into homes en masse but I am sure you remember that growing up being called “black” or “dark” was an insult. If you really wanted to hurt someone you referred to their African roots. You yourself in this very column talked about how you hate to be called African-American because you claim to have no kinship to Africans whatsoever. But you know full well that when we were growing up, having African ancestry was nothing of pride. Even today, many, many people claim to have grandmother who was part Indian (which is highly exaggerated by the way) but they wince at any mention of having African ancestry. They go on and on about their presumed multiracial background in an attempt to minimize being Black. It breaks my heart.
You can’t lay this whole thing at the door of rap videos. The parents and the mainstream culture of the Black community can take the credit for this as well.
By Spartans
October 15, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this
What a surprise - more race-baiting and division from the AJC columnists and contributors. No wonder the newspaper is well known as third-rate, and has to give away papers to pump up the circulation numbers. Too bad the paper sees things as black or white, and write to pander to the minority rather than everyone.
By Interesting
October 15, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
I’m confused about what your point is with this column. Are you trying to say that because your daughter said she looks like the black doll that she has not bought into the American concept of beauty? When asked which she wanted to play with she chose the white one. What do you think that means?
You have mentioned that your kids are biracial. I assume you are married to a white woman. Maybe your daughter is following the example shown at home: when given a choice between playing with a black doll or a white one, she would rather play with a white one. Just like daddy.
By Greg
October 15, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this
this country has a terrible history when it comes to race…how will we overcome that history and move on? I’m not sure because a white person can only see life from their perspective and the same is true for black people…somehow, everybody has to take a step back and try seeing things from the other person’s point of view…until we are willing to do that, histroy will continue to repeat itself…I am sure most white people reading your article and the comments are not happy to read about another negative race story…I believe it has to be discussed and we need to figure out how to have a positive discussion about race in order to make real changes…the first step is to start with self and our own homes by making sure we see people as people and not label minorities in a negative light…I heard recently that the Gwinnett Place Mall as been referred to as the ghetto mall…yesterday I went there with my family and the only thing that seem to have change is the makeup of the people shopping in the mall…so why is it a ghetto mall now - because the minorities are in the majority?…it’s all about character- what’s on the inside—MLK, Jr. said it best when he talked about being judge by the content of your character…peace!
By alice
October 15, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this
If you look at my child’s Kindergarten class, you would surmise that the parents would look a certain way. Her room is very diverse, with lots of different shades of skin color in it. However, many of the kids have at least one white parent — either they are adopted or they are the children of interracial (or interethnic) parents.
I believe these beautiful children will go far in healing the racial wounds of this country.
By Johnny Johnson
October 15, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
Badies OPINION is a waste of space in the AJC. Way to go INTERESTING, you hit the nail on the head, I bet Badies wife played with BLACK dolls as a child and is still playing with one.
By Cindy
October 15, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
Mah daddy (Billy) always got me white dolls that he dipped in black paint - does that make daddy a racist?
By Convict 135876
October 15, 2006 05:37 PM | Link to this
They won’t let me have dolls in here anymore, not after that last unfortunate “accident”. They really should put those doll heads on better. But ah always prefered the white ones, they looked so innocent going in, and so dirty coming out, just like the real world. Ah’ll be free soon, so’s ah can get some real dolls. Whar’s the white women?
By Bobo
October 15, 2006 05:42 PM | Link to this
Hey, Rick, try a new doll test. Give Olivia a black Ken doll and a white Ken doll and see which one she wants to get with. Then try it with the Ken doll she chose and an anatomically correct male doll and see which one she wants to get with. You can then teach her another difference between whites and blacks, right?
Gee! The AJC is such a joke, and you are one serious jokester!
By Carter
October 15, 2006 05:47 PM | Link to this
Let’s comprimise, top half of all dolls must be white, bottom half must be blake.
By sonny
October 15, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this
we done gone soft, mah own kids won’t let me use the “N” word no more! Time to take back our heritage, uhhhh, oh, darn you mean the flag vote, don’t ya? my bad, lets move on
By Steve
October 15, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this
This person’s comments reflect the AJC as a whole - it is a newspaper for the city limits, and caters to racism. In fact, it is just like the city of Atlanta - why serve the entire true city when you can refuse to expand the city limits just to maintain the power of a few. As stated in the earlier post, that is why the AJC is well-known among the industry as a joke of a newspaper that has to practically give away subscriptions. It is irrelevant to the business leaders who make the city and with the internet it is only a matter of time.
By Mark
October 16, 2006 08:26 AM | Link to this
Interesting study. The results tell the real story. Even children realize that white is right!
By lovelyliz
October 16, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this
It’s the result of a society that measures worthiness by appearance.
By brenda
October 16, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this
Of course white images are in excess on television but it is up to parents to not allow kids to be influenced by the medium. Whites own the majority of media so what do you expect? If Black people would come together and create television stations that show blacks in a good light, then things could change. I mean there is too much money that the black elite have but they choose to not invest it in creating better black images. Little girls feel the way they do because the media perpetrates the idea of white is right but the parents should control the remote better. Blacks have 2 channels supposedly TVONE and BET and Hispanics have several channels. Black people need to recognize our buying power an invest in ourselves. As far as Badie, you may also have falling victim to the white is right mantra since you also decided to choose someone who did not look like your Mama.
By Guest
October 16, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this
Black is just not acceptable on American TV. take Desperate housewives. Carlos and Gabby were looking to adopt a “white” baby at some point but it didn’t pan out. That was fine. Now the baby of a black couple was accidently placed in the surrogate mother’s womb and what happens when the baby comes out? Of course they don’t want it!. And there’s no mention of what happens to the baby. So it looks to me it was more about race than because they had been willing the past to adopt a white baby.
By Ditto
October 16, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Guest~ THANK YOU! Your comment concludes what the media feels about what’s “good skin or what’s bad skin”. I hope we all WAKE UP now, and realize that racism is still alive. Even though this blog is illrelevant to what we should be telling our children who they are and what they should think of others….we are all indiviuals!
By Leslie
October 16, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
It is sad that people feel they must chastise Rick for marrying a white woman. It shows how small minded people are. It takes courage to go against the mainstream. Love is stronger than societal ‘taboos’.
Re:the doll test. The problem with that, especially with a biracial child, is that they are forced to choose between two races that they identify with. It is not an either/or choice and can be confusing to a child.
By Bella
October 16, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this
Even in “black” adverstisments and media outlets, you don’t see women with prominant west African features. Or very dark skin. Or super kinky hair. We only celebrate images, and starlets that have more “refined” features with lighter complexioned skin and long straight hair. No wonder black children still choose Caucasian dolls…
By Karen
October 16, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this
Interesting and others of that mindset - What a narrow minded, unpleasant thing to say. You don’t have to resort to statements of personal ugly thoughts to express yourself, do you? If so, how sad for you.
Moving on now. If the doll test were done with blonde, red haired and brunette dolls, many, many children would choose the blonde, in spite of what color hair they have. My daughter was very blonde when she was little and as she gets older, her hair is getting darker, as mine did. She often says she will dye it to get her “real” color back when she’s older, in spite of the example she sees with both parents, who do not color their hair. There are certainly powerful images in the media portraying a certain look as “the right one.” Sad for us all that looks still appear to be a valid critera for measuring people. Actions are a much better reflection of a person’s character.
I also think if you gave girls a “Raven Simone” doll, or a plain jane white doll, many would choose Raven without hesitation. Sometimes there is more at play in choices than just the surface, obvious difference, both with dolls and people.
By Rickster
October 16, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this
Thank you Karen for a very intelligent post. Yours is worth reading and considering as thought-provoking insite. Unlike the mind-less jargon of those such as the interesting idiot above!!!
By baby girl
October 16, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this
You should not read things in to children’s choices, especially small children. I do not believe their sweet little minds have been brainwashed. There is so much diversity in this day and time. They might pick out a different doll each time, like the person said above depending on a lot factors, skin, hair color, clothes. You teach your children what you want them to believe. You teach them to be an individual.
By george
October 16, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
To correct an earlier comment, on Desperate Housewives, Carlos & Gabby picked an Asian ‘virgin’ to carry Carlos’ baby….(because Gabby can’t have kids). The joke was not so much that the baby was born black - but the gal was not a virgin afterall and they went to all the trouble of having her artifically inseminated with Carlos’ sperm.
Another thought, wonder what would happen if you did a study of little white girls - and give them the choice of which babydoll to play with?
I’m a white female married to a black man. We are very happy and both our families get along just fine.
By Ronda
October 16, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this
Forget about the dolls…I wanna know when they will actually have a Bachelor show with someone other than a white man. And maybe this time they will put in a handsome man too.
By Guest
October 16, 2006 04:36 PM | Link to this
On desperate housewives, it was about race. The eggs of a black couple and the Solis’ were accidentally switched. When Gabby asked about HER baby, the doctor stated that her egg didnt take. Maybe they did try a little 5 minute cliff hanger to show the baby was not hispanic thus using a black baby. But it was not to allude that the Asian woman was not a virgin. It was clearly about race after that. Had a white baby come out, they probably would have gone to court or explored the issue of keeping the baby further.
By jim d
October 17, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
Funny thing Rick,
I didn’t realize there was a percieved difference until I was 6-7 years old. even stranger, after 30 I realized there wasn’t really any differences.
Basing any opinons on the choice of a doll by a 4 year old may be a bit presumptious on your part and may affect her feelings in the future. Have you given any consideration to that?
By Eric
October 18, 2006 10:11 AM | Link to this
Everyone who attacks Rick for his wife’s race are as racist a the Klan.