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DEL.ICIO.USBlack or white: What doll would your child choose?
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 v. 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 http://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 waif-ish runway models. Whites, naturally, dominate because 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’s 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.
Comments
By Mark
October 15, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this
Interesting study. The kid’s answers simply tells it like it is.
By LB
October 15, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this
I would like to give my observation on Barbie dolls. At least for a while, all white Barbie dolls had long blonde hair. After a while they started offering the same doll in three choices, white with blonde hair, black with black hair and hispanic with black hair. I chose the hispanic with black hair because that doll reminded me the most of me. Even though I am white, I am a brunette like the majority of whites.
I don’t know who got the idea that all glamorous white people should be blondes. When I see TV stars like the lady on “That 70’s Show” who is a red head who is now a blonde, it’s unreal. These bottle made blondes are not real. I can no longer identify with these people.
I feel the same way about bottle made blondes for black and hispanic people. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being real. I am a doll collector and my black dolls enhance my collection in a beautiful way. If my doll collection was only white blonde dolls it would no longer be a collection but more like a clone variety.
I also think if manufacturers made dolls more realistic and more beautiful kids would not hesitate to pick the one they most identify with. Sometimes certain dolls look inferior, no matter what color, and it’s not a fair test to make a child choose from these brands.
By ljg
October 15, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Maybe the white dolls were just cuter than the black dolls. The reason I ask this is because when my daughter was two years old - we were walking through the doll section of the toy store and she ignored all of the dolls until she saw a black baby doll that she just had to have (we are white). She was not having any other doll but that one. So, we bought her for her and she took that doll with her everywhere we went and couldn’t have been more in love with the doll. And it really was a cute doll that is why she wanted it - she didn’t like it because it was “black” but because it was cute. So, my question is could we be reading more into the study than what it is really about? Just a cute doll.
By charles george
October 16, 2006 07:24 AM | Link to this
it’s interesting that your daughter chose the white doll instead of the black one.I am a black man originally from Trinidad.I also have a 3yr old daughter ,she has no issue picking up a black doll.Is your daughter’s perception came from learned behaviour? The reason is that in a previous article, you said that you will not wear your knitted hat for fear of being mislabeled as a potential islamic terrorist.I too have a knitted skullcap and just like you ,iam a chritian(catholic).I wear what feels comfortable to me.I am not trying to appease anyone and their perception of me.If they want to do that,that is their ignorance showing through.I am comfortable in my skin and my way of how i live.You not wanting to wear that hat shows that you are still blatently insecure about yourself and still trying to appease to ignorant white sentiments.When i am in new york, i don’t have that issue,that says a lot about prejudice and ignorance.
By ATICO
October 16, 2006 07:51 AM | Link to this
If we would all be honest with ourselves the color of a doll a child has was most probalby picked out by the childs parent. If the parent has known or unknown prejudice against the white or the people of color, in our diverse society, they will surely show these manifistations in the color of the doll picked for their child, whereas the child will only pick a doll that they see as a likable play toy.
I think we are some what aware that the clothes we wear show our way of life choices. If you are of the hip hop mind set you tend to wear their garb, etc. If you are Ivy league you wear the Kakhi pants and white shirt. So be it, really no one on the street in Atlanta, New York or LA gives a hoot what type of hat or shirt you wear, as you are the one with the image projection problem, not the geographical area.
By annandale
October 16, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
Our children become who we are. Children are the by-product of their environment. One can assess the dominant influences in a child’s life and see the oucome. No scientific study needed here. I remember growing up as a child listening to a song, that was more a narration with music in the back ground (Les Crane I believe was the singer) a child lives what it learns. I hope someone will be able to remember this and make a posting of the words.
So ask yourself this question, what are the dominant factors influencing the development of your child and what values are being instilled. Lets run down the list of some: 1) Television shows-This is a very powerful agent of change. 2) Advertisement- What is being communicated to our children via intelligently place ads media executives and their croonies? 3)Shopping promotions and experiences(What does Wal-Mart and Target push to our children?). What magazines do you flick through while your child is in line with you as you are waiting your turn in the cashier line? 4)Movies- What types of movies(dvd’s, VHS etc) do you watch or allow your child to watch? 5)Magazines- What types of magazines do you have around your house? 6)Toy selection- What kinds of toys do you provide them with in terms of colour and image? 7)Coloring books- Look at the figures in the books and ask your self, is Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Barbie, provide any clues? 8)Friends- What toys does your child friends have, what types of friends do they have? 9)Families- I am leaving this alone (since you sometimes cannot choose your family). 10)Day Care- What type of day care do you have your child in and what are the learning tools in use there? 11) Schools- 12) Fast Food Restaurant Toy Promotions-
We reinforce so much of our beliefs (sallently and overtly) in our children, that they are really just reflecting who we are.
Doll selection is just one medium, that our children use to demonstrate the values that have been taught to them. And we are now surprised that they have become who we are.
A more interesting experiment would be to perform this test in other countries that have one strong dominant people group and culture. Which doll would a child living in China choose, India, Russia, or the Phillipines.
We are the adults our parents warned us to avoid when were children.
By Kathleen
October 16, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this
I am saddened to admit that although my white daughter (now 18) had to have the black version of every doll that she ever wanted as a child, she has “learned” through her experiences in school to no longer wish to be like those dolls she so admired. She does still have black friends, but she has developed a strong lack of respect for the black kids who act the part of the thugs glorified by much of the black culture today. She also experiences reverse discrimination on a daily basis by these same black kids. I miss the days when she saw differences in color as something to be celebrated and admired.
By James McCoy
October 16, 2006 10:35 AM | Link to this
I for one am not shocked at the results of the doll test. The only thing that has changed in America is that hate has gone underground. You can pass all the laws you wish about discrimination in this nation and state,but you can’t change a persons heart. Racism and discrimination continues unabated in this country dispite the passage of laws to outlaw it. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why this child of color would chose a White doll,racial superirority has never left the minds of most White Americans,simplely because its reenforced in their lives each and every moment of the day.
By katie
October 16, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this
It is human nature to choose a doll (or anything) that is similar to yourself. If a white child chooses a white ‘baby’ doll she/he is simply choosing what is similar and familar to them—it is not racism. We all seek out what is familar to ourselves and there’s nothing wrong with that. I would feel pity on those white people who would make their children pick a white doll or a black person only allowing their child to play with a black doll. I’m white and wanted nothing to do with dolls as a child but I’m happy to know there is diversity in doll selection. Where are the Native American, Asian and Hispanic dolls???
By Leah
October 16, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this
I must admit, I haven’t seen the new study, so I’ll use my own experience. When my daughter was younger, she had black dolls and white dolls. Many of them were picked out by her Grandmother, Godmother (who was white and chose black dolls) and me. All of the dolls were treated the same: missing limbs, hair that had been cut or pulled out, thrown, dragged, and food stuffed in their mouths. To her, they were just toys. Maybe we’re reading too much into which one looks best. We should observe the treatment of the different dolls.
My daughter never really paid much attention to race; it wasn’t an issue. Now that she’s 15, I should ask if she realizes her Godparents are white.
By annandale
October 16, 2006 12:46 PM | Link to this
Kathleen, I hate to tell you this but your daughter has a lot more growing up to do. Your implication from your statement is that all black persons are evil and white people are good. The last time I checked, we were all sinners and as Jesus said, “No there is no one good”, all have sinned come short of God’s standard and expectation. All people have those who embrace that which is evil and that which is good. I know there are white people I would not even want to have at my funeral as well as black. It is not the color of the skin that makes the person it is the content of the heart. Your daughter need to assess each individual on their own individual merits. It is sad that her choices and exposure were so poor that she can only recall negative black influences on her life. Again, our children have become who we are.
By annandale
October 16, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this
Kathleen, I hate to tell you this but your daughter has a lot more growing up to do. Your implication from your statement is that all black persons are evil and white people are good. The last time I checked, we were all sinners and as Jesus said, “No there is no one good”, all have sinned come short of God’s standard and expectation. All people have those who embrace that which is evil and that which is good. I know there are white people I would not even want to have at my funeral as well as black. It is not the color of the skin that makes the person it is the content of the heart. Your daughter need to assess each individual on their own individual merits. It is sad that her choices and exposure were so poor that she can only recall negative black influences on her life. Again, our children have become who we are.
By brenda
October 16, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this
Kathleen, don’t get it wrong, your children still want to be like us. They adapt our way of dress, speaking, style……I bet that your ancestors are rolling in their graves. White, suburban kids support hip-hop and other negative sterotypical things that are deemed “black”…why do you think MTV pours money into it? It’s not for little black me, believe it.
By brenda
October 16, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
oh Kathleen:
“She does still have black friends, but she has developed a strong lack of respect for the black kids who act the part of the thugs glorified by much of the black culture today. She also experiences reverse discrimination on a daily basis by these same black kids.”
Does she also have the same disdain for serial killers which happen to most often be white? hmmmmmmmmmmm
By ELLE
October 16, 2006 06:32 PM | Link to this
Mr. Badie… I experienced this very recently… My little girl had a birthday. She made 6 years old. She received some gifts cards, so we went to Toys R Us. She decided on a Cabbage Patch baby doll. I took the time and got a couple of different “African-American” choices. I noticed there was something that was “NOT” being said. So I said “You don’t want one of the dolls with pretty brown skin like yours?”
She said that baby’s skin doesn’t look like my skin. This doll… a “white” doll has skin almost like my skin. I could not argue the point. As African-Americans we come in many shades of brown. To expect a child would not notice that the majority of dolls are typically white (with blond, brunette, or red hair; or a few on the shelf are African-American in ONE shade of brown (with black hair)… is silly.
It is much better than when I was a kid… but there is a long way to go. I think I will buy one of the special made “just like me” dolls. She does not typically play with dolls… she tends to like animals better. I guess I will indulge… because I want her to have a doll that does look more like her. She is my last child, and our only girl. The doll will be a “keeper”.
I am happy to see that there are Latin dolls on the market now. The Latinos too share many different skin complexions. The current models tend to come in ONE shade. There is clearly room for growth all the way around.
By Kathleen
October 17, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
Good Grief! Trying to simply make a comment about how my daughter always had the black version of all the popular dolls growing up and a very pure love for all people regardless of color. She still has that same respect for all people except those who choose to act like bullies and who harbor hatred for white girls simply because they are white. Obviously there are bad people in all cultures, races, and creeds. She is just an example of a kid who saw no real differnce outside of the beautiful brown skin she admired until a “group”, no matter how limited, showed her an ugly side of the race issue. Just sharing a different perspective on the subject matter. Nothing more. How you can leap to the conclusions I see here is dumbfounding. She learned this distrust despite my teaching her and her heart knwoing that all of us are equally capapble of good and bad. For the record, she still loves her babies of color.
By janet
October 24, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this
Have you read the book Sweet Thang by Allison Whittenberg? It’s set in the 70s but its oh so timely.