the politics of colorful dolls

I am loving this wonderful collection of children's clothes because it embraces the "rainbow" of colors that make up the world's children. (also a portion of the proceeds from the T-shirt go to support world charities for children). A central element to the tees, bags and other accessories and clothes by Besitos designs is that each item can be embroidered or somehow imprinted with the face and imagery of a child from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, of a variety of hair colors, skin textures and hues.

Going through the website got me to thinking of some of politics behind such a would-be simple concept of having images of children be so multi-ethnic.

Last Friday, I noticed GG taking an interest in the sitter's daughter' doll. I was giddy and goofy with excitement over getting my baby doll her first doll! Finally! First, she is exhibiting signs of being the ultimate tomboy, having two brothers and all and being quite a rough and tumbly chic and I was beginning to think she'd probably reject the idea of a doll altogether. Second, after two boys, I was/am elated at getting a chance to relive a bit of my childhood. Easy Bake Ovens. Pretend Kitchen. Decorating a dollhouse. Dressing up dolls. Certainly, hubby wasn't keen on letting me engage in his boys in too much pretend play that involved playing dress up, so at last, now I was hoping and looking forward to playing dress up with my little girl trying on funny hats and gloves and big mommy shoes.

I am most excited though about the doll. I am certain to get her dolls of all shades, shapes and sizes, but I will be like my husband's mom and make sure that my daughter has dolls that look like her. My mother told me, in vivid detail, a story of how I rejected a dark skinned doll and called it TOO BLACK!!!! Imagine that?! At such a young age, I was impressionable enough to feel that being black wasn't necessarily a good thing and that a black doll, that probably looked like me would not be good enough.

I was just thinking about this the other day during political discussions over Barack Obama and why it is important for the potentially historic occasion that he could be president. ALSO, last night, I was reading a bedtime story book about astronauts with the boys and I clearly noticed that all three astronauts in the rocket were variations of white. There, also, the thought crossed my mind why indeed it is important for children to see positive images of people in high ranking positions and holding important jobs and that some of those people looked like them. It can do wonders for their self esteem and for them to realize that there skin color would not be a hindrance on what they can achieve. Like adults, children too are bombarded with images, to the contrary, that tell them their hair texture, facial features or something about the way they look is not good enough. I recall growing up watching media, where the black people lived in ghettos and were primarily portrayed as maids, criminals and just overall bad people. Who were the teachers, or police officers? Who lived in the big houses on the hill? No wonder I didn't want a black doll!

I must say that I was quite impressed during our recent vacation though, to see a little blonde haired blue eyed American girl, Kalyn, from Pennsylvania who we met during a children cruise with her mom, dad and two older brothers. She was quite taken with GG...and no wonder she was carrying with her, in her knapsack her favorite doll, a curly haired brown baby doll of GG's complexion called Carmalita! Cute. And so very conscious of her parents too. When you are the predominant race and culture (though this is changing in America), it is so easy to forget about others and you can/could live your life perfectly fine and comfortably without acknowledging others, their color, culture, or their place or contribution to the/your world. Giving the kid a black doll may have the reverse effect as with me and my disdain for a black doll. I guess I am optimistic that Kalyn doesn't/hasn't/won't be negatively influenced by the societal- and media- influenced-cues which could have told her that a brown/black doll isn't good enough.

I certainly hope GG is as fortunate. It's up to me and the family, but gosh darn it, is it not a challenge to compete with the media. *sigh* I'm up for the challenge tho!