This Mama Doll wants the world to see Black women as beautiful dolls who love to get along and play well with others.
Black woman business owner Dana Hill created the largest consumer group of Black toy dolls, The Black Doll Affair, with a mission to change the way Black girls perceive themselves.
According to CBS 12 News, the Lynn University graduate brought The Black Doll Affair to life in December 2007 after coordinating what was meant to be a one-time Christmas party where Black women attended as the ‘Black doll’ and women who were not Black showed up as their ‘porcelain pals.’
“They were there to be that white doll come to life and talk to a little girl about how unique her hair is and her skin and nose and how no one has these attributes but her—the Black doll,” Hill explained.
The movement, now recognized worldwide, happens on the first Saturday of every December when the Black’ ambassadolls’ host themed Christmas parties to empower Black girls and women. Additionally, dolls are donated to Black girls across the country.
“Their challenge every year is to get behind the self-esteem theme and act as teachers in a classroom promoting this theme to empower these baby doll guests,” Hill said. “Then once they’re
fully empowered, they leave with a doll and that’s happened all over the country for 16 years which is how we became the largest consumer group of Black Barbie and now officially partners with Barbie for the last 10 years.”The company announced in July their ‘Buy Felicia’ 16th Annual Doll Giveaway, where dolls are purchased from Black women.
“Because many doll companies owned by Black women are marginalized and, therefore,
experience difficulty finding the funding they need to compete in the marketplace, having experienced marginalization myself, I stepped in to help with The Black Dolls #BuyFelicia campaign,” Hill wrote on the company’s website.Reportedly, President Barack Obama recognized The Black Doll Affair with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
The late Congressman and civil rights pioneer John Lewis helped declare Dec. 12th in Georgia as The Black Doll Affair Day.