What ever happened to fighting for access to better schools, jobs, heath care and opportunities?Are we so complacent that we have time to expend effort on whether Barbie and her friends are "Black enough"?
Ever since the first Black Barbie (Released in Europe as Ebony Christy #1293 - 1971) - some Blacks have taken issue with the doll's appearance.
And when Mattel decided to issue a Princess of South Africa (2001) doll - some Blacks questioned whether Mattel was mocking Black stereotypes.
Even when honoring a prestigious and historic Black Sorority - Mattel's AKA Barbie fanned the flames of resentment by many Black women.
So now Mattel issues it's So in Style series of dolls.And what happens?
Some Blacks complain that the dolls have too good a grade of hair.
But this makes no sense at all.
These are dolls.
Their hair is supposed to be fake.
The same could not be said of many of the women who protest these doll's locks - while many of these same women wear Yak, synthetic, or bought Asian hair.
There is a battle on all fronts which makes it ineffective but that's your answer. We have the Black Pride police making sure when white people depict us it's to our standards.
ReplyDeleteSince this is practically impossible these arguments will always exist. Primarily because unless a Black person makes it we are looking for whitey to be implying something. Trust is the key issue here and overall we don't trust them.
The great irony is that Black folk have spent so much effort lusting after and striving for all the outward trappings of American-ness, when it has been the case, ever since the very first eruption of jes grew that we are the vitiating spark and quintessence OF American-ness.
ReplyDeleteIt's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Given the nit-picky nature of some of these criticisms in regards to plastic dolls, I can almost understand the attitude of "why bother?!" that must be held by Mattel and the like.
ReplyDelete@ FreeMan - Except for old school hip hop, what have we produced lately that is honestly "Black" (not just what we were taught was "Black", or what corporate owners dictated was "Black")?
ReplyDeleteSeeNew - Interesting...
Since 1957 (Although I'd say 1965), have Black people lost their conscience and consciousness?
@ NoFace - Many already have said the same.
In direct proportion to our degree of integration into the mainstream.
ReplyDelete