Black Dolls Matter® presents at the Barnes Foundation.

Making Progress

When I started the Black Dolls Matter® campaign on social media, it was very difficult to find black dolls. It was even harder to purchase them, as they were hardly produced. People had to go to extreme lengths and petition manufacturers to produce black dolls for the mass market. I remember suggesting the inclusion of a black doll in a blue-sky meeting when I worked as a designer at a toy company. However, I was immediately met with the statement that “black dolls don’t sell”.

Today, major doll manufacturers proudly claim that they have the most diverse doll lines in the world. They have finally realized the importance of delivering black and multi-ethnic dolls to the market, which not only increases their bottom line but also reflects the reality of our society. However, we still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal. It’s great to see that Black Dolls Matter and are essential and important in the lives of children of all ages.