RSSG.I. Bros
Yesterday, I learned that my son knows about race. “Mommy, I’m black,” he told my fiancé. When she brought it up, it surprised me because he’s only three and just recently learned his colors. “How did he learn this,” I asked myself. We have yet to teach him about race…or have we? In an ah-hah moment, I remembered something he has told me previously –“you the black Power Ranger,” he said. I realized it’s the toys.
We teach our kids about race in a lot of ways, but toys are one of the most important. The toys we buy them have a real impact in shaping the way they understand themselves and the way they relate to others.
I remember when I was young and my mom would take us to Toys R Us. Whether it was a G.I. Joe or some other random action figure, I’d always pick the black character. My choice came not from any knowledge of prejudice, but because he reminded me of me…(on a side note, why is it that the black character always had a plastic flattop and the dumbest weapons?)
I remember how important it was to my mom that my younger sister had baby dolls. To her, it was about teaching my sister how to be a woman, a mother, and a caregiver. She never limited my sister, but she did make an extra effort to make sure she could find black dolls. When we’d go to the toy store and the dolls only came in white, she would continue to search at other stores.
Examining my early toy buying excursions, I realized something—subconsciously I was learning to enjoy segregation.
I understand the reasons my mom wanted us to play with black dolls. Buying our kids dolls that reflect their race helps them gain a sense of self-worth. But what about the negative effects of what we’re teaching them and how about the parents that get it wrong?
Think about the parents who insist that their children only play with dolls of their race. What kind of lesson is that? Isn’t this just as bad as the white supremacist parents, who poison their kid’s minds by dressing them in Ku Klux Klan garb before they’re even old enough to walk?
One thing I never could answer was what dolls do Asian and Hispanic moms buy for their daughter? It’s an important question to ask because the dolls they buy have a real impact on future race relations. It’s rarely considered, but if we’re socialized to care for a certain type of baby, we will have a certain type of connection with people of the baby’s race. Plus, the dolls that these young girls play with have an impact on how they define themselves.
Then there’s the issue of toy manufacturers perpetuating racial stereotypes. I mean, is it really necessary to give the black dolls fuller lip and wider hips?
How do these toys shape the self-esteem of the little black girls who fall outside of these stereotypical racial images? Do these dolls make the girls feel less because they don’t fulfill these manufactured images of black?
And how strange is it that toy manufacturer conduct product tests on what names fit their black dolls? I wonder how the survey reads: Check one for Latifah; check two for Shaniqua; or three for Lakisha?!?!
Like I said, it is important to buy or kids toys that reflect their race, but more important is buying them dolls of other races. Doing so plays a larger part in creating a progressive social vision. These are chances to expands our kids racial repertoire and teach them at a young age about caring for people of other races.
17 Comments, Comment or Ping
*SB*
Troublman- I would have to agree, i think sometimes we can be so caught up in emphasizing the importance of black beauty and culture that we forget that we have to teach about acceptance of others as well…
its interesting how we start dwelling on what defines us at such young age…especially our appearances…
your funnny though for that comment about the black toys having flat tops…i noticed that too…
in terms of what toys should the latina and asian girls play with? There are efforts being made to incorporate those features into dolls…look at the “Bratz” line of dolls…they have made dolls that look hispanic and ones that look asain…because they know its more money for them… i know barbie got some too…
this article made me think back to grade school, when we were asked to draw pictures of ourselves…back then no matter how light that black student was they only had one color to use to draw their skin and that was the chocolate brown…and what were the asian and hispanic children suppose to use? yellow and orange? But now crayola supplies a box of crayons that have several shades to represent the different skin colors…so this makes me wonder, is it a good thing that these options are out there or are we just falling deeper into this consumer driven trap of trying to represent ourselves…
[Reply]
"A Mom"
As a Black mom I do think that in raising my kids I did look for black characters for my children. Not much in boy toys like GI Joe or other action figures because I never really thought of them as racial type characters.(My Bad). But dolls for my daughter were important because there were very little of them when I went to buy dolls for her and truly I felt she needed to identify with her blackness. All the advertisement on TV and in the paper had little or nothing to do with Black, Hispanic, Asian, Indian or other races. Sorry but that’s the way it was White dolls were what lined the selves at that time and even now, not as much but yes you still have to look around. So for me I would look for dolls that represented what my children were about, to give them some since of themselves.
Now saying this to say. At the same time I also bought my daughter white dolls and what I called other race dolls(You couldn’t always tell what they were) so that she could have a variety of dolls and that they could learn that all races are important in this world and that hating a race because of their color was not right. I don’t think I ever made my children feel they as black children were better than any other race but I did teach them that they were just as good. Am I wrong?
P.S. My daughter also played with action figures and my boys had dolls (Remember “My Buddy”)
[Reply]
*SB*
I do remember “my buddy”…i wanted one of those badly but never got one
but its probably a good thing because it would have eventually made me think of chucky…remember how he was a “my buddy” gone bad!!!
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
SB
You brought up a good point with the crayons. It’s something I experienced in grade also. My self portrait was too dark but it’s all we had. At least I didn’t have to use yellow like some of the asians kids did. Things like this is what makes race such as dumb concept.
A MOM
You have the right the right attitude. I will never the deny the importance of getting your kids toys that reflect them, What I’m saying is that we have to also get them ones that don’t. How do you feel about manufactures altering dolls to fit perceived racial images?
[Reply]
"A Mom"
Troublman
I’m not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you saying altering the noses and the hair etc.
SB
I saw chuckie and it just clicked on me. He was a my buddy.
[Reply]
TROUBLdMAMI
…And why when manufacturers decide to produce dolls from different races/backgrounds they always have to be…like….collector’s editions? For example, Barbie does this thing where the Black Barbie Princess is from Africa and has a jungle background with ‘earth tone’ accessories…the Asian Barbie Princess has a background where its like with tea or somethin and the colors they use are red, because red is ‘good luck’ in the Asian culture…We have this concept that America is a melting pot when in reality we continue to stereotype, we are racist, and it takes 3 year old innocence to make us aware of our ignorance…
[Reply]
ms 39ways of trouble
Race is a social construct yet its a real part of living in America. Ibelieve parents should prepare thier kids for the world that awaits them. This doesn’t mean that you are to rear a racist, mini Hitler but be honest about how you and subsequently your child, may be percieved, due to his or her race.
[Reply]
"A Mom"
Troubldmami
I don’t think that is the case, but even if it is it’s alright. Maybe we need some collector’s editions. Barbie by herself has been a special edition for a long time. Even now. But we all should have special editions as well as many many different colors lined up on the shelves in all the stores. Yes race is an issue in america but we must educate our children about themselves as well as others and keep at it. I don’t believe in just saying it’s one way and that is how it is. I’m part of the change everyday.
[Reply]
"A Mom"
Troublman
I don’t remember black GI Joe’s back in the day.
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BIG Tone
My GI Joe used to bang my sisters Barbie. He didn’t care what color she was.
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TROUBLMan
A MOM
The first black G.I. Joe came out in 1965. the black G.I. Joes I played with came out in the 80’s. Like i said, they always had those plastics flattops and the wackest weapons.
BIG TONE
Mine did too. And they also didn’t discriminate.
[Reply]
AL!
Damn, funny topic…
Being an Asian American, I too always wanted the Asian figures. GI Joe had a good amount of Asian characters, so that was a plus. But why do we always have to be kung-fu masters, samurais, and ninjas? Why couldn’t we just be the dude with the big guns and knives? I was always pissed that the Asian guys had lame swords and shit…except for Snake Eyes, he had some cool weapons. But he had a mask on, so when I tried to tell other kids that Snake Eyes was Asian, they’d all be like whatever.
Regarding the dolls…that’s an interesting point? What do Asian mom’s buy their daughters? Probably white dolls, and maybe that’s why Asian girls only date white guys these days…cuz they want to have white babies?
SB - CRAYONS! LOL. I remember one time back in the first grade or second grade, we had to draw ourselves. So I’m drawing, and I can’t figure out what color to color myself. I see the white kids are using the flesh color crayon, black and Latino kids are using different shades of brown…what color am I supposed to use? So the white kid next to me tells me I shouldn’t use the flesh color crayon cuz me and him aren’t the same color. So then he hands me a neon yellow crayon. As a 2nd grader, I’m thinking, how in the hell is this kid gonna give me a neon yellow crayon?! Looking back now, how did a 7 year old white kid know that the Asian “color” is yellow? I might have a yellow hue on my skin tone…but I sure as hell aint neon yellow, and he sure as hell didn’t pick out that yellow crayon for me without some sort of prior conditioning…
Btw, were the Ninja Turtles and Splinter supposed to be Asian? Or just Splinter cuz he talked funny?
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
AL
I always wondered why people say Asians are yellow. Its like we need to assign a Crayon color to every race. Maybe its some marketing shit Crayola put in motion?
I don’t think American toy companies consider Asian people American, even if they happen to be born in America. They like the Asian kung-fu fantasies that they can sell to Americans. I’m not sure Snake Eyes was Asian but with a name like Snake Eye, I mean you never know what these companies were trying to say.
Asian women do like white guys. I heard that Asian and white couples were the most popular interracial combination in America. I don’t remember where I heard it at but someone correct me if I’m wrong.
As a black man why is that I can get a Chinese girl but the Indian women won’t fuck with me? Its probably because they’re already dark and dont want to be associated with blackness any further.
Splinter was Asian. I always assumed the turtles were white.
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AL!
Troubl you’re right. It’s not just American toy companies that don’t consider Asian people American, but America on the whole. We are forever the perpetual foreigner.
Maybe this is why Asian Americans have the most Uncle Tom’s compared to other groups of minorities…why is it Asian Americans–Asians that are born here in America–are so eager to shed their culture compared to say, Mexican Americans? They (Asian Americans) do it so easily and with so much ease. Well, some of them at least. Don’t get me wrong, there are many who don’t venture outside the realm of the Asian enclave, but in comparison to other minorities, it is my opinion that Asian Americans have a greater desire to assimilate.
Again, maybe this is because we are the perpetual foreigner…something way more exotic than neighboring Mexico and Central America…causing many to shun this exotic foreigness in a feeble attempt to belong. Little do they know…they will never belong, and at the end of the day are just Chinks, Gooks, and Slant Eyes…
Why is it I always get the question from White people…”So where are you from?” I tell them California. Then I get the response, “No, really, where are you from? Like, where are you really from?” What the fuck? They’d rather hear that I’m from the slums of the Shaolin. My dad was in the Wu Tang Clan and my uncle was Bruce Lee…is that a better answer?
Or how about…”Your kind doesn’t belong here.” Or “Why don’t you go back where you came from?” Ok, let me get my yellow buck toothed ass back to Chinatown and cook up some steamed buns and wash your laundry for 50 cents…fuck outa here with that shit.
[Reply]
"A Mom"
AL!
I think for Asian Americans the desire to fit in maybe the reason why they go for the white american. Some come to our country knowing who to be with and who not to be with. They look at the white american as a person of powder. They too become brainwashed as a lot of people that come to our country. My friend Gina came from Hong Kong she told me her grandfather told her “Don’t go the the fillmore” which is a black area in the city. Gina said that was the first place see went and has been married to a black man for 22 years. But that is not the norm.
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
AL,
You know what surprises me is why more Asians don’t come to America. I know the U.S. limits the numbers but why don’t more try. Asians are the true majority and Americans love their products, so why not? America is scared of Asia for these reasons and that’s why they continue to position Asians as the perpetual foreigner. That’s why we inherit the idea that you must not be from California. And I must admit, I have falling victim to the bullshit at times, we all have. I’ve played into the where are you from non-sense, but only until I realized that my conditioning was taking over and not my righteous mind.
Remember, the original Americans, Native Americans as we call them now, are Asian immigrants. And look what we did to them…
[Reply]
AL!
More Asians don’t immigrate to America because 1) racist immigration quotas, and 2) most are way too poor. The govt has set quotas for Asian countries very low, and those who do come have to meet a certain criteria, like have a college degree for example.
That’s why–currently, as this was not always the case historically–many of the Asian Americans who do come legally usually come into this country and blend in with the middle class. (Again, I’m referring to current immigration trends, like the past 20 years or so.) If you’re from California, you’ll notice that all the nurses are FOBs from the Philippines, computer engineers are FOBs from China or Taiwan, etc.
And as for the rest, well like I said…most are just way too poor. Go out to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, etc…and you’ll see that most people are poor as fuck living in shanty towns and shit. Those who do make it out here come illegally and work in sweatshops, restaurants, etc…(A friend was just in Cambodia recently and was telling me about naked 3 year olds hanging out on street corners smoking cigs…gully.)
[Reply]
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