Motivated to action by the Kiri Davis’ – “Girl Like Me” film, Dana Hill has created A Black Doll Affair (www.danahill.info).
Our goal is to remind black children of their beauty and increase their self-esteem. Our task is to get beautiful black dolls into the hands of beautiful black children. Our message is Love the skin you’re in; Be Proud of Hue!
“Even at 4 and 5, you can still tell what America values and what it doesn’t.” Fifteen of the 21 black children in a Harlem day care center who take the “doll test” in Davis’ seven-minute film choose the white doll over the black one. The film – “A Girl Like Me” re-creates Kenneth Clark’s 1940s doll test that was used to fight school segregation in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education.
December Doll Distribution
The Black Doll Affair teamed with the community organization Home Away From Home to meet families and distribute dolls to the children. The evening included discussions, doll history, modeling tips, dance and distributing dolls to the children.
Special Thanks to:
- Dekalb County Public Library – Covington Library
- Tamika Maddox Strong – Branch Manger
- Dara Janet Geiger – dancer
- Micah Moses – model
- Yolanda Nahbilah Cunningham-Young – doll collector
Like Davis, Dana Hill said she too has always been aware of the standards of “A Girl Like Me.” As far back as her memory allows, she’s been ridiculed for being “blue-black or too black.” While watching Davis’s doll test on the Oprah Winfrey show , she was empowered to make inferiority her priority and created the Black Doll Affair. Albeit disheartening, the doll tests came as no shock to Hill. Unable to get a modeling agency to represent her, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Advertising her beautiful dark skin and African features, she bought a thirty-two foot billboard on the corner of 52nd and Broadway. Ironically it was near Sean John’s ‘black power’ billboard. The board read simply: Got Spokesmodel? Dana Hill! It was up for three months, and although Hill said she got many phone calls from other dark skin women expressing their gratitude to finally see a girl like themselves in such a bold and beautiful campaign, she didn’t get one job offer.
The Black Doll Affair wants to distribute thousands of dolls to children.
For more information visit www.danahill.info
More information, photos and videos on NottHeads.com.
A Black Doll Affair on NottHeads
Writings On The Wall 
EthiDolls, the developer of African Signature Dolls and Accessories, celebrates African women leaders from history; and our dedicated product line is a key contribution to the healing process for African-American girls in “A Girl Like Me” documentary. Through our authentic dolls we wish to enrich the lives of girls of African descent by fostering self-esteem and pride in their African heritage. The books and CD narratives that accompany the dolls tell the stories of these amazing women, providing alternative role models that combine leadership qualities, beauty and play value. To learn more about our educational , fun and collectible products, please visit http://www.ethidolls.com.
I was just doing a search of beautiful black dolls, and ran across this blog. I’ve seen the video you are referring to and it opened my eyes to how black girls see themselves. I too am looking for ways to show and tell our daughters that they are beautiful and of value. I will be pleased to announce Dana Hill and Ehtidolls on my talk show on my new segment Sistah’s Making a Change. To hear more please visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistahconfessions
this is such a great idea! good luck to you and much success!