Black Dolls and the Road to Representation

Beyond Black History Month

Black dolls have only recently begun being stocked on most store shelves. But despite the lack of representation, they've played major roles in Black history. They were used to fight against slavery and end school segregation. And today, they empower Black children through positive play. But Black dolls were also been used to reinforce harmful tropes, like the mammy stereotype. In this week’s Beyond Black History Month, host Femi Redwood explores the history of Black dolls. She speaks with Dominique Jean Louis from the New York Historical Society, Dr. Lisa Williams, CEO of World of Epi, a Black owned-doll company, and Cozbi A. Cabrera, a Black handcrafted doll maker and illustrator.