Supporting the Black Doll Community

Dolls by Various Artists

Back, Left-to-Right: Dolls by Lorna Paris, Gloria Young, and Goldie Wilson. Front, Left-to-Right: Dolls by Lorna Miller Sands, Floyd Bell, and Shindana.

Dolls in my collection have one main feature in common - their complexions are rich in colors that vary from caramel to ebony with the deepest colors of brown more dominant. Many embody Black culture from head to toe, hair texture, facial features, and occasionally attire. Accuracy of hair texture and fullness of facial features is important. When I look at my dolls, I want to see my reflection or the reflection of my cultural heritage.

Admittedly, however, two decades ago when my doll collecting commenced, I purchased dolls with little regard to their ethnic authenticity. The early dolls only required a brown complexion. As my selectivity in doll choices improved, the desire developed for more than a white doll colored brown. Dolls with straight hair and chiseled facial features are now steadily becoming a minority in my collection. In order to increase the amount of ethnically correct dolls as well as support the Black doll-artist community, dolls by African American and other artists of African descent are increasingly becoming the majority.

Butterfly by Patricia Coleman-Cobb

This is an OOAK doll from the Fall 2009 Collection, "Girls in White Dresses."

Dolls by master doll artists Floyd Bell, Patricia Coleman-Cobb, Lorna Miller-Sands, Lorna Paris, Goldie Wilson, and others have significantly enhanced my collection and appreciation for hand crafted, usually one-of-a-kind dolls. With creative expertise, their dolls capture portions of the artists' personalities.

For example, Bell's wooden dolls reflect his fortitude, patience, and great attention to detail. Coleman-Cobb's dolls are three-dimensional pieces of art that illustrate her earthy and often whimsical spirit. Lorna Paris, a Bahamian native, who now resides in New York, is well known for her fully hand-crafted and painted, often pensive-looking, yet beautiful leather dolls. Paris also creatively works in cloth and polymer clay. Another Caribbean native, who now resides in the US, Miller-Sands, has a nurturing spirit, which is reflected in her lifelike babies, toddlers, and child dolls. As her doll making precision heightens, Goldie Wilson's dolls continue to evolve as illustrated by her current OOAK and My Muse doll series.

Shindana and Ethidolls

Baby Nancy from 1968 by Shindana and Makeda Queen of Sheba by Ethidolls

Vintage and modern manufactured dolls by Black-owned doll companies such as Shindana and Ethidolls are some of my prized doll possessions. Shindana Toys, Inc., was one of the first Black-owned doll companies to mass-produce ethnically correct dolls in the United States. Shindana (Swahili for competitor) was organized in the aftermath of the 1965 Watts rebellion against racial injustice and police brutality against African Americans. Shindana, a division of Operation Bootstrap, successfully provided community jobs through the manufacture of dolls and toys geared toward building self-esteem of African American and other children of color. Baby Nancy was their first doll. Many others followed. Ethidolls produces dolls based on historical African American women. Makeda, the Queen of Sheba and Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa of the Asante make up their current, two-doll line. Both dolls include an illustrated book and an audio version.

AKA Centennial Barbie and Nne

Left-to-Right: AKA Centennial Barbie designed by Stacie McBride-Irby and Nne from the Treasures of Africa series by Byron Lars

A portion of my collection is comprised of dolls wearing fashions by African American designers. These include Stacy McBride-Irby's AKA Centennial Barbie and several dolls from her popular Barbie So In Style series. Several exquisitely fashioned dolls by noted fashion designer, Byron Lars, from the Byron Lars Collection, are part of my fashion doll collection. Other fashion dolls include the first Black Barbie (1980), several 1990s Shani and friends dolls, and even more that were designed by Kitty Black-Perkins. Throughout her decades' long career as chief designer of Barbie fashions at Mattel, Black-Perkins also designed Evening Extravaganza Barbie, Tangerine Twist, Fashion Savvy, Uptown Chic, the Brandy line, and Holiday Barbie from 1988-1996.

Sueded

Dolls by MonTQ

One of my recent Black doll-artist acquisitions is Sueded,an African American couple by the talented artist, Tanya Montegut. Her "couple dolls" symbolize and affirm Black love -- the men truly adore their women and the women love their men. Tanya's appreciation for African culture and nature is exhibited in her dolls through her use of natural fibers and recycled items.

Janelle and Carisma

Resin dolls by Lorna Miller-Sands

After being believably Black, selected dolls in my collection must be endearing with aesthetic appeal. Price is also a consideration, especially in today's economy. Historical significance plays a role in my selection of vintage and modern dolls. With these factors in place, added pleasure is always derived when any doll purchase supports the creative endeavors of people who look akin to me.