Never a Doll Moment

Kenneth and Mamie Clark were married psychologists famous for their doll studies that demonstrated the ways racism seeped into the psyches of young black children. Their experiments tested perceptions of race, and their findings—that black kids seemed to prefer white dolls over black ones—were cited in Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled public-school segregation unconstitutional.

Fast-forward fifty-plus years and you’ll still find how dolls can help demonstrate prevailing racial beliefs and assumptions. Our daughter—she of three races—is old enough to know that people are often categorized by certain physical characteristics but too young to understand all that lies beneath that scratched surface. And so when she picks up her favorite doll, the thought may cross her mind that her baby’s skin is darker than her own, but that’s the extent of it.

Olivia’s decided recently to bring her baby doll with her most every time we’re out, including to school (and restaurants). The other day, two teachers discovered the doll lying alone on a table and began searching for its parent. Olivia, seeing that her doll had been found, spoke up to claim her baby. “Is this really your baby?” the teachers asked. Yes, insisted Olivia. "Really?" they inquired. Yes, she nodded.

When I asked her to speculate as to why the teachers had asked her repeatedly whether the doll was actually hers, Olivia relayed that they were just making sure because her name wasn’t written anywhere on the doll. Of course…my sentiment inexactly. (I am prone toward cynicism far too often.)

It’s at a moment like this when I’m reminded of the preciousness of youthful innocence.