So yes, my Blacks-in-television rant has yet to see its end.
While doing my daughter's hair last night, we were watching a show on the Family Channel called Good Luck Charlie. I was appalled (disgusted, frustrated, pissed off, annoyed and whole lot of other things) by the role the only black character in the show (as far as I know) played:
A teenage girl who doesn't give a damn about her education, gets overly excited about a B grade that she doesn't think she deserves and ultimately changes a B into a D so that her mother doesn't end up having high expectations, while her White friend scolded her about the importance of taking her education seriously.
REALLY DISNEY?
That character undermined everything I've ever taught my own children about education. It was insensitive, stereotypical and downright uncalled for.
Let me clarify that despite what race this child is, a character like that has no place in a children's show in this day and age. The fact that she is a SHE and is BLACK made it that much worse. It's safe to say that this show has officially gone on the "Do Not Watch" list.
Raven Goodwin plays another character on the show HUGE which I have yet to check out. I hope it does her more justice than this role though, because to be quite honest it is a shameful role to play. I understand the importance of getting paid but at what expense? She's a beautiful girl with enough talent to be a hell of a role model. Hopefully she'll leave this role behind very soon!
Showing posts with label black children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black children. Show all posts
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
TOYS AREN'T US
For my daughter’s sixth birthday I was determined to buy her a Barbie birthday cake. I had gotten one for my birthday when I was a child and I was convinced she would love it. I walked into the store extremely excited about the idea of what her face would look like when she saw it. Sadly I was informed that the store did not make the cake with Black Barbies. The only option was the typically White Barbie cake. I was very disappointed. Not only were my plans of a perfect birthday party falling through, but my feelings were also hurt. How could a bakery in a city with a significant visible minority population decide that someone who looks like me isn’t important enough to have options? How dare they make the assumption that what we want doesn’t matter?
I ended up making the birthday cake myself that year. I used one of the Barbies my daughter had gotten as a gift from my brother the year earlier. I still remember the difficulty we had searching for that particular doll.
Every toy store we visited, including one of the most popular toy store franchises in North America did not carry Black dolls. We finally found one at a department store. It was Destiny’s Child “Kelly” doll, which interestingly enough was the only Destiny’s Child doll that actually looked Black. My daughter has had it ever since. It was Kelly that graced the birthday cake that year.
Like the Destiny’s Child dolls at that lone department store, have found that even the “ethnic” toys that are available do not necessarily bare resemblance to those they are meant for. Instead they are crafted as White dolls with slightly darker skin tones (and I do mean slightly.)
A few Christmases ago, my daughter received the coveted Baby Alive doll. We were all shocked by the grayish, chalky looking skin tone which was reminded us of something else entirely. Not to be morbid or anything, but if you’ve ever seen the corpse of a Black person, it is just that, gray and chalky looking. Baby Alive, or Gabriella as my daughter affectionately calls her, bares a disturbing resemblance to something most of us don’t ever want to see.
Still, I promote the production and purchase of ethnic toys. When I was growing up, there was a friend of my parents that used to send us Black dolls. I have no idea where this lady ( who lived in rural New Brunswick) got these dolls. Come to think of it, she must have ordered them from somewhere because back then you certainly couldn’t walk into a store and buy one. Either way we were never disappointed.
I’ll admit things are getting better. Ethnic dolls are looking a little more believable these days. I think there’s even a new Baby Alive doll with a better skin tone than Gabriella!
I wonder if there is a store that specializes in ethnic dolls? I'll have to start looking around. I’d love some advice on where I can find a great selection of ethnic toys.
So, if anyone ever chooses to read my daily rants, please do share!
I ended up making the birthday cake myself that year. I used one of the Barbies my daughter had gotten as a gift from my brother the year earlier. I still remember the difficulty we had searching for that particular doll.
Every toy store we visited, including one of the most popular toy store franchises in North America did not carry Black dolls. We finally found one at a department store. It was Destiny’s Child “Kelly” doll, which interestingly enough was the only Destiny’s Child doll that actually looked Black. My daughter has had it ever since. It was Kelly that graced the birthday cake that year.
Like the Destiny’s Child dolls at that lone department store, have found that even the “ethnic” toys that are available do not necessarily bare resemblance to those they are meant for. Instead they are crafted as White dolls with slightly darker skin tones (and I do mean slightly.)
A few Christmases ago, my daughter received the coveted Baby Alive doll. We were all shocked by the grayish, chalky looking skin tone which was reminded us of something else entirely. Not to be morbid or anything, but if you’ve ever seen the corpse of a Black person, it is just that, gray and chalky looking. Baby Alive, or Gabriella as my daughter affectionately calls her, bares a disturbing resemblance to something most of us don’t ever want to see.
Still, I promote the production and purchase of ethnic toys. When I was growing up, there was a friend of my parents that used to send us Black dolls. I have no idea where this lady ( who lived in rural New Brunswick) got these dolls. Come to think of it, she must have ordered them from somewhere because back then you certainly couldn’t walk into a store and buy one. Either way we were never disappointed.
I’ll admit things are getting better. Ethnic dolls are looking a little more believable these days. I think there’s even a new Baby Alive doll with a better skin tone than Gabriella!
I wonder if there is a store that specializes in ethnic dolls? I'll have to start looking around. I’d love some advice on where I can find a great selection of ethnic toys.
So, if anyone ever chooses to read my daily rants, please do share!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Revolution
I am the proud mother of a beautiful Black girl. I always knew it would be a difficult task (raising a Black daughter) but I have to admit that I never expected the trials to begin so early!
On top of all of the other things that little girls have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, Little Black Girls have to deal with their own unique issues. From skin tone to hair length and texture to body proportion the plight of the black girl lives on and unfortunately in this day and age it starts as early as they are able to look in the mirror.
This is my venting place. So please, bear with me. I'll vent a lot, but I'll also give advice and look for yours in return!
It’s sad that we don’t see ourselves portrayed in the media as much as others, but it’s not at all a lost cause. To be honest, I don't even believe that it is the media's responsibility. It's our responsibility. It all begins at home. As mothers (and fathers!) we need to nurture pride within our daughters. If it doesn’t exist out there we need to first create at home!
I am DETERMINED to raise a proud Black woman. I want my daughter to love herself first. I want her to be confident and I want her to develop her own determination to affect change.
On top of all of the other things that little girls have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, Little Black Girls have to deal with their own unique issues. From skin tone to hair length and texture to body proportion the plight of the black girl lives on and unfortunately in this day and age it starts as early as they are able to look in the mirror.
This is my venting place. So please, bear with me. I'll vent a lot, but I'll also give advice and look for yours in return!
It’s sad that we don’t see ourselves portrayed in the media as much as others, but it’s not at all a lost cause. To be honest, I don't even believe that it is the media's responsibility. It's our responsibility. It all begins at home. As mothers (and fathers!) we need to nurture pride within our daughters. If it doesn’t exist out there we need to first create at home!
I am DETERMINED to raise a proud Black woman. I want my daughter to love herself first. I want her to be confident and I want her to develop her own determination to affect change.
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