This Game For Brown Kids is Highly Inappropriate!

I'll admit that I rolled my eyes at myself at first, and thought I was over-thinking the situation. Then I thought some more and realized I should never compromise my standards because I think someone may have to work too hard to reach them. That's integrity, right? Anyway, that's not what this rant editorial is about.

I came across this post on Naturally Beautiful Hair about ethnic dress up games for kids. My immediate reaction was "grrreat, more Barbie dolls colored brown- but with kinky hair!" Then I looked again and wondered why the Pocohantas She-Ra-looking doll had her g-string popping out. And why did the doll with the mini skirt and knee high boots have her leg propped up on a stool? Hmm, this isn't right.

Image courtesy of NaturallyBeautifulHair.blogspot.com

Is it too much to ask that we teach our girls from a young age to appreciate any body shape and value a healthy physique, not just a thin, or curvy, or voluptuous body? Is it too much to ask that the dolls we hand to our girls reflect realistic images of women? Of course in order to do that, there would need to be a variety of doll prototypes, not just a singular archetype with an anatomically impossible physique. Then there are the subliminal messages imparted by the scant clothing and suggestive poses. I shouldn't even have to say that the party girl with a martini in her hand- party foul! Highly inappropriate! Wait, maybe the blogger got this mixed up because I can not believe this is designed for kids.

Image courtesy of NaturallyBeautifulHair.blogspot.com

Maybe I am being prudish but I wouldn't want to encourage my young or even teenage daughter to value herself through scant clothing and seductive poses. Yes that is a part of femininity, one I enjoy quite a bit. However the lessons of womanhood (for that is what it is to claim and wield one's own female body) should be learned from real women not Barbie dolls, neither white nor brown.

The artistic skill is nice but the artistic vision in short-sighted at best. I do appreciate the variety of natural hair styles among the dolls, and of course that is the artist's intention. However I see this as a missed opportunity to challenge many other issues among girls and women of color. 

Any artists out there want to take a stab at improving this idea? How would you design an ideal doll for young girls of any color?

Could You Imagine: Lil Wayne, The Sociologist

 

When I ran across this earlier today, I nearly fell out of my seat from laughter. I mean a literal ROTFLMAO! Wouldn't it be hilarious if it turned out that Lil Wayne keeps getting locked up because he's doing investigative research on the prison-industrial complex? Alas we can all dream, can't we? But then we wake up to the truth...

I Couldn't Ignore This, You Shouldn't Either

What a horrendous act to take a child from a loving home. When I came across this, I couldn't ignore it. I don't think you should either.

via afroglitz.tumblr.com

Remembering Gaddhafi: Donor or Dictator?

I came across an article on TheGriot.com about mixed feelings among African Americans about the recent assassination on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and it raised a few questions for me. While the majority of international (Western) media outlets portray Gaddafi as a maniacal dictator who tortured his own people he is remembered as "a great brother leader" by Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. Farrakhan recalls Gaddafi's progressive development of Libya's healthcare system and generous gifts of aid to Sub-Saharan African countries to support schools, hospitals and mosques. In defense of the persecuted leader earlier this year Farrakhan said"Even though the current tide is moving against him...how can I refuse to raise my voice in his defense? Why would I back down from those who have given so much?" I wonder if he means so much to Libya and Africa or so much to the Nation of Islam, as in a $3 million donation given since in 1971.

Image courtesy of www.kingsrowe.com

Of course Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam are a minority group of African American muslims and their perspectives are not indicative of others, but the alternative views are important to consider. Do the heinous acts of an individual negate or outweigh their benevolent acts? Gaddafi is known to have supported other tyrants in Africa, but does that discredit the infrastructural developments that benefit many people?


I suppose I choose to view the good deeds as the beneficial side effects of an otherwise horrific existence. What are your views?