The other day while doing the usual – having a mental block… thinking hard of what to write about, I received an email from a friend with the above video. So I watched it and it hit me as pretty powerful…that’s when it crossed me… 
What if this test were to be done on white children? Would it have elicited the same kind of results?
Come to think of it, the white doll might always appear beautiful to a lot of kids given the huge marketing campaigns to promote Barbie and other white dolls – the very long hair, flashy clothes and makeup (am sure you all have noticed the red lipstick). Is the mind of a child a clean slate… one that hasn’t yet been corrupted by racial discrimination?
So I wondered… if the test was be done on grown ups what would the results be like? For instance if I direct the question to you now, which doll would you have picked and why?
Popularity: 5% [?]
Comment by qween on 19 February 2007:
I am black. Not that it matters anyway. This is just for the sake of the discussion. If I were to make the choice now, old as I am, I still would have picked the white doll. I know who I am and am comfortable with my identity. I am a strong black woman. Lets call a spade a spade, black dolls are hideous… especially when put next to the white doll.
I don’t think those kids are to blame. It’s the companies that make the dolls that should. Kids love gorgeous things. So if you put a shabbily dressed black doll and a princess like Barbie doll next to each other, what do expect? If the test was to be done on white kids, the results would have been the same…
Comment by prezz on 20 February 2007:
This is a tricky one. That distinction even in dolls makes one ask why? Having read most comments from other readers on other blogs on this test, I have realized that most of them are black and detested the fact that the kids chose the white doll.
A doll is a doll. And truth is it doesnt really matter. I think its a bit unfair that this test was conducted on children coz sincerely speaking, what did we expect the outcome would have been? Kids have no idea what their identity is. So they will tend to use the visual aspects more.
The doll test on kids if you ask me really proves nothing!!! Its just arousing some racist emotions for nothing.
Comment by Storm72 on 22 February 2007:
I am black and I grew up in a very white community. I had Barbie dolls of both colors and I thought they were both pretty. I actually preferred the black Barbie because I related to her more than the white ones. (And my mother always used to accuse me of trying to be white. She still does sometimes!) But when a new Barbie came out I always looked for the black one. I even wanted the black family Barbie dolls–and I was surrounded by white families. My friends who are white and have little girls want their girls to have both types of dolls. When I buy action figures for my son I make sure he has both black and white super heroes!! This documentary definately hurts. But it has also made me want to ensure that all children–girls and boys, no matter what color they are know that no matter what color the doll is, both of them are good and beautiful just as they/we are. Both of those dolls looked the same, except for their color. So you can’t say black dolls are ugly or hideous. And just to point out, I am 34 years old. I had my first black baby dolls when I was 3 years old and I loved both of them. I had white and black Barbies from the ages of 6 to 12. We all have to set the example for our children. It starts with US!!
Comment by Ralf on 27 February 2007:
Well, the documentary is hilarious. Do the results change with age? Can someone get a cam-corder (quick), and ask the parents of those kids the same question? Blame the parents. Media is biased yes, but parents must know their fundamental duty, in an unhealthy socio-psycho-economic structure. But if the parents themselves would choose those dolls (which is my hypothesis-someone prove me wrong, please)-then how can the child think different? GIGO.
Comment by Fran on 28 October 2007:
Has this test ever been done on white children? If so- what was the outcome?
Comment by pbs86 on 19 February 2008:
I don’t see a damn thing funny about self-hate.
Comment by pbs86 on 19 February 2008:
Why would this test be done one white children, when the black girl who did this test wanted to see if self-hatred in the black community among children was still an issue? Those little kids have to deal with a biased media that tells them if they aren’t white their ass is ugly. They also have to deal with self-hating parents who talk down to them, and tell them they are worthless or look to “black”. This type of mess is still going strong in the black community, and for any asshole who finds this funny then I hope you never bitch when it happens to your kids. I feel sorry for these kids, because they are struggling to find self-worth and acceptance. They believe black is bad and ugly, and white is good and pure. Yes parents should do their jobs, but there should be more positive images out there that these kids can relate to. Whether it be in dolls, magazines, or movies it should show the range of beauty seen in black children.
Comment by pbs86 on 19 February 2008:
I’ve had both dolls, but I played with the black dolls the most. If I had to choose today I would still choose my black dolls over the white ones, because I can relate to black dolls. I can’t relate to barbie and her blonde hair and blue eyes.
Comment by daisy on 19 February 2008:
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Comment by missthang100 on 25 May 2008:
I just had to comment on this subject: If I had to choose the white or black Barbie doll, it would be neither because they are just ugliest toys ever made.
Comment by BIG MAMA on 18 June 2008:
As a child growing up. I had my share of alot of dolls. I never look at color. Or which one i liked best over the other. I just wanted to learn how to style hair and make clothes.
Today i have over 60 different Barbie Dolls, that are collector’s items. And when i have the time, I teach young girls in my neighborhood how to sew and use a sewing machine. And to reweave their hair when it starts balding.
To me it’s about taking a negetive. Turning it around, and doing something positive. I teach the girls that it’s just a doll. It’s not something for them to base there body types after. Or to have low self esteem because of it.
But instead I want them to look to their parents as positive roll models.
Not A Barbie Doll!