A viral toy marketed as a stress-relief doll has drawn condemnation from African American advocates, mental health professionals, and historians after videos circulating on Chinese social media showed users physically abusing a Black baby doll for entertainment.

Local Reaction

For District-area psychiatrist Dr. Allan Cofield, the toy represents something far more troubling than an internet fad. The Black female, to go along with Malcolm X, has always been the most disrespected and unprotected person in the world and they have been a punching bag for white folks, obviously the Chinese, and unfortunately sometimes Black men.

Catherine Lemieux, a Black Canadian transplant who lives in Southwest, Washington and works as a physician assistant, said she sees the effects of violence and learned behavior firsthand while treating patients in emergency rooms. When getting some history from the patient, we learn that their abuser is usually exposed to abuse including violent video games and toys.

Historical Context

Historians say the images evoke a long and painful history of racist toys that once occupied store shelves throughout the United States and Europe. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, manufacturers mass-produced racist caricature dolls, including Golliwogs, Mammy dolls, and pickaninny figures.

Mental health experts say the images associated with the Natasha doll can carry consequences that extend beyond social media. When Black children repeatedly see images that resemble them being beaten, mutilated, and discarded for entertainment, that becomes internalized.

Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.