#WeBuyBlack28 — Day 21
Ikuzi Dolls
The movie ‘Black Panther’ does much to boost the self image of Black people but our children need that boost much earlier in life. In Brown vs. Board of Education the famous “
doll test” was highlighted as evidence that segregation harmed the psyche of Black children — Black children overwhelmingly preferred a White doll instead of a Black one. Fifty years later,
47 percent of Black girls in a sample group still thought the White doll was prettier. Ikuzi Dolls is out to change that mindset and show our children that Black — meaning they — are beautiful. Ikuzi makes beautiful Black dolls that celebrate our diversity in a way that only we can. Our children deserve to love themselves and have the best — Ikuzi satisfies both.
[caption id="attachment_5944" align="alignright" width="300"]
Ozi Okaro, founder of Ikuzi Dolls[/caption]
The Founder
Ikuzi Dolls was founded by Ozi Okaro, fashion designer, children’s book illustrator and mother to four lovely children and two beautiful girls. Growing up Ozi had a collection of dolls but only one was Black and still, the Black doll did not exactly look like her. Ozi’s daughters have different skin tones and that is precisely what inspired her to begin making dolls that her children could identify with.
The Dolls
With the help of her girls, Ozi creates dolls that are crafted to perfection. The face molds for each doll are made by hand. Ozi and her daughters carefully select the dress designs, hair and skin color. With so much personal attention to detail, Ikuzi has produced a product by Black girl magic that other Black girls can truly identify with. “Ikuzi” actually means to teach and with each doll they produce, Black girls are learning the lesson that they are beautiful, valuable and irreplaceable.
Support Ikuzi Dolls
There is no better way to celebrate Black history than by teaching our young Black girls about having a positive self image. Knowing that the doll they call their own was made by the hands of Black women can foster another powerful lesson in entrepreneurship. Our girls deserve the best and that is Ikuzi Dolls.
To purchase your Ikuzi Doll today, visit Ikuzi’s WeBuyBlack.com page HERE!
Connect With Ikuzi Dolls via Social MediaInstagram
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About Post Author
I care about Black Power. Period. Currently working on creating jobs and funding new startups on the South Side of Chicago and writing here and there at HopewellThought.com. Follow me @HopewellThought.