Child’s Play

I had two dolls one summer that cause a discussion amongst the adults. I remembered this incidence for some reason [as most, they may or may not have some significance]; it was a discussion about racism.   

The one doll had curly long blonde hair with a change of clothes, combs and a bottle. The other had a one piece sewn on outfit that you could not change, and no combing hair [wax mold].  I played with the doll with more accessories for hours on end. My godmother Lillie Mae McCrae, and educator, gave me the doll with no hair and my parents bought me the other doll. One day I found the adults were interested in why I was playing with one and not the other. My God-mother asked “Why are you not playing with the doll I gave you?” My response “It’s ugly!” I can hear mumbling and humming among the adults at this time.

There was the white doll who had the curly long blonde hair, and the brown doll that had a no clothes, no hair to comb. As child I always had a different perspective about life than other children my age. That whole thing about a veil and all, I have no idea what they meant at that time. My father took time with me and asked “Why did I not want to play with the ‘ugly’ doll?” My response, “Because she has no hair to comb!” Simple, I did not see what the adults saw, just the fact I was not able to comb its hair [period]

How many of our fears are passed to our children? Let the children be, let them play and be happy. We will be adults much longer than children. We can learn from children, if they’re full, they push the plate away, even on to the floor and run and to go play. They give no regard for the starving children all over the world. They have the energy and weight to show for it.

I have a new found understanding of the adults that were instrumental in my development of who I am today.

…Pandora