“Look, she has hair like me!” my 4-year-old said and pointed at a poster that featured two young girls. “You’re right!” I traced the coily, short hair of the Black model. “She has an Afro just like you!”
“No,” she shook her head. “Not that girl, Mom…that one,” she said and pointed to the white girl sporting a long, blonde braid. I blinked several times in confusion. “Wait…this girl? You think the one with peach skin and a blonde braid has hair like yours?” I asked to clarify. She nodded and smiled.
I took a step back, bewildered and speechless, and kissed her head full of beautiful spirals. Our entire life in and out of the home is full of Black family, friends, and church community who have hair just like hers and yet still at this moment her self-image was viewed through a White standard. How did this happen? The movie “Frozen” had just come out. It was the year that many four year old girls wanted a big, blonde braid. “Long hair like Elsa,” had been her most recent motivational phrase to persevere through detangling and styling sessions. I didn’t think much of her admiration for Elsa’s hair until I realized that my daughter’s image of herself was getting confused. Something had to change.
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That was nearly eight years ago. When I recently told our daughter this story she shouted, “What, that’s crazy! I really said that?!” While it was an isolated event, and she can’t even remember that day, it has always stuck with me…especially as I make entertainment choices for our family. But it’s not easy. I don’t have to tell you that it’s a challenge to find Black female leads in mainstream kid’s media. You and I both know that selection is limited when we are looking for toys and coloring books that feature Black young women in natural hair styles. We understand that it’s psychologically important for our girls to see heroines that look like them. A lot still needs to be done to demonstrate that positive role-models come in many different colors, shapes, and hair textures. So it is a joy to embark on a new business that aims to be a part of the change.
On August 10, 2021, my sister, BreAnna Jones, and I launched Color of We, a new brand that creates digital coloring and activity books. Our first published series is called, “Black Curl Magic Coloring Salon.” It features many different Black hair styles (braids, locs, twists, braids, coils, and afros), an infinite choice of Black skin tones (since the artist chooses which shade of brown to use), and nine Black female characters: Alexis, Chloe, Tamara, Jasmine, Bailey, Imani, Amaiya, Brianna, and Sasha. Each character has her own activity guide. In each guide, there are create-your-own story prompts, crafts, games, and educational tid-bits. In addition, future releases will build on each character’s storyline to create more opportunities for identification and inspiration in Black families and communities.
For our family, so far, it’s done just that. My daughters and I have spent multiple afternoons coloring curly coils, choosing polish colors for the character’s fingernails, and brainstorming plot lines for the activity pages. It gave us a new opportunity to celebrate the joy and beauty of our family’s features. It has also allowed us to have one more positive experience to identify with the fact that there are many main characters and role models who have skin and hair that look just like our own. Oh and did I mention it’s actually fun? I have enjoyed the coloring and activities just as much as my girls have!
We hope these coloring books provide one more fun opportunity for you and your community to connect and celebrate life together too.
Now, what about you? In the comments below, share an idea, or product that inspires your family to connect together.
To shop Color of We, click here, and to learn more about the co-founders, follow Cheree Hayes and BreAnna Jones on Instagram.
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