Frieda loves her dolls while Claudia preferred to dismantle them. Did you play with dolls as a child, or were you more of the “dismantling” type?
I played with dolls. I think I’ve always been more of a nurturer rather someone who picks things apart.
I was given a lot of dolls, particularly from the “Story Book Dolls” collection, but never played with them. I didn’t take them apart, but left them sitting around (the Story Book Dolls in a glass-faced cabinet) my bedroom. I always loved games, coloring and reading.
I didn’t dismantle them but I never really played with them, either. I was never the nurturing type.
I had a couple of dolls, but I don’t remember being particularly attached to them. However, I would consider myself a nurturer better with real humans.
As a Black child, I was not interested in receiving white dolls. I gave them hair cuts ad may have dismantle some cheap plastic ones. They weren’t dolls I wanted to nurture or give name. I wanted a black doll baby (which I gave her my middle name) or black Barbie dolls as (Christie, Julia, Brad) well as the white ones. When my dolls represent me in feature and color, I was nurturing and cherished my doll collection. I made clothes for them and kept them as a collectibles. Which then was given to my younger nieces to play with when they visit our home.
I received dolls, but did not really play or mother them. I am a mother of two and I was a loving and caring mother. Claudia destroyed her dolls, because they were white and she could not identify with them. I remember when Black dolls were introduced and it made sense to me that the young Black children could relate to them.
I had dolls but was never attached to them. I couldn’t get interested in dressing them or making roles for them. (Very serious child). But I was interested in pets—they were real. I read constantly.