It's traveling around the world, and now one of the most prolific self-esteem movements in the country, is stopping in the PNW! All aboard!
About this event
Tacoma-Seattle, it's your time to "Be a Doll, give a doll!" As we celebrate our launch in the PNW, we're honoring the reason Mama Doll started this bhuetiful self-esteem movmeent, the Doll Tests. First conducted during Brown vs. Board of Education, join us in the historic Boldt Courtroom, Court House Square’s most unique event space. Featuring sweeping windows, downtown Tacoma views, beautiful woodwork and Judges Chambers, as we Launch & Learn, this promises to be a most historical and unique kickoff experience!
In Doll Tests, black children chose the black doll as bad, ugly and least preferred. So in 2007, Dana Hill, better known as Mama Doll, created The Black Doll Affair self-esteem movement. On December 17, 2007, the members, The Black Dolls (black women), their Porcelain Pal Dolls (women not black) and the Black Doll Brothas (men), threw what was supposed to be a one time Christmas party to empower black children and the black women who raise them. At the first-ever Black Doll Affair, Mama Doll met up with her members and the community of Atlanta, the headquarters of The Black Doll Affair. The party back then had the same concept today, "Be a Doll, give a doll." Be a Doll, by PROUDLY wearing your Doll T-shirt. "Give a doll" by bringing a black doll to each Black Doll Affair, so that at the end of the year the living Dolls can give them to girls to empower them.
The Dolls of The Black Doll Affair are on a mission to change the way black girls are perceived, more importantly, perceive themselves. They do that by performing dolling acts of community service, hosting self-esteem summits and donating dolls. With hundreds of thousands having bought the Black Doll T-shirt and millions of black dolls being bought and donated in the name of The Black Doll Affair, The Black Doll Affair has become the largest consumer group of black Barbie and partnered with Macy's and Mattel's Barbie brand. Fifteen years later, the movement and its "pretty...philanthropic" message has grown from state to state and around the world. The Black Doll Affair received Obama's Presidential Service Award, a Congressional recognition from the late Congressman John Lewis and former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, proclaimed December 12th as The Black Doll Affair Day in Georgia.
The Black Dolls were featured in a televised Prime Time ABC & Time Warner special called The Story of the Royals - a global focus on Royal wedding watch parties and discussions of how Meghan Markle would change the world as a Black Princess. As seen in Essence, Oprah, Vogue and Vanity Fair...multiple times, The Black Dolls and their Affairs are mentioned in college textbooks. Celebrities such as Celai West, Gabrielle Union, Misty Copeland, Taye Diggs, April Reign and Barbie are Honorary Dolls! We're very proud to share that the women of Brown -Leola Brown (matriarch), the late Linda Brown (namesake of Brown vs. Board) and Cheryl Brown (Linda's sister)- became Honorary Dolls too. Considering the Doll Test was created as a tool to show the Supreme Court the effects of internalized racism, having these women as sisters in our movement is a serendipitous honor!
Saturday, August 21, The Black Doll Affair will kickoff in the city of Destiny, Tacoma, Washington. RSVP to attend. To arrive as a Doll, buy your T-shirt online at blackdollaffair.com or wait to purchase it at the Affair. To become a Black, white or Brotha Doll THERE ARE NO MEMBERSHIP FEES, all you have to do is buy your Doll tee!
Attire: Masks are Mandatory. Get dolled up in your Doll T-shirt or, if you're waiting to buy your T-shirt at the Affair, get dolled up in pink black and white attire appropriate for a dolling afternoon social.
What to Bring: New toy black doll or a $20 Paper Doll Money Donation.
All Attendees: 18yrs+
Official Lodge: Marriott Tacoma Downtown
Group Rate: $179 per night
Booking Code: Black Doll Affair
Start: Friday, August 20, 2021
End Date: Sunday, August 22, 2021
Last Day to Book: July 30