Just in time for the college football season, a time when school spirit is high both on and off campuses, there’s a new line of dolls that’s capturing the magic of historically Black colleges and universities.
Brooke Hart Jones is an alum of Hampton University. Wanting to introduce the concept of higher learning and children’s play, she launched HBCyoU Dolls through a partnership with Purpose Toys, a Black-owned toy start-up with a mission to center and celebrate communities of color.
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“We’ve made great strides with diversity in the toy space, and I’m so thankful for that,” Jones said. “But we want to also have diversity and interest in majors and well-rounded characters, they really tell our story and really can inspire our children.”
Some of those backgrounds include Nicole, the homecoming queen and pre-med major, as well as Alyssa, the cheer captain and physics major. There are seven schools represented, but Jones hopes to add more in the future. For Rattler fans, Jones said a cheerleader doll representing Florida A&M will launch in the coming weeks.
The 18-inch dolls are available at Target, Walmart and Amazon.