The Company Hopes to Bring Social Awareness to Boys of Color, Allowing Them to Develop Personas and Understand Their True Capabilities
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2016 / Melanites, a toy company that works to expand the representation of boys of color in the toy industry, recently announced the launch of Brown Boy Hood, its first line of boy dolls of color. The company developed four characters, also known as building blocks, which are meant to highlight the thinker, doer, maker, and performer characteristics displayed in every child.
Each doll, designed for boys and girls ages four and up, is 18 inches tall--about the size of the average American Girl doll. The dolls have 11 points of articulation and a full vinyl body, as well as hairstyles that reflects a diverse society. Melanites' foundation is based on representation, so the range of dolls includes a multitude of skin tones, too.
"It's not often that you go to a toy store and see a 'blue aisle,' but when you do, all the toys consist of toy guns, fighting stances, and aggressive role play," stated a representative of the company. "These boys would more than likely enjoy seeing a wider variety of options to choose from, rather than the toys that only promote aggression. It's time for our boys to have a new option."
At Melanites, toys are seen as a gateway to social awareness for boys of color. The company also plans to develop accessory kits so that young boys can become inspired to build their own personas and see their identities celebrated.
To help bring the Brown Boyhood vision to life, Melanites has taken their campaign to Kickstarter, where they seek the funds necessary to continue this project. In exchange for their support, contributors will receive special perks such as posters, dolls, and t-shirts.
Individuals interested in learning more about Melanites and Brown Boyhood can visit the company's Kickstarter page for additional information.
About Brown Boyhood:
Brown Boyhood started as a creative idea to make dolls to be more representative of boys of color. Melanites was founded to celebrate Brown Boyhood and encourage positive self-expression with creative and educational role play. The ultimate goal is for young children of color to feel empowered and valued in our society today. Melanites also addresses the issue of hyper-masculinity and the gender policing of children. For more information, please visit https://goo.gl/EqVNOz.
Contact:
Tommy Greene
[email protected]
(949) 555-2861
SOURCE: Melanites