'Racist' rag dolls, designed to be abused, removed from stores
What's the story
Imagine being so affectless to the prevailing racism in your country, that you design a rag doll, meant to be abused, and specifically make it the color black. One Dollar Zone stores in New Jersey, United States, recently stacked their shelves with black rag dolls that asked to be whacked, slammed against walls, among other things. It has since been pulled from stores.
Details
Doll intended to be grabbed by legs and whacked
Called the 'Feel Better Doll', the toy featured instructions to "just grab it firmly by the legs" and "slam" and "whack" it "whenever things don't go well." Manufactured by Harvey Hutter Co., the doll, intended for stress relief by giving an outlet to violent tendencies, is all black in color, with white eyes, and yarn hair of red, green, black and yellow.
Reaction
Dolls 'offensive' and 'inappropriate': Assemblywoman Angela McKnight
Naturally, New Jersey Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight, described the dolls as "offensive" and "inappropriate." McKnight, a Democrat, visited a One Dollar Zone store in Bayonne (within the district she represents), to see the dolls for herself after spotting them on social media. Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis also described the dolls as "insensitive," adding that they "can certainly be considered racist," in a Facebook post.
Quote
Disheartened by thought of black child being beaten: McKnight
"Racism has no place in the world and I'll not tolerate it," McKnight stated. "When I saw the doll in person, I cringed and was truly disheartened by the thought of a black child being beaten by another child or an adult for pure pleasure."
Apology
This somehow slipped through the cracks: One Dollar Zone President
Later, One Dollar Zone President Ricky Shah apologized for the dolls' appearance, adding that roughly 1,000 dolls were removed from a store in Bayonne and two others in New Jersey. "This somehow slipped through the cracks," he said. Reportedly, the dolls were part of a 35,000 unit purchase and were available in two other colors: green and yellow, CNN reported.
Information
Manufacturer 'no longer in business'
Further, according to the Associated Press, Harvey Hutter Co. couldn't be reached. Their phone numbers have been disconnected, email addresses are unresponsive and their website is offline. In an email forwarded by Shah, supplier Global Souvenir Marketing stated the company is no longer in business.