Mexican American Doll Sparks Community Anger in Chicago

[SunWuKong]

this just has me shaking my head.

http://author.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-03-04-voa45.cfm

Marisol Luna stands less than half a meter tall and sports long brown hair, a glitter halter-top and velvet hip-hugger pants. But Chicago Hispanics are raising charges of lingering racism because of the biography that comes with the doll. According to the storybook, Marisol now lives in the suburbs after leaving a city neighborhood described as "too dangerous."

i just wonder who the hell is the marketting "genius" that came up with that.

[Banana]

Their "genius" is to speak without thinking. I actually like people like this because it's easier to showcase their stereotypes and racism.

We need more people like him/her.

[moJo]

that is so insulting.

[deez nuts]

lol. funny shit.

hurry up and buy one. it might become a collector's item if they take it off the market.

[SunWuKong]

lol. funny shit.

hurry up and buy one. it might become a collector's item if they take it off the market.

ok, i admit i am guilty of initially thinking it was funny. but it's still ignorant as hell to market the doll like that.

[deez nuts]

why do i have that daddy yankee "gasolina" video running in my head after reading this?

[pikachupacabra]

until the day they have the white doll that "dropped out of high school and is living off daddy's pockets because she got caught snorting coke in the loo"

...the black doll that "can't get a job cuz she can't read"

...the asian doll that "is suicidal because of unrealistic academic expectations from her parents"

then yeah, this one is pretty bad. Hell, even if they did have all of that, it would all be bad.

[SunWuKong]

what's dumb is that the marketting isn't even politically correct. i mean i thought big companies like these are always very PC. how difficult is it to figure out that what was written would be offensive to Latinos?

[asvenus]

Their "genius" is to speak without thinking. I actually like people like this because it's easier to showcase their stereotypes and racism.

We need more people like him/her.
indeedy!!

[YuheiCarreau]

what's dumb is that the marketting isn't even politically correct. i mean i thought big companies like these are always very PC. how difficult is it to figure out that what was written would be offensive to Latinos?

I guess they thought the story of social mobility - moving from a dangerous Latin neighborhood to a nice safe (White) suburb - would send a message of hope and equality.

Basically the White idea of "multiculturalism" can be defined as "everyone has the right to be as White as we are!"

[Napoleon Chynamite]

She doesn't even look Mexican. Well maybe she does, but she resembles more of the individuals with more Spanish or European blood, but then again not like this surprises me in the least.

[deez nuts]

just be thankful that they didn't make her pregnant cuz just from initially reading the thread title i thought to myself, "oh shit. the whities done did it now and made a pregnant big butt low riding jean brown skinned barbie doll."

[asvenus]

just be thankful that they didn't make her pregnant cuz just from initially reading the thread title i thought to myself, "oh shit. the whities done did it now and made a pregnant big butt low riding jean brown skinned barbie doll."
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! now that would have sparked off something a tad more than 'community anger' methinks :biggrin:

[applehead]

what the hell.
that is the dumbest thing i've ever seen.
doe she come with a whole series of books too?

i've been a huge fan of american girl series since
i was in elementary school.

[TB4000]

http://author.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/images/marisol-2.jpg

So now that she dresses like an American Eagle chick, she's now happy? She needs to watch this flick, I believe.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JLXZ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Faithless]

what the hell.
that is the dumbest thing i've ever seen.
doe she come with a whole series of books too?

i've been a huge fan of american girl series since
i was in elementary school.
Is this the same American Girl dolls and manufacturer that is coming under fire here -- the one that supposedly supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians?

Popular doll-maker American Girl becomes target of conservative protest (http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/10/15/business/news/19_55_1510_14_05.txt)

By: DAVID CRARY - Associated Press

NEW YORK -- American Girl, manufacturer of a highly popular line of dolls and children's books, has become the target of conservative activists threatening a boycott unless the toy maker cuts off contributions to a youth organization that supports abortion rights and acceptance of lesbians.

The protest is directed at an ongoing American Girl campaign in which proceeds from sales of a special "I Can" wristband help support educational and empowerment programs of Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization which describes its mission as "inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold."

American Girl, whose often patriotic products have long had a loyal following among conservatives, issued a statement Friday defending its support of Girls Inc. and assailing the protest campaign.

"We are profoundly disappointed that certain groups have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts and turn them into a broader political statement on issues that we, as a corporation, have no position," the statement said.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association, in a campaign launched Wednesday, is urging its members to demand that American Girl halt support for Girls Inc., which it called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group."

"Let American Girl know they are making a terrible mistake," AFA chairman Don Wildmon said in a statement. The AFA says it has more than 2.2 million members.

The Pro-Life Action League, a Chicago-based anti-abortion group, also is asking supporters to contact American Girl to express dismay. The league's executive director, Ann Scheidler, said her organization might call for a boycott of American Girl's products and organize picketing at its stores in Chicago and New York if the company doesn't sever ties with Girls Inc.

"Parents need to know that this effort to promote self-esteem among girls is not as innocent as it seems," Scheidler said. "While Girls Inc. has some good programs, they also support abortion, oppose abstinence-only education for girls, and condone lesbianism."

American Girl, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., said the "I Can" initiative supports three specific Girls Inc. programs -- building girls' skills in science and math, developing leadership skills, and encouraging athletic skills and team spirit.

"All of these aims are appropriate to our 7- to 12-year-old American Girl fans," the company said. "The American Girl brand exemplifies the values of wholesomeness and responsibility that we would expect any organization to commend."

Girls Inc., which traces its roots back to a center founded in Waterbury, Conn., in 1864, serves about 800,000 girls a year, many of them black or Hispanic and most from low-income families.

The "advocacy" page on its Web site lists some of the positions that roused conservative ire -- for example a clear endorsement the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision establishing a woman's right to abortion.

Girls Inc. also supports a girl's right to have access to contraception and pledges support for girls dealing with issues of sexual orientation.

Joyce Roche, the president of Girls Inc., said the New York-based organization had never before been targeted by a protest campaign.

"We were taken aback," she said in a telephone interview Friday. "Our programs are well-respected. We're all about helping girls see possibilities and dream big dreams."

She said Girls Inc. takes positions on public policy issues if it believes women's rights and opportunities are at stake. "Our philosophy is that women should have the right to make decisions about themselves," Roche said.

One of the protest coordinators, American Family Association special projects director Randy Sharp, said the campaign was noteworthy because American Girl's products have long been favored by conservatives. Its dolls (full-sized models sell for more than $80) include a series from different eras of American history -- such as Felicity, from the Revolutionary War, or Addy, who escapes from slavery during the Civil War.

"American Girl has won the trust of millions of conservative families," Sharp said. "It's very popular among the home school movement because of the values the company followed."

"Now we find they're teaming up with Girls Inc., which supports the very things we oppose. It's very troubling."

Sharp said the AFA was not yet ready to call for a boycott, but he predicted that many conservative families -- including his own -- would be reluctant to keep buying American Girl products. "I think no question this will have a financial impact on American Girl," he said.

On the Net:

American Family Association: http://www.afa.net/

Girls Inc. advocacy positions: http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/page.php?id4.3