One Act of Good

The prolific and talented actor, Chadwick Boseman, passed away yesterday following what we now know to have been a years long battle with colon cancer. I open with this relativism as it epitomizes the story that led to my contribution in People Magazine. I began writing this article weeks ago, but now see why it took me so long to finish. The weekend's events are a clear and stunning reminder of the ripple effects of representation through imagination.

It has been almost a month since the People Magazine article was published. The story has been shared by numerous publications and the original Instagram post has received over 30,413 views! As the story continues to gain momentum, I cannot help but reflect on the original motivation that began this journey. The "Act of Good" started with the realization that all children, all people, should live in a world where they see themselves as the hero in a story of their creation.

On May 10th, 2020 I woke up and did what many of us do the moment our eyelids snap open... I reached for my phone and began the mindless Instagram scrolling that usually kicks off my day. However, a post on @masakakidsafricana snapped me out of my trance and brought me back to a memory from my childhood. A memory I had long forgotten until I saw the picture of a young African child playing with a blonde haired blue eyed doll.

On my 7th birthday, I received a gift from a pair of classmates- a Barbie doll. A blonde haired, blue eyed Barbie doll. Before I had a chance to truly enjoy my new toy, my mom explained to me that she was donating the doll. Just shy of my 30th birthday, I understand how important this moment was and how it led me here.

As I scrolled Instagram and saw that post on May 10th, 2020 I was reminded of my 7th birthday and a valuable lesson- That children deserve to live a life where they see themselves as the hero in a story of their own making. So, I did something not-so-bold. I commented and said "How do I donate some brown skinned dolls?" That one comment received a lot of attention throughout the day and helped me raise approx. $1,000 for the orphanage from strangers, friends and family. I worked with a South African female business owner, @malabryan (Owner of Malaville Dolls) to order unique and representative dolls that celebrated everything that made these children beautiful.

On May 30th, 2020 the Masaka Africana Orphanage in Uganda, Africa shared that the children received the donation. I shared the photos of the "unboxing" with the strangers who contributed through Instagram and was overcome with the generosity from people around the world.

As I sit at the kitchen table, chronicling the events of this May, I cannot help but see this full circle moment. My act of service was meant to remind children to use their imagination through toys that looked like them; But the loss of a superhero who did just that in the mega hit Black Panther drives this point home. As the world mourns the loss of Chadwick Boseman, I encourage us all to see the impact of representation. For many people of color, myself included, we rarely are able to celebrate a person or image that looks like us as the heroine/hero in a narrative. If this summer has taught me anything, it has been a reminder (not a new lesson) that we are each capable and responsible to make a positive difference in the world around us. We each have the ability to change the world and especially the lives around us with kindness and consideration.