Hong Kong advocates decry 'dehumanizing' Black baby 'stress relief' toy trending in China

A viral stress-relief toy trending on Chinese social media, known as the "Natasha" doll, has sparked outrage among members of Hong Kong's Black community, who decry its "dehumanizing" nature. The doll, most commonly depicted as a dark-skinned Black baby with exaggerated racial characteristics, has become a subject of viral videos where users engage in violent acts against it.

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No design is created, marketed, and sold in isolation of thought and purpose. The design, manufacturing, and selling of a Black baby doll to abuse at one’s whims is at the root of the existence of movements like Black Lives Matter.

Videos circulating online show individuals beating, stretching, boiling, and stomping on the dolls as a form of stress relief. Monique Franz, a writer and founder of Kinsman Avenue Publishing, which advocates for underrepresented voices, stated that the design, manufacturing, and sale of such a doll are rooted in harmful ideologies. "By inviting people to take out their stresses on a Black body, we invite populations to abuse our Black bodies at their whims, robbing us of our actual humanity," Franz explained, emphasizing the connection between such portrayals and real-world abuse faced by Black people.

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By inviting people to take out their stresses on a Black body, we invite populations to abuse our Black bodies at their whims, robbing us of our actual humanity. While this is a game to others, Black people are experiencing widespread global abuse, which is the result of portrayals of us in such degrading ways.

Jayne Jeje, an African-American entrepreneur and advocate based in Hong Kong, echoed these sentiments, noting a "fascination with Black hair, Black skin, Black lips, Black bodies, and Black culture" that coexists with shock when Black individuals speak out against such depictions. Jeje described some viral videos as "absolutely diabolical" and deeply personal, stating, "I refuse to accept the idea that it is something to be squeezed, slapped, mocked, or turned into entertainment for the masses."

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There seems to be an endless fascination with Black hair, Black skin, Black lips, Black bodies, and Black culture, yet people are shocked when we speak up. Some of the viral videos are absolutely diabolical. I’d find them offensive no matter who was being depicted, but this is deeply personal because I am proud of my beautiful dark skin. I refuse to accept the idea that it is something to be squeezed, slapped, mocked, or turned into entertainment for the masses.

Londiwe Ngubeni, a South African actress and vocalist living in Hong Kong, shared a disturbing personal encounter. She witnessed a child at a supermarket abusing a Natasha doll, calling it a "stress reliever." Ngubeni questioned the message being sent to children when "dehumanizing a Black child becomes a plaything," expressing fury and disappointment at the normalization of such behavior. The dolls, made from slow-rising memory foam or soft thermoplastic rubber, remain widely available on e-commerce platforms like Taobao and are trending on social media sites.

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At first, I thought she simply liked the toy. Then she began stretching, squeezing, poking the eyes and hitting the doll. When I asked why, she said it was a ‘stress reliever.’ How is relieving stress by hurting a brown baby doll acceptable?