TODAY’S TALKER

Toy Hall of Fameadds fifirst Black baby doll, sidewalk chalk, Jenga

BabyNancy, the fifirst Black baby doll to have anAfro andother authentic features, was inducted into theNational ToyHall of Fame onThursday, alongwith sidewalk chalk and the wooden block game Jenga.

The 2020 honorees were recognized for their creativityand popularityover time.

Theywere chosen bya panel of experts from among 12 fifi na lists that also includedbingo, Breyer Horses, Lite- Brite, Masters of the Universe, My LittlePony, Risk, Sorry!, Tamagotchi andYahtzee.

BabyNancywas the inaugural doll for now- defunctShindana Toys, aCalifornia company launched in 1968 by Operation BootstrapInc., a non profifit Black community self- help organization that emergedin the aftermath of theWatts riots in LosAngeles.

By Christmas of that year, Baby Nancywas selling nationwide. The toy exposeda long- standing demandfor ethnically correct Blackdolls, according to the National Toy Hall ofFame, located in Rochester, NewYork.

Another inducteewas sidewalk chalk.

“There are fewlimits towhat kids can dowith chalk. Every sidewalk square, patio and driveway holds the potential for awork of art, awinning game of strategy and cleverness, or a demonstration ofphysical agility, poise andbalance, “chiefcurator Christopher Ben sch said.

Jenga, the creation of English woman Leslie Scott, was honored for its simplicity andability to be playedby almost anyone. Players take turns removingwooden blocks froma rectangular toweruntil it collapses.