Doll Experiment

The Doll Experiment was a psychological study conducted by Kenneth and Mamie Clark in the 1940s to explore how Black children viewed their own worth and racial identity. Children were shown dolls that differed only in skin color and features, and asked which they preferred or thought were nicer. Many Black children favored white dolls, indicating internalized racism and negative perceptions of their own race due to societal influences. The findings highlighted how societal discrimination affected children’s self-esteem and played a role in the fight against racial segregation laws.