The Clark Doll Experiment

The Clark Doll Experiment, conducted in the 1930s, studied how Black children perceived their own race. Children were shown Black and White dolls and asked to choose which they preferred or believed were better. Many children favored the White dolls, often describing the Black dolls negatively, which reflected internalized racial biases and low self-esteem caused by societal racism. The results highlighted how racial discrimination can impact a child's self-image and attitudes, helping to illustrate the damaging effects of systemic racism and fostering discussions about racial identity and equality.