A few months back, a disturbing viral trend escaped China and entered my internet feed. It had become popular to make videos abusing a Black baby doll.

The doll was called Natasha. They would throw it, smash it, and even run it over. All of this was supposedly for stress relief. More interestingly, even though other versions of the doll exist, only the Black version was popular to abuse.

The most optimistic conclusion is that these people relieve stress by smashing objects that look like Black children. This is the best option, but of course, defenders come out trying to gaslight us.

Don’t take it personally.

Don’t be offended.

It isn’t racist.

I’m noticing an unsettling pattern this year. I must’ve missed a memo. It reminds me of when all my coworkers pretended they hated Trump until he won. Suddenly, they were all celebrating, and I was left perplexed.

This year, we’ve seen multiple instances of white people using Black baby dolls to display and support their racism.

Teacher hanging

In May, a Florida Art teacher wrapped a cord around a Black baby doll’s neck and tossed it over the television, effectively hanging it in front of her middle school class.

A 14-year-old recorded it and reported it to the principal.

Of course, some people hoped for a rational explanation. Perhaps she was teaching a lesson… by hanging a doll…as an art teacher.

The teacher, Karen Savage (what an appropriate name), claimed it was a joke. Sadly, she probably did find it funny. She created scars on children that most people will dismiss. Get over it.

Luckily, the 63-year-old teacher was fired for this.

Student dragging

In August, a similar story popped up at Louisiana State University. A student used what looks like a rope or a leash to drag a black baby doll around campus.

Want to guess what the students said when confronted?

It was just a joke.

This was only a couple of months after Karen Savage made her joke.

LSU decided to protect the identity of the students and keep the consequences private. My guess is that there were zero consequences, and they all laughed about it behind closed doors.

Hmm. Laughter? I guess it was a good joke to some people.

Volleyball racism

It only took a month to have another racist Black baby doll incident. This time, it occurred during a volleyball match between Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School.

Many Fernandina Beach High School students held up Black baby dolls to taunt the majority Black Andrew Jackson players. In case there is any confusion, according to witnesses, the Fernandina Beach students shouted racial slurs and racist chants.

At one point, even an injured Black player was specifically mocked. A doll is flipped upside down, and a student shouts, “She’s dead!”

Of course, despite the lack of confusion in this story, it is presented as if there is confusion.

Some people argue the dolls were only at the game because they were part of a parenting assignment. I don’t doubt this possibility, but this doesn’t negate the dolls being used to represent Black players.

We have had multiple incidents in the last few months; I’m tired of giving the benefit of the doubt.

So, what’s going on?

Black dolls have been used to dehumanize Black people for a long time. It is easy to find a dozen stories about Black dolls left hanging symbolically. Racial caricatures like the golliwog were once popular toys.

I want to ask what is going on, but it really is just more of the same, amplified by social media and a new boldness discovered by racists in the last decade.

They can call it a joke, but they are just telling on themselves. We know the truth. Don’t waste time trying to gaslight us. Say it with your full chest, and we will move accordingly.