Mirror, Mirror: The Dolls That Exposed America’s Divide
Guest post by visual artist David Elmo Cooper for Lerner Publishing Group, 2024 Platinum Sponsor
The Doll Test: Choosing Equality is a book-length poem that introduces young readers to the groundbreaking research Black psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark conducted in the 1940s during the Jim Crow era. The experiments focused on the impact of segregation on Black children. The Clarks asked the children questions such as “Which dolls are ‘nice’?” and “Which doll is most like you?” Through the children’s answers, they determined the state of their self-esteem. Ultimately, they concluded that segregation, discrimination, and prejudice caused Black children to develop a sense of inferiority and self-hatred. Findings from their research was later used in the landmark court case, Brown v. the Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional.
The narrative for this story unfolds during a tumultuous and challenging period in American history, prompting me to aim for unease in the artwork. To capture the warped perceptions created by segregation and systemic racism, I created distorted compositions that pushed and pulled in unexpected ways reminiscent to a nightmare. Additionally, I collaged photographs of dolls into the illustrations.
I found the research process to be the most exciting aspect of creating the illustrations for this book. I researched Linda Brown and her treacherous journey to a distant school as well as the stark differences between segregated classrooms, and I studied many, many heart-wrenching photographs depicting a strange and unjust nation. I immersed myself in searching for the exact dolls used by the Clarks in their experiment: Vintage Effanbee Twinkie dolls that I purchased and photographed myself. The tactile experience of holding them in my hands was emotionally informative. I tried seeing them through the eyes of the children who, as the Clarks’ research showed, were burdened by the weight of living in a segregated society. This research truly motivated me to honor the past by producing historically accurate and emotionally resonant illustrations.
When I was first approached to work on this project, I thought of my dad, Elmo Cooper. He grew up in Spring Hope, North Carolina, and graduated from all-Black C.C. Spaulding High School in 1955, one year after the landmark Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation in schools. He, like so many other alumni, was proud of the education he received there. It was a triumph during a time when the fundamental opportunity of education was routinely denied to Black people.
I was very proud and honored to help record a snapshot of this specific period that many would like us to forget, to help educate our youth, to honor our elders, and to pay tribute to those who fought so hard to pave the way for unified education in the United States of America.
Photo credit: Ari Michelson
David Elmo Cooper, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, discovered his love for art, specifically comic books and graffiti, at a young age. After earning his BFA in Communication Design from Pratt Institute in 2000, he pursued successful careers as a photo director, illustrator, and educator. David is a dedicated father of two beautiful daughters who frequently accompany him in his studio, creating their own colorful masterpieces, while he works away on exciting projects such as The Doll Test: Choosing Equality. His work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators, Society of Publication Designers, American Illustration and 3×3 Magazine.
