As you embark on your holiday shopping trips this season, look at this list of Black-owned toy brands located throughout the U.S.
BROWN TOY BOX
Brown Toy Box was originally launched in 2017 by Terri-Nichelle Bradley as a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) kit. The mother-of-four later decided to expand it into a full-scale toy company.
Brown Toy Box is committed to creating educational toys that focus on Black children as a means to “disrupt generational poverty by normalizing Black excellence, cultivating curiosity, and building 21st-century skills to create pathways to prosperous careers,” according to their mission statement.
Based in Georgia, Bradley’s products can be found online, or at Target, Amazon, and The Village Retail in Atlanta.
IZUKI DOLLS
Ozi Okaro created her collection of dolls in 2015 after being frustrated with the lack of dolls who look like her two girls. The word “Izuki” means “to teach” in Igbo. As a result, she wanted to teach her children self-acceptance and acceptance of others through recreation.
Hand-crafted with the help of her daughter, they offer a diverse number of design options.
“Over time our collection will expand to include dolls with more shades of brown skin, hair textures, hairstyles, and dress designs. I want every little black girl to have a beautiful Black doll that they can relate to and identify with,” she wrote on their website.
If you’d like them in time for Christmas, you can order by December 16th at www.ikuzidolls.com.
THE BLACK TOY STORE
If you are looking for a one-stop shop for dolls, plushies, action figures, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) toys, and books that are curated specifically for Black children, The Black Toy Store is your spot.
Owner and mother-of-three Claudia Walker started her shop in 2019 as an attempt to create a selection of “culturally affirming toys” for her sons and other children who don’t see themselves reflected in most playthings.
The toys, books, and games sold must fit the criteria of being either Black-owned, a reflection of African heritage or include Black representation in the product or packaging. See their selection at blacktoystore.com.
TENI & TAYO CREATIONS
Omobola Imoisili, owner of Teni & Tayo Creations, went above and beyond your typical toy store by offering not only toys but hands-on activities, apparel, and a subscription box called “Africa in a crate” which is a monthly box of STEAM projects for ages six and older.
Being born and raised in Nigeria, and now based in L.A., she wanted to create products that are influenced by her African roots when she noticed a lack of positive representation in the area.
The books and products in her shop feature Feyi Fay, a Nigerian superhero fairy, and Captain Nosa, a Nigerian neuroscientist and superhero, both created by Omobola herself under a pseudonym, Simisayo Brownstone.
To join in on the magic, check them out at www.teniandtayo.com.
PUZZLE HUDDLE
Puzzles are a timeless and fun activity for all ages, requiring a certain level of discipline and fine motor skills. Matthew and Marnel Goins conceived Puzzle Huddle in 2018 after being disappointed in the lack of diversity in commercial puzzle images.
They started printing photos and hand-cutting the puzzles themselves. This later evolved into commissioning artists and producing these puzzles commercially.
Education, achievement, culture, religion, and diversity are all values that they hope to represent in their products. You can check out what they have at www.puzzlehuddle.com.
YELLOW SPRINGS TOY COMPANY
With the help of the local community, Jamie Sharp opened Yellow Springs Toy Company in March of 2018 to provide kids with a curated selection of well-made toys that encourage building connections, healthy development, and imagination.
They are located at 252 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs, OH, but you can search for toys by interest, age, education, and development on their website.
UPBOUNDERS® BY LITTLE LIKES KIDS
Kemi Tignor is based in Washington D.C. but you can find her products all over! Upbounders® by Little Likes Kids makes 24-100 piece puzzles, games, and flashcards for kids ages six and below.
The goal for Tignor is to promote healthy, screen-free play and multicultural toys. Upbounders® started at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington D.C. and has since partnered with retailers like Nordstrom, Target, Kohl’s, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
To learn more about Upbounders® by Little Likes Kids, visit their website.
THE MAGNUS COMPANY
The Magnus Company was born out of Jade Magnus Ogunnaike’s New York apartment during the pandemic after time was spent reflecting on how rare it is to find images depicting Black kids as protagonists who experience joy, magic, and wonder in playthings and media.
Her first product was a storybook and doll duo, modeled after her daughter, called “Sloane in the City.”
A short time afterward, she invented more characters to feature in books, dolls, puzzles, pins, and even relevant play food from a cultural perspective.
Experience the magic they’ve created at themagnusco.com.