A Kimball High School graduate is bringing a new kind of doll to major retailer’s toy sections.
Brooke Hart Jones is the founder of Dallas-based HBCyoU Dolls, which promote the “magic and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities” with children.
Jones is a third-generation HBCU alum, graduating from Hampton University in Virginia. She began creating the dolls during the pandemic, and the company has received licensing rights from seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the dolls: Hampton, Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, FAMU, Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee.
In an interview with USA Today, Jones said the dolls address a gap in the market and are now the only HBCU doll line sold at major retail stores.
“We’re very proud of that. We want to use it as an opportunity to plant the seed of higher learning, and use as a tool to teach history… spread our legacy and champion and highlight and preserve the legacy of historically black colleges and universities,” Jones told USA Today.
The dolls can be purchased at Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Amazon. The cheerleader dolls cost $34.99, while other dolls are less expensive, such as the student body president doll, cost $23.49.
The dolls are 18-inches, making them compatible with clothing and accessories from other popular doll brands like American Girl Doll and Our Generation.
