What the Children Told Us: The Untold Story of the Famous Doll Test and the Black Psychologists Who Changed the World

(Hardback)

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Description

For readers of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Hidden Figures, What the Children Told Us tells the story of an iconic partnership that set the stage for decades of civil rights activism As a young Black couple in the 1940s, Kenneth Clark and Mamie Phipps knew the devastating impact of segregation firsthand. But the Clarks revealed the true impact of segregation in a psychological study that would resonate for decades to come, in which they asked Black children which kinds of baby dolls they preferred- brown or white. Two-thirds of the children surveyed chose the white doll, and some even denied their own skin color. This is the story of the towering intellectual and emotional partnership between two Black scholars who highlighted the undeniable psychological effects of racial segregation. Paving the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case and engaging in unrelenting activism over several decades, the Clarks' story is one of courage, love, and an unfailing belief that Black children deserved better than what society was prepared to give them.

Reviews

"What the Children Told Us is straightforward reportage. It is heavily researched and documented and adds flesh to some of the bones of knowledge about the 1940s, the psychological community, and growing civil rights efforts" -- Historical Novel Society
"For readers interested in a unique tale at the intersection of psychology, race, and activism, Spofford's in-depth portrait of the Clarks will be welcome reading." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Part biography, part history, and part psychological study, this emotionally charged book chronicles.... the lives and works of two extraordinary individuals who fought for racial justice and equality in one of our nation's darkest hours." -- Booklist
"The first book to detail the extensive work of two major contributors on the psychological effects of segregation is a worthwhile addition to collections." -- Library Journal
"This detailed and sympathetic biography shines a well-deserved spotlight on two racial justice pioneers." -- Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

TIM SPOFFORD's writing career has focused on racial issues in education. Spofford has taught writing and journalism in schools and colleges and has a Doctor of Arts in English degree from the State University of New York at Albany. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Newsday, Mother Jones, and other publications. He lives with his wife, Barbara, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Lee, Massachusetts. Visit him at timspoffordbooks.com.