This fall she collected dozens, but they weren't for her.
They are some of the 300 black dolls collected by 27 students in the Ida B. Wells Living Learning Community for the annual Black Baby Doll Day Project, held since 1996. The dolls are donated to foster positive self-esteem in young girls.
"(Growing up) I would try to get my hair to look like (my dolls), and it never really happened," Parkey said. "So (participating) is kind of personal. I think it's a very important project."
Once a rarity or nonexistent, black dolls are still more difficult to find than expected, students said.
