Thirteen- year old Jessica, avid collector of black female dolls, received a big surprise from her father.  He gave Jessica her first male doll Buckwheat.  Jessica negative response led her father to teach her a brief history lesson about picanniny.     

      “Jessica, let me give you a little history lesson.”  Her father expounded as if he was a history professor.  “There was once a television show called Our Gang originated by Hal Roach, which was also known as Little Rascals.  It ran...