Research shows that play can improve children's abilities to plan, organize, get along with others, and regulate emotions.  In addition, play helps with language, math and social skills, and even helps children cope with stress. While children are playing they are continuously looking for themselves in their toys,  finding an example of their reflection in their dolls, story books, action figures, coloring  books etc. It is no secret that the African American representation has been over looked in the toy section and child development section of our local department stores. Unfortunately our research shows that African American toys grace our toy aisle in the negative of 5/20.