A recent texted conversation with my BFF, Steph, who in the interest of full disclosure, is an African American female. (I am not. Black that is-I'm a white Western European Heinz 57--but I digress...)

Steph: Mental Health Check?

Me: Not so great. On a mission to find chocolate action figures for my clients to play. Is it too much to ask for a black fairy or a black wizard.

Steph: LOL. Welcome to my childhood.

Me: Seriously, am about to write several bitter letters of complaint to toy manufacturers. Am I asking the impossible?

Steph: Yea, you are. Good luck!!! LOL.

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To Whom It May Concern (aka the short sighted product managers who develop action figures):

As a child therapist, everytime the clients and I use action figures-I cringe because my clients (my entire case load is African American) only have Caucasian action figures or monster action figures to play with. Luckily--they have not mentioned anything to me--but I'm sure they've noticed.

However, I ask you, who says fantasy action figures need to be white? Where was this written that black people do not populate fairy tale stories? Even Disney has gotten with the program--and gotten on the black fantasy figure bandwagon with their new movie, "Princess and the Frog". So I ask you--Who the hell do I have to sleep with to get a few black fairies, mermaids, witches, princesses, and elf action figures??

Thanks for your time,

An angry child therapist.