From Museum Exhibit to Movement: Why I'm Returning to My Life's Work After 30 Years

By Lucy Holifield

January 24 2026

Last month, I got a call that stopped me in my tracks!

The Strong National Museum of Play wanted to include my work in their permanent collection.

Not my recent work. My work from 30 years ago !

In 1994, I founded Identity Toys—a company dedicated to creating products that helped Black children grow up proud. We made games, puzzles, flashcards, coloring books, and educational materials that centered Black identity, culture, and excellence at a time when representation in toys was even scarcer than it is today.

The company didn't succeed commercially. We were ahead of the market, underfunded, and operating in an era before e-commerce could connect us directly with the families who needed what we were building.

I moved on. Built a career. Retired.

But that call from the museum changed something.

Seeing my work recognized—not as a failed business venture, but as culturally significant enough to preserve for future generations—made me realize:

The mission was right. The timing was just early.

And more importantly: We need these resources now even more than ever.

What I'm Seeing 30 Years Later

Things have gotten worse!

Today, erasure is a huge concern: banning books, restricting curriculums, removing artifacts from museums!

Today, we live in an era of endless content, personalized learning, and AI-powered everything... and Black parents are STILL piecing it together alone.

Still searching. Still vetting. Still supplementing entire curricula because the educational content available doesn't center their children's stories, celebrate their ancestors, or show them that people who look like them have always been brilliant.

The technology exists to solve this. The market exists. The need has only intensified.

So why doesn't the solution exist?

That question won't let me go.

What I Learned from Identity Toys (And What's Different Now)

When Identity Toys failed, I learned some hard lessons:

What didn't work:

• Physical products were expensive to manufacture and distribute

• Retail partnerships were gatekeepers we couldn't access

• Marketing to scattered families nationally was prohibitively expensive

• We couldn't achieve the economies of scale needed to survive

But what I got right:

• The mission resonated deeply with families who found us

• Parents were desperate for products that affirmed their children's identity

• There was real demand—we just couldn't reach enough people efficiently

• The impact on individual children was profound when they engaged with our products

  
  

Now, in 2026, everything that killed Identity Toys has a solution:

The infrastructure exists. The market is ready. The need is urgent.

I have 30 years of perspective on what Black families need.

And I can't walk away from this again.

Introducing Grow Up Proud: The Evolution of a Mission

This isn't Identity Toys 2.0.

This is what I would have built in 1994; if the technology and distribution models had existed.

Grow Up Proud is the first platform where Black educators, artists, historians, and storytellers create content specifically for Black children—personalized through AI to each child's age and interests.

Imagine if the parent who's been piecing together content, vetting videos, searching for books; could send their child to ONE place where:

• A Black historian brings African kingdoms to life

• A Black scientist explains discoveries with cultural context

• A Black chef teaches cooking while telling the story of our food

• A Black artist helps kids draw characters with their hair, their features

• A Black activist shows young people how to use their voice

All in one platform. All created by people who understand what it means to raise Black children. All designed to help them grow up proud.

That's what I'm on a mission to build.

Not because it's a business opportunity I stumbled upon.

Because it's been my life's work for 30 years—and now, finally, I have the tools to do it right.

I'm Building this WITH the Community

That's why I'm starting this blog—Raising Proud Kids—and building Grow Up Proud completely in public, with the community leading the way.

I want to document this journey openly.

But most importantly, I want YOUR voice in this.

Because the only way to build a platform that truly serves Black families is to build it WITH Black families.

We're in the Research Phase (And I Need Your Input)

Right now, Grow Up Proud doesn't exist yet. We're in what I call the "feasibility phase."

For the next six months, I'm gathering input from two critical groups:

Parents and guardians: What subjects matter most to you? What would make you trust a platform like this? What's a fair price? What concerns do you have about AI in education?

Creators and educators: What would you want to teach? What support do you need? What compensation model makes this sustainable for you?

Your answers will directly shape:

• What content we prioritize first

• How we price the platform

• What features we build

• How we implement AI responsibly

• Which creators we partner with

• How we support families who can't afford full price

  
  

This is your chance to influence a platform from day one.

Not after it launches.

Not after the decisions are made.

Right now, while we're still building.

This Is an Invitation

If you're a parent who's been doing this impossible work— to raise, proud, culturally-conscious Black children -- you're not alone anymore.

If you're an educator with expertise that Black children need to see and experience —we want your voice.

If you're someone who believes Black children deserve to grow up knowing they're brilliant, capable, and central to every story—join us.

This blog is for all of us.

Leave a comment below. Send me an email. Take one of our assessments (links below). However you want to engage—I'm here for it.

Let's Build This Together

My dream is that in a year, there will be:

One platform. Created by Black educators. Trusted by Black families. Built FOR this exact moment.

That's the future I'm working toward.

And I can't get there without you.

Next Steps:

📝 Parents: Add your voice to the conversation (takes 3 minutes) and tell us what you need

📝 Creators: Complete the Interest Form (10 minutes) and tell us what you'd teach

📱 Follow: Instagram @growupproud | Facebook - growupproud |

💬 Share: Know a parent or educator who needs to see this? Share this post.

Raising proud Black children—Learning from brilliant Black minds.

Comments

What are you most excited about? What concerns do you have? What would you want your child to learn? Share in the comments below.

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