Photo: Shirlaine Forrest (Getty Images)
We know Black women operate everything from yoga to painting to walks through nature to relieve stress. But what you may not know is that there is a subculture of Black women who have turned to building with LEGO bricks to unplug, blow off steam and connect with others.
If you’re a parent of kids who love LEGO, you may see them as just annoying bricks that end up in every corner of your house and hurt like hell when you step on one in your bare feet (sorry, I digress). But a quick search for #blackgirlsdolego on TikTok will give you a well collection of clips of Black women proudly showing off their favorite builds with BossMan Dlow’s track “Mr. Pot Scraper” in the background.
“It’s so calming. It just does something for my nerves. I’ll sit there at the end of the day and do them for hours,” builder Jazmine Towe told NBC News. “I feel happy when I finish them. It’s also kind of bittersweet because I love the process of putting it together. When I get to the end, I’m like, ‘I can’t wait to get to the next set!’”
In addition to being a relaxing inventive release, LEGO building taps into your mathematical and engineering skills as well.
“When kids are building with blocks and Legos, they’re using spatial reasoning skills,” says Amy Shelton, Director of Research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
The folks at LEGO are cheerful to welcome Black women builders into their community.
“We are thrilled to see the engagement by Black women using LEGO bricks as a creative outlet to celebrate the passions they have,” said Alero Dawn Akuya, LEGO’s Vice President of Brand Development to NBC News. “The Black community is rich with creativity, inspiration, and positivity, and we are humbled that the community is recognizing our products to express themselves and their personal stories!”
If you’re thinking about getting in on the trend, check out a few of our favorite Black female LEGO enthusiasts on TikTok.
