Sun-Man was inspired by her son’s comment: “Mommy, I can’t be a superhero because He-Man is white.” Now, he’s part of the Masters of the Universe roster.
On Sept. 11, The New York Times and CNET reported that Mattel will introduce Professor Yla Eason’s Sun-Man action figure as part of a relaunch of its Masters of the Universe roster. Some of the original characters in that roster have been reimagined as Black in two Netflix series.
Yla Eason, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Marketing
What she does: Leverages educational theories and methodologies to design, develop, and deliver successful curriculum and learning programs in business communication and marketing. She teaches “Search Engine Marketing” to students in the Master of Science in Digital Marketing program.
Her Influence: An award-winning marketing professional, she is internationally recognized as pioneering a niche market of multicultural toys. She founded Olmec Toys, a multicultural toy company, that she grew into a $5 million business. Eason was among three women to receive a 2020 Alice H. Parker Women Leaders in Innovation Award from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
What inspired Olmec Toys: A casual comment by her three-year-old son in 1984 would change the toy market forever. “Mommy,” he said, “I can’t be a superhero because He-Man is white.” Her initial thought was to buy her son a Black action figure, but she quickly discovered there were none. She spoke with other mothers who said the absence of a Black action figure for their sons to play with was a concern to them as well.
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