Addy Walker is the fifth Historical Character in the American Girl series, representing the Civil War Era. She is an African-American girl who, at the start of her stories, is enslaved with her family on a North Carolina plantation during the last years of the American Civil War. Her story is one of courage, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom.
Addy's Early Life
Addy's full first name is Aduke, after her great-grandmother on her father's side, a name which means "much loved" in Yoruba (a Nigerian language). She was born in the spring but does not know the exact day of her birth as it was not recorded by her parents. She later picks April 9th, due to the celebrations of the end of the Civil War and the assurance she and her family, even not yet united, are all free now.
Like many enslaved children, Addy is forced to do hard labor in service to her enslavers; she works in the tobacco fields and as a house servant. Seeing how hard Addy is being made to work breaks her father Ben's heart, seeing her stooping like an old woman and being beat down every day. Ben says that she's at the age where a child learns they are enslaved and the hope they had as a child is being broken by the daily burdens of being so.
She is close to her family and despondent when they are separated: first when her enslaver sells her father and older brother Sam away and then--in escape--when she and her mother must leave her baby sister Esther behind with their fictive kin, Auntie Lula and Uncle Solomon, rather than risk being caught in the escape by taking a baby that could not be easily carried or quieted with them. Addy aches for the majority of her series to have her entire family reunited in freedom and often thinks about them and where they could be as motivation in her day to day life.
After the family is reunited, Addy remains tied closely to each member of her family. Her friends say she has strong family pride. Addy is a brave, loving, thoughtful, and kind child, who often risks her safety for the safety of others.
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Escape to Freedom
In Fall 1864 she escapes with her mother Ruth to the free North; the two arrive and settle in Philadelphia. Addy spends much of her central series hoping to have her whole family reunited in freedom.
Nine-year-old Addy Walker’s parents are planning a dangerous escape for the family from the North Carolina plantation where they’ve been enslaved all their lives. Addy and Momma must take the risk to escape, even though they have to leave Addy’s baby sister Esther behind. Eventually, they reach Philadelphia. But freedom is a lot different than what Addy expected. She spends long hours alone while Momma works at a dress shop, and Addy desperately misses her family. But Addy loves school and the chance to learn.
Addy and her mother arrive in Philadelphia to begin life as free people. Everything is new to them in the big city. Addy is happy--she makes a friend, Sarah, and she is learning to read and write. In school, Addy sits next to Harriet. Harriet is smart, wealthy, and popular, and has the life that Addy thought freedom would bring her. Addy hopes to be friends with Sarah and Harriet, but she ends up having to choose between them.
Addy and her parents move into a boarding house where Addy befriends M’Dear, an elderly woman who is blind. Addy asks M’Dear why the color of their skin prevents them from doing certain things if they’re free. M’Dear explains that prejudice makes people blinder than she is. M’Dear encourages Addy to choose a birthday. She chooses April 9, the day the Civil War ends.
Addy has begun to give up hope of ever having her family together. Then she learns that her little sister Esther, Auntie Lula, and Uncle Solomon are on their way to Philadelphia. Addy searches the city for them, but the reunion she dreamed of is mixed with joy and sorrow: Uncle Solomon did not survive the long journey.
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Addy's Character and Growth
When Addy first arrives in Philadelphia, she is scared of being alone in the city due to being unused to the large city crowds and fear of getting lost (in part because she cannot read) but she slowly becomes braver and more confident in moving around, in part with Sarah Moore's guidance. She still remains shy at times, especially around people she has just met.
Addy is a very intelligent child, something her father sees even while they are enslaved, and does very well in school; she learns to read and write well within a few months of starting school, catches up to the skill of Harriet Davis quickly, does well enough to win a spelling bee in her class shortly after her arrival, and later is invited to take further education and enrolls at The Institute for Colored Youth to work towards her goal of being a teacher as she grows up.
She is also willing and able to teach others; she starts by teaching Ruth, using cooking dough to shape out letters into the names of their family and beans to help Ruth learn to read, write, and count. She later helps her father Ben and brother Sam learn simple reading and writing, and after Sarah is forced to drop out of school to help her family make ends meet Addy offers to teach her so that she can keep learning outside of school.
Addy is very resourceful and helpful; when Ruth is upset that she can't read to deliver the packages that Mrs. Ford has asked her to, Addy--who is not yet a great reader or skilled in traveling around the city--asks Sarah to help her deliver the packages as she can both read and knows her way around the city. Once Addy shows that she can assist in the shop by picking up and dropping off orders for Mrs. Ford and will not be a trouble underfoot, she is invited to spend time in the shop (helping tidy up) and is free to keep the tips she earns for her deliveries.
Addy does not think it is fair or right that White people believe they are allowed to enslave and abuse Black people. She often does not like White people--she even says she hates them--and even as she becomes less fearful of them she does find many of them and their actions oppressive and racist towards her and other Black people.
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Addy's Impact and Legacy
Addy Walker was the first African-American historical character introduced by American Girl, debuting in September 1993. The advisory board considered several time periods for the first black character, including the Harlem Renaissance and civil rights, but the members felt that more recent Black American history could not be discussed if slavery was not addressed first. She was the fifth historical character overall and the first doll of color in the line.
Addy was the first character released by American Girl to have an advisory board. The board wanted a Black author for Addy's books, and Pleasant Company book editor Bobbie Johnson contacted several children's authors, including Mildred D. Taylor and Joyce Hansen. She then contacted Connie Porter after reading her debut novel; while Porter initially avoided her, she eventually talked to Johnson and agreed to read some American Girl books. After signing onto the project, Porter began her own research by reading all of the American Girl books and going on a trip to Philadelphia.
The board agreed that Addy's story should be empowering, as member Cheryl Chisholm recalled: “Everybody agreed that it had to be a story of a self-authorized flight to freedom. We were all very concerned that the experience of slavery not be white-washed.” The board argued for the inclusion of details such as Addy's cowrie shell necklace and a gap between her two front teeth.
Decades later, Addy remains a cultural icon, emblazoned on the hearts of all the young Black girls who read about her in their books, dressed her in doll form, and saw themselves in her, from her curiosity and bright smile, to her textured hair and exquisite cowrie shell necklace. When Addy was released in 1993, and adults were debating about why the first Black American Girl doll had to be enslaved, my friends and I relished in the belief that, like Addy, we were courageous, we were thoughtful, and we were resourceful. We accepted Addy in ways many adults could not, because we understood that slavery was her circumstance, not her story. Being enslaved is what she was, but it wasn’t who she was.
American Girl - Addy
Key People Behind Addy's Story
Several talented individuals contributed to bringing Addy Walker's story to life:
- Connie Porter: The author of the Addy book series, Porter crafted a compelling narrative that balanced historical accuracy with accessibility for young readers.
- Melodye Rosales: The illustrator for Addy's first three books, Rosales brought Addy and her world to life with vibrant and expressive artwork.
- Bradford Brown: Hired to illustrate the last three books in Addy's Central series.
- Dahl Taylor: Revised the illustrations for all six books in 1998 so all books had the same look as part of the Mattel purchase agreement.
Addy Walker: Character List
Here is a list of all the characters in Addy Walker's story:
- Aduke: Great-grandmother.
- Ruth Walker: Addy’s courageous and loving mother. She saves Addy from being sold off the plantation by escaping with her.
- Ben Walker: Addy’s father, whose dream of freedom gives the family strength. He reminds Addy that there’s always freedom inside her head and her heart.
- Sam Walker: Addy’s 15-year-old brother wants to run north and fight in the war for freedom. Sam is sold at the same time as Poppa, and he eventually becomes a soldier before joining the family in Philadelphia.
- Esther Walker: Addy’s 1-year-old sister is too young to make the escape to freedom. Momma makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her on the plantation.
- Lula: is not a biological relative, but she’s part of Addy’s family anyway. She’s enslaved on Master Stevens’s plantation and looks out for the Walkers.
- Solomon: is married to Lula. He gives Addy and her mother advice on how to escape and directs them to Miss Caroline’s safe house.
- Sarah Moore: is the first person Addy meets in Philadelphia, and the two become best friends. Sarah was born on a plantation in Virginia and understands how Addy feels when she first arrives in freedom.
- Miss Dunn: Addy’s teacher is kind and patient. She’s from North Carolina and escaped from slavery, just like Addy.
- Mrs. Ford: An older woman who lives in the boarding house where Addy’s family moves after Poppa arrives in Philadelphia.
Addy Walker Book Series
Addy's journey is chronicled in a series of six books, each highlighting different aspects of her life and struggles:
- Addy Saves the Day: Addy’s parents are planning a dangerous escape from slavery-but before they can escape, the worst happens when Poppa and Addy’s brother Sam are sold to another plantation. Determined to be free, Addy and Momma take the terrible risk of escaping by themselves at night, finding their way along a dangerous route that later came to be called the Underground Railroad.
- Addy Learns a Lesson: Addy and her mother arrive in Philadelphia to begin life as free people. Everything is new to them in the big city. Addy is happy--she makes a friend, Sarah, and she is learning to read and write. In school, Addy sits next to Harriet. Harriet is smart, wealthy, and popular, and has the life that Addy thought freedom would bring her. Addy hopes to be friends with Sarah and Harriet, but she ends up having to choose between them.
- Addy's Surprise: Addy knows that Christmas will be hard without Poppa, her brother Sam, and her sister Esther. When Addy spots a pretty red scarf in a shop, she determines to buy it for Momma to brighten her holiday. To save money, Addy keeps half of the tips she earns making deliveries. But when she sees the plight of newly freed slaves, she’s torn. Can she help them and still get the scarf for Momma?
- Happy Birthday, Addy!: Addy and her parents have moved to a boarding house where Addy meets an inspiring friend, M’dear. Like many people who grew up enslaved, Addy doesn’t know when she was born, so M’dear urges Addy to claim a day for her birthday. Then M’dear falls ill. When Addy goes out to get medicine, she faces prejudice-and danger. M’dear helps Addy overcome her anger and gives her a deeper understanding of freedom.
- Addy Studies Freedom: After the Civil War ends, many families like Addy’s are searching for their loved ones. This summer, Addy’s church is putting on a fund-raising fair to help people hurt by the war. When Addy has to work at the fair with snobby Harriet, their feud heats up again-until tragedy forces the girls to soften their hearts. The fair is a great success. Then, suddenly, the girls discover that the money they’ve raised has been stolen.
- Addy's Wedding Quilt: Addy has begun to give up hope of ever having her family together. Then she learns that her little sister Esther, Auntie Lula, and Uncle Solomon are on their way to Philadelphia. Addy searches the city for them, but the reunion she dreamed of is mixed with joy and sorrow: Uncle Solomon did not survive the long journey. As Addy prepares for her reading at the Emancipation Proclamation, she begins to wonder if she even believes the words about freedom that she will be reading.
