Black dolls have a historic and long-lasting impact on culture and race, illustrating moments in history that reflect the social and political dynamics in society. Since the 1800s, these dolls have existed, but finding a Black doll with the same skin tone, features, and hair texture wasn’t always easy. The journey toward inclusive representation in the Barbie line has been a long and transformative one.
Early Representations and Challenges
The first Barbie doll, a long-legged, thin-waisted, blonde, white woman, made its debut on March 9, 1959. In 1967, Mattel launched the first African American Barbie Doll, named “Colored Francie,” based on a white doll called Francie. However, this doll lacked distinct African characteristics other than dark skin and had the same body as Barbie. In 1968, Mattel released Christie, considered the first African American doll in the Barbie range. In 1969, it launched a Barbie doll based on Nurse Julia, a Black character from the show Julia.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, there was a shift in societal awareness regarding racial diversity and representation. Critics started advocating for more authentic and inclusive representation of different races and ethnicities in toys and media. Christie was criticized for not representing African cultural body image, showcasing only one skin color tone, and her features were seen to characterize white standards of beauty. Later, Mattel released Black Barbie, but it still had Caucasian features.
During the 1990s, after criticism of its African American dolls, Mattel created new molds with different facial features, skin tones, hair textures, and names. Body shapes were altered, but the proportions remained the same to ensure clothing and accessories were interchangeable. In 1996, Mattel introduced a new African American doll named Nikki as part of the “Teen Skipper” line, as the younger sister of Christie. In 2005, she replaced Christie as one of Barbie’s friends.
Focus on Diversity
Starting in 1980, Mattel focused more on diversity in the Barbie line and introduced the Dolls of the World Barbie collection, a series of dolls that showcased different cultures and countries from around the world. Each doll represents a specific country or region and is dressed in traditional attire that reflects the cultural heritage of that place. Dolls representing countries like Mexico and Japan were created. Over the years, the collection expanded to include India, Kenya, and others.
Read also: Waste to Wonder: Flip Flop Art
The So In Style Range
In September 2009, Mattel introduced the So In Style range, intending to have a more realistic depiction of African American people than previous dolls. The release was met with mixed reactions. Although some praised a more diverse line, others said that the doll still had a thin body, promoting an unrealistic body image with long legs, a small waist, and large breasts. Others also commented that the dolls with long straight hair could have a bad influence because of how that type of hair is often considered more beautiful than short curly hair.
“She could do anything. She was a rock star and all of that. I feel that was an influence on how we do our [B]lack Barbie dolls now, and how we’re now making Barbie dolls that have different sizes and shapes and it’s not all just one figure. I think that’s a good thing, because children can look at the doll and choose the one that is more like themselves, and they understand that."
The Impact of Black Barbie is Cemented in New Netflix Documentary | Spectrum News
Contemporary Diversity
In 2015, Barbie introduced new body types: curvy, tall, and petite. In 2016, Mattel expanded the So in Style line to include more skin tones, eye colors, and hairstyles. An analysis published in 2021 found that since 2014, Mattel has focused more on the development of toys with Latin features. In April 2023, Mattel released a Barbie doll with Down syndrome, the first of its line to depict the genetic disorder that affects 0.1 percent of the population. During the last few years, the toy-maker has focused on creating a wide and diverse line of dolls with different types of physical traits. Recently, it has introduced dolls with a hearing aid, a prosthetic limb, and a wheelchair. Last year, it released a doll with vitiligo. Today, their line includes 35 different skin tones, 97 hairstyles, and 9 body types.
Mattel’s goal is “for all children to see themselves in Barbie” and to “play with dolls who do not look like themselves.” Mattel seems committed to diversity. However, Barbie’s vision of diversity has changed over the years.
Controversies and Missteps
For example, the company teamed up with Nabisco to launch a cross-promotion Barbie doll with Oreo cookies in 1997 and 2001. The 1997 version was released in a white version, but for the 2001 release, Mattel manufactured both a white and Black version. Critics argued that in the African American community, Oreo is a derogatory term used to describe a Black person who is perceived as acting “too white.” That was one of the factors why the doll was unsuccessful, and Mattel recalled the unsold stock, making it a holy grail for collectors, like other discontinued “diverse dolls.”
Read also: Discover Sentrim Elementaita Lodge
In 1997, Mattel introduced a doll in a wheelchair. However, a high-school student with cerebral palsy pointed out that the doll would not fit into the elevator of a Barbie dollhouse. The company announced that it would redesign the house to accommodate the doll. In 2019, Barbie introduced dolls that reflect permanent physical disabilities, including a doll with a wheelchair and a prosthetic leg.
Kenya Moore: A Real-Life Black Barbie
The Barbiecore trend, characterized by hyper-feminine, pretty-in-pink style, has gained significant traction. Kenya Moore of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' has been seen channeling her inner Barbie, showcasing the real-life embodiment of the iconic doll.
Kenya channeled her inner Barbie on her most recent appearance on Andy Cohen's show. In a bright pink sequined short dress, the reality TV star showed off her curves. The celebrity wore a halter top with cutouts at the waist. Her long, black hair was pulled back into a half-ponytail, with loose curls falling down the 'Family Reunion' actress' back and across her shoulders. She wore huge bejeweled earrings as an accessory. Kenya was wearing big diamond-encrusted rings on each of her hands.
Fans quickly took to the comments section to praise the diva. One fan wrote, "Kenya has been black Barbie since the 90s forreal. A fan further commented under the post, "You’re a literal real life Black Barbie!!! A true Beauty! Sheesh!😍😍😍🎀🎀🎀." Another agreed, "The original black Barbie ❤️🎁. Nobody can’t deny how beautiful you are. You’re ageless 🔥🔥." Sad to see Kenya not making a cameo in the new 'Barbie' movie, one fan wrote, "You should have played Barbie in the movie!!! You are absolutely the most beautiful, fabulous woman alive. Beyond perfection! 💖💖💖." Another user noted, "Life size Barbie!! Always has been!
The First Black Barbie Doll
“I just have to tell you how happy and pleased I am about the doll,” said Perkins. “I was really, really wanting it to be a doll that parents could be proud of, and their daughters and their sons or whoever wanted to play with the doll. She continued, “Every time I talk to a collector - and when I designed a doll I wasn’t really trying to make it a collectible item - the collectors have just embraced it, and I’ve been asked to speak at different functions because of the doll. And I tell you, I had no idea of the gravity that this doll would bring.
Read also: Best Nairobi Excursions
Before Barbie, of any hue, there were only baby dolls available to girls for play, but Barbie offered imagination and play that wasn’t centered around nurturing. Perkins explained to Barbie Signature, “I had no idea it was going to be as groundbreaking as it is now, but if you look at the history of Barbie, the reason Barbie is number one is because she was the very first of her kind. The 40th Anniversary First Black Barbie Doll is Greening’s homage to the original Black Barbie. “We didn’t want to do another reproduction, since we had already been there and done that,” said Greening to Barbie Signature. “So it felt like this was a good time to pay tribute to the original design but with an updated look to it.
There had been Black dolls in the Mattel line since the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 1980 that one of the dolls was named “Barbie.” Previously, those Mattel dolls with their melanin popping were just friends of Barbie, like Christie and Francie. Today, Barbie dolls are available in a myriad of skin tones, hair textures, heights, and body types, but back in the day she was blue-eyed and blonde. e a slim silhouette instead of the traditional ballgowns that we usually put the blonde doll in. She also revealed that she was heavily influenced by Diana Ross and the Supremes and their fashion. “I was just in awe of the way they dressed - the dignity, the fashion, and everything that they would wear was just special to me,” said Perkins.
Popular articles:
tags: #Kenya
