Was there a black American Girl doll?

Addy Walker, American Girl's first Black doll, was released in 1993 and authored by Connie Porter. Addy's story was set in the Civil War era and focused on her escape from slavery by running away to the North.

Are there any black American girl dolls?

Claudie is the fourth Black doll in American Girl's historical line.

When did American Girl start making Black dolls?

Pleasant Company, the manufacturer behind the beloved American Girl line of fictional historical characters, debuted its first African American doll in 1993.

Are there biracial American Girl dolls?

First of all, Evette is biracial, one of the first in the American Girl universe (they had a special, one-year-only Irish-Japanese doll in 2006) and one of few biracial dolls on the market.

What was the first black baby doll?

Fifty years ago this month, Baby Nancy made her debut at the American Toy Fair. A 13-inch black baby doll, Nancy transformed what was racially acceptable in Toyland.

Toddler has perfect response for cashier who questioned black doll

What is the oldest American doll?

Samantha, Kirsten and Molly, the first three dolls in the series, debuted in 1986 and were retired between 2008 and 2013. Felicity, Addy and Josefina were introduced in the 1990s and retired in the mid-2010s.

What year was black Barbie?

First Diverse Dolls Named Barbie

Over the years, many diverse dolls were available, but they were always friends of Barbie. In 1980, Mattel released the first black and Hispanic dolls named Barbie.

How many black American Girl dolls are there?

The first Black American Girl doll was Addy, and the second was Cecile–a 19th century girl living in New Orleans. However in 2014, the company decided to discontinue Cecile along with two other dolls of color, and Addy was left as the only Black doll.

Who were the 3 original American Girl dolls?

Asking Tripp, a former co-worker and friend, to help bring this idea to life, she launched American Girl's first three dolls—Kirsten, World War II–era Molly McIntire and Edwardian-era Samantha Parkington—via catalog in fall 1986.

Is there a Latina American Girl doll?

'American Girl' turns 35 and re-releases its first Latina doll: Josefina Montoya. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of American Girl, the brand is launching a re-released collection of six of its dolls, including its first Latina doll.

What is the black American girl dolls name?

For almost two decades, generations of young black girls turning to the American Girl series for stories about characters who looked like them only had one choice: Addy Walker, a 9-year-old girl born into slavery who (in the accompanying books) eventually escapes to freedom alongside her mother.

What is the most popular American Girl doll ever?

1. Addy Walker. To earn the top-top spot, you've gotta be a special kind of strong. A nine-year-old Addy escapes slavery with her mother to Philadelphia.

Why was American Girl discontinued?

In early 2019, the magazine was discontinued with the last issue being the January/Feb 2019 issue. Reasons likely include the social decline of magazine subscriptions and lowered purchases in the United States.

Was there ever a Black Barbie doll?

6. African American and Latina Barbie Introduced. While there had been other African American dolls in the Barbie collection before—including Barbie's friend Christie, first introduced in 1968—an official African American Barbie wasn't created until 1980, alongside a Latina Barbie.

How many skin tones does American Girl have?

Initially--at the release of the modern line, the first line without character race specified--American Girl classified dolls into one of three tones: Dark, Medium, and Light. Starting in 2018, three more tone variants were added, though they are still classified into the three general tones.

Is there a Black Barbie doll?

Since 1980, Mattel has released multiple versions of Black Barbie.

Why was Kirsten discontinued?

According to American Girl spokeswoman Stephanie Spanos, the archiving of Samantha, Kirsten and others was simply an inventory decision, to make room for new product lines. Spanos says American Girl “still considers the historical characters to be the heart of the brand.” But the marketing spotlights suggest otherwise.

Which American Girl dolls are retired?

Does American Girl have a Down syndrome doll?

Though American Girl does not offer a doll with Down syndrome, other toy companies are working to fill the representation gap.

How much is an original American Girl worth?

To get an idea of how much you might be able to cash in on, a quick scroll through eBay shows Samantha dolls going for as much as $3,000 to $7,000. Molly is listed at prices up to $5,000, and Kirsten as high as $2,000. Aside from the signature and original torsos, the value will depend on their condition, of course.

Why Black dolls are important?

It sends an empowering and positive message about the black community and its members, especially those with different identities. Bonding with a black doll can also help black children feel pride in their identity, enabling them to celebrate their beauty.

What is Black Barbies real name?

Many consider Christie to be the first “Black Barbie.” Christie was part of a series of talking dolls. By pulling a string on her back, the doll said things like, “Hi! I'm Christie!” and “Let's go shopping with Barbie.” Christie's hair was black. (The Christie doll pictured has red hair because it has faded over time.)

What was the first black Barbie called?

Because of this, a doll named Christie, first issued in 1968, is often considered the first true African American doll in the Barbie line. "Black Francie" was not labeled as "Barbie's MODern cousin." A German variation of Francie was produced and sold in 1972.

What is Ken's full name?

Kenneth Sean Carson is a fashion doll and fictional character invented by Elliot Handler and introduced by American toy company Mattel in 1961 as the counterpart of Barbie, who was introduced two years earlier.