Barbie has been a cultural icon and American toy industry mainstay for over 60 years. First introduced by Mattel in 1959, the fashion doll has undergone many iterations and adaptations over the decades. One notable milestone was the debut of the first African American Barbie doll in 1980. But what was this groundbreaking doll named when she made her historic debut?
The Origins of Barbie
Barbie was the brainchild of Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel toys. After noticing her young daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls and imagining adult roles for them, Handler envisioned a 3D doll for girls that would allow them to imagine future career ambitions.
Mattel designer Charlotte Johnson sculpted Barbie’s initial figure using German Bild Lilli dolls as inspiration. Barbie debuted at the American Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. The first Barbie dolls were available in blonde or brunette, with red hair and variety of outfits and accessories sold separately.
Barbie was an immediate success. In the first year alone, over 350,000 dolls were sold.additional. Additional outfits reflecting popular fashions helped drive ongoing sales. Barbie’s boyfriend Ken debuted in 1961. Her first car, a pink Corvette convertible, debuted in 1962. Barbie’s family and friends expanded throughout the 1960s to include her little sister Skipper, friends Midge and Christie, and eventual husband Ken.
The Introduction of Francie
In 1966, Mattel introduced Francie, the first African American doll in the Barbie line. However, Francie was intended to be Barbie’s friend or cousin, not Barbie herself. She had a separate collection of family, friends, clothes and accessories.
So while Francie was a step toward diversity, a black version of Barbie herself would not come until later. Through the 1960s and 70s, Barbie continued to reflect popular fashion trends and cultural themes. Various versions like Malibu Barbie, Busy Barbie, and Superstar Barbie allowed her to take on new personas. But Barbie’s iconic blonde, white image remained the standard.
The Debut of Black Barbie
It wasn’t until 1980 that Mattel finally introduced the first true African American Barbie doll. Part of the company’s continual efforts to make Barbie more multicultural and inclusive, this doll was simply named “Black Barbie.”
According to a 1980 New York Times article covering her arrival, Black Barbie retailed for $5.99 and had the same measurements and facial features as the original white Barbie. She had short, tightly curled black hair and darker painted features. Her ostensibly hand-made outfit was a red, green, and yellow striped swimsuit with matching scarf.
While long overdue, Black Barbie’s arrival was still considered landmark for the brand. An executive at Mattel stated that they received letters requesting a black version for years. However, they waited until they felt they could properly represent the African American experience and avoid stereotypes before creating such a doll.
Reception and Impact
Black Barbie appeared on shelves across America by March 1980. She received a mostly positive response, with many parents welcoming the inclusion. Some African American parents expressed relief at finally seeing a Barbie doll that looked more like their daughters.
Sales numbers for Black Barbie were also respectable. An estimated 50,000 dolls sold within the first six months. By the end of 1980, Mattel reported that 500,000 had sold overall, indicating solid demand for the new representation.
However, some criticism remained that Black Barbie still did not fully reflect African American features. Her nose was considered too narrow and other facial features closer to white standards of beauty. But given the slow progress toward diversity before, Black Barbie nonetheless marked an important milestone.
Throughout the 1980s and onward, Mattel worked to expand the Barbie line with more variety in looks, careers, and cultural backgrounds. In 1990, they debuted Shani, considered the first authentic African American Barbie. She had additional black family and friends, clothing reflecting African American culture, and wider nose/lips that better captured black aesthetics.
The Evolution of Barbie’s Look
While “Black Barbie” opened the door to greater racial diversity, Barbie’s appearance and representation of black women and girls has continued to evolve:
| Year | Doll Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Shani | Wider nose, fuller lips, authentic black family and fashions |
| 1991 | Dolls of All Nations | Introduced new face sculpts to reflect global diversity |
| 2009 | So In Style | African American dolls with wider range of skin tones, facial features, hair textures |
| 2016 | Fashionista | Added tall, petite, and curvy body types with 7 skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles |
| 2019 | Hair Love | Collaboration with viral short film celebrated black hair |
The Impact of Black Barbie’s Debut
While imperfect, the release of Black Barbie in 1980 had both cultural and business impacts that helped pave the way for greater diversity and inclusion:
Increased Representation
Black Barbie showed that one of America’s most iconic toys could come in colors beyond just white. This opened the door for more racial diversity in Barbie and other toys.
Reflected Shifting Attitudes
America was becoming more multicultural. Black Barbie reflected society’s push for equality among all races, not just white ideals of beauty.
Inspired Black Pride and Ambitions
Like white girls, black girls could now play with a Barbie that looked more like them, allowing them to imagine an empowered future.
Drove Market Share Growth
Expanding diversity helped Mattel tap into new demographics for sales growth and remain relevant.
Set Precedent for Ongoing Diversity
Black Barbie proved inclusivity was good business. Mattel continued improving ethnic representation across all doll lines.
Conclusion
The first African American Barbie was an important, if imperfect, step toward better reflecting true diversity through the iconic brand. “Black Barbie’s” arrival in 1980 opened the door for ongoing progress that continues today. While more work remains, the impact of Barbie’s historic debut endures through increased representation and black pride in the decades since. Just as important, it showed Mattel and the broader toy industry that inclusivity and variety are keys to maintaining relevance and success in modern society.