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The evolution of the Barbie brand has elevated so much during the course of her life from her career choices, the various lifestyles, and even the accessories. In the new millennium, inclusivity is most important to this generation but there was a time where Black women even had to fight for the rights to be seen in the doll industry.
Barbie’s official birthday, March 9, 1959, is when she first debuted on the shelves at the American Toy Fair in New York City and became the first toy to be mass-produced in the country. Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, Inc., founded the company alongside her husband after finding a need in the toy market. Sources reported that Handler saw her young daughter ditching playing with baby dolls and instead played more with paper dolls of adult women. From there, the birth of Barbie Millicent Roberts, also known as ‘Barbie’ happened. The mother believed that giving little girls a toy to imagine the future was the niche.
According to History, Handler was inspired by a Herman comic-strip character named Bild Lilli, that was “originally marketed as a racy gag gift that men could buy in tobacco shops.” She reflected on the glamorous styles of popular celebrities during that era like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Selling at $3.00 each in its first year, 300,000 dolls were sold. Through her early stages, Barbie went through a resume of different careers, gained a boyfriend, family, and friends, plus celebrity dolls before introducing an African-American doll.
About 10 years later in 1968, the first black doll, “Christie” made her appearance. Though there was “Francie” who was released the year before as the first dark completion in the Mattel line, Christie was the first Barbie with “black” features. Talking Christie debuted as one of Barbie’s friends and had the same body and could share her clothes. Her look varied from long and short dark brown/black hair. The Barbie came in four versions, Talking, Twist ‘n Turn, Live Action, and Sunset Malibu. Only a year after Christie was created, the “Julia” doll appeared in 1969 based on Diahann Carroll’s character from the TV show “Julia”. The doll mirrored Carroll’s role of a nurse and a single widowed mother that wore a two-piece nurse uniform in the Twist ‘N Turn model. Later the Talking Julia doll came in a gold and silver one-piece jumpsuit, darker skin, and a fuller hairstyle. The Julia doll was one of the first celebrity Barbies.
Christie began to evolve transitioning to darker skin and afro hair in the later years before the mold was discontinued in 1978. According to Mattel, the creation of Christie was “in support of equal rights” during that time and was very significant. Though Christie was stamped as a friend of Barbie and broke barriers as the first Mattel doll with black features, it wasn’t until 1980 when the first official doll named “Barbie” premiered.
After Christie lived in Barbie’s shadows as “the black friend”, Mattel decided to diversify their collection. 21 years after Barbie’s debut and 12 years after Christie’s launch, the first African-American Barbie was released alongside the first Hispanic doll and 40 other international dolls.
Louvenia (Kitty) Black Perkins got her big break in the summer of 1976. Not only would she become the first black designer at Mattel but the woman to design the first Black Barbie.
Growing up in a small city in South Carolina, Perkins couldn’t afford a Barbie doll and played with white dolls handed down from her mother’s employers. After graduating high school, the young fashion designer headed to Los Angeles and put her name on the waiting list at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. While waiting, she took a fashion design course where she proved to herself that she was fit for design along with her previous experience of sewing her outfits as a teen.
After graduating with a fashion design degree in 1971, Perkins began her fashion career designing children’s clothes and sportswear at big retailers like Bloomingdales, J.C. Penney, and Sears. She struggled with breaking into the industry until she responded to a newspaper ad for a clothes designer for Mattel in 1976. To prepare for her interview, the 28-year-old fashion designer finally purchased her own Barbie. For the interview, Mattel instructed her to bring back the Barbie in a week with a new wardrobe. The Barbie company thought the “hand-sewed a floral print voile jumpsuit with tiered legs and puff sleeves, and a matching wide-brimmed hat” that Perkins originally designed was “too elaborate and expensive for mass production” but Perkins persuaded them to give her a shot. In a matter of a month, she became a permanent employee and continued to design for the company for over 25 years. She would design the first Black Barbie after being with Mattel for four years.
“My first week (at Mattel), I would just sit and brush Barbie’s hair,” she told Greenville News. “It would give me ideas, it was a thinking process for me.” She remembers sitting on the floor and thinking of ways to get into a child’s mind during brainstorming sessions with her team.
Perkins created Black Barbie to stand out and to finally be her own doll. According to Dolls Magazine, she wanted the Barbie to display confidence, glamour, and sophistication. The designer admired black stars during that era like Diana Ross and The Supremes and used the music industry and TV as a big influence.
“Barbie offers a whole new way for children to imagine and play. With that in mind, knowing that the Afro-American community was looking for something that they could identify with and that children could be proud of, I think we achieved that with the Black Barbie doll,” Perkins shared in an official Mattel press release.
The Black Barbie stood out because she was the complete opposite of traditional Barbie which Perkins believes is why the community embraced it positively.
“When I did Black Barbie, I gave her a short natural with a pick,” Black Perkins expressed. “My whole intent was to make the doll look like us. I at one time had a short natural myself and I loved it. It was something I wanted this doll to have.”
She produced an outfit for Black Barbie to be in the spotlight which featured a red bodysuit with a wrap and snap disco skirt, dangle earring, and a bold necklace. On the doll’s box, it said., “She’s black! She’s beautiful! She’s dynamite!”
“Also, when I design something, I imagine that it would be something that I would wear if I was in that particular situation. To me, that’s like a gauge, as to whether I want to put that on the doll or not,” she explained in a Barbie forum interview. “ Because if it’s not something that I would wear, then I don’t think it would be something the children would like, and something the Afro-American parents would embrace.”
40 years after Black Barbie’s conception, the designer said she had no idea how groundbreaking it would be. She remembered the first time her Barbie design appeared in stores and how gratifying it was for little black girls.
“[..] What was gratifying to me was that their reaction was, “Oh mommy, look at the doll. She looks just like me.” Or, “She has pretty skin.” That kind of reaction. And that was very, very rewarding to me.”
Since black Barbies before were more background characters and weren’t in the forefront, it was a very monumental time for the culture. Barbie enthusiast, Ebony Stroud recalled receiving a Black Barbie for the first time during Christmas and the effect it had on her as a child.
“It was healthy for me, as a Black child in a predominantly white neighborhood, to have a doll that looked like me,” Stroud remembered. “It’s had a great impact, not necessarily on my career choices, but on my self-esteem, to not only hear that Black is beautiful but to see that Black is beautiful.”
Black Barbie changed lives from the day it hit shelves, breaking the chain of lack of representation and made a shift for Black girls to be seen. Since Black Barbie’s debut, she has set the initial standard for black dolls. Inclusivity now is very important with not only skin color, but shapes and sizes, cultures, and interests.
Perkin’s groundbreaking career would later be responsible for over 100 other Barbie designs including Mattel’s exclusive line of black dolls and MC Hammer’s doll. She would go on to win awards and received the Doll of the Year Award, the highest honor in the doll industry. After 28 years, she would retire as Mattel’s Chief Designer of Fashions and Doll Concepts but continues to design outfits for celebrity clients like Gladys Knight today.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the First Black Barbie, you can purchase your collectible Barbie here.
FAQs
What was the first black Barbie dolls? ›
"Colored Francie" made her debut in 1967, and she is sometimes described as the first African-American Barbie doll.
When did Barbie start making black dolls? ›Mattel Toys created the first Black dolls in the popular Barbie line, Francie and Christie, in 1967 and 1969 respectively.
Who made the first black Barbie doll? ›Kitty Black Perkins: The African American Designer behind the First Black Barbie. Born in racially segregated South Carolina in 1948, Louvenia (Kitty) Black Perkins grew up playing with white dolls gifted by her mother's employers.
How much is the first black Barbie doll worth? ›African-American Midnight Tuxedo Barbie (2001)
Follett estimates this Barbie will fetch about $1,000 dollars MIB. Here's what Barbie looked like the decade you were born.
Evidently, [Black] Barbie is quite literally the black version of Barbie. The same as the original Barbie in name and rank but with her own unique African American design.
How many Black Barbies have there been? ›In the 1960s, there were three black fashion dolls from Mattel: Francie (1967), Christie (1968), and Julia (1969).
Why are black dolls 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 was the 1st Black doll? ›1. (Late 1800s): Carpenter and handyman Leo Moss introduces the first known U.S. made Black doll. After years of seeing several dolls for white girls, Leo Moss decided to use his imagination to create Black dolls for Black girls. Leo lived in Macon, Georgia with his wife Lee Ann Moss who was a popular dressmaker.
Why is there a black Barbie? ›Perkins created Black Barbie to stand out and to finally be her own doll. According to Dolls Magazine, she wanted the Barbie to display confidence, glamour, and sophistication. The designer admired black stars during that era like Diana Ross and The Supremes and used the music industry and TV as a big influence.
What was the name of the 1967 black Barbie? ›But many argue that although Barbie tries to shape shift enough to represent all women, she still has a way of making those who do not fit the original Barbie hopelessly feel like the “Other.” The first Black Barbie doll was released in 1967. Her name—Francie.
What was the name of the 1967 black Barbie doll? ›
It was “Colored Francie” who debuted in 1967! African American community and the doll was pulled in 1976. Now, if “colored Francie” was suppose to be Barbie's chocolate cousin it still left up to debate.
Why did Nicki Minaj make Black Barbies? ›On Instagram, Minaj said she decided to record “Black Barbies” because “Cuz 2 Lil black kids got the NUMBER 1 RECORD IN THE COUNTRY & I'm soooooo happy for Mike Will.” (She and Mike WiLL have worked on countless records together, including The Pinkprint's “I Lied” and Rae Sremmurd's “Throw Sum Mo”.)
What are the most valuable black Barbies? ›The long black dress reminiscent of a tuxedo (hence the name), was made in 2001 as part of the Official Barbie Collector Club Exclusives. In pristine condition, and in the box, the Midnight Tuxedo Barbie can go for around $1,000.
How do I know if my Barbie doll is valuable? ›Even if a doll is in perfect condition, if the supply exceeds its demand on the market, it will likely be worth very little. Aside from rare collectors' models, your Barbie's age will be the most likely factor in determining its rarity; the older your doll is, the more rare it will probably be.
Was there ever a black Barbie doll? ›The First “black” Barbie doll, Christie, premiered in 1968 in response to the Equal Rights Movement. She was the first non-white Barbie and Barbie's best friend. Christie was first released as a paper doll, then reintroduced with two other dolls as a set of “Talking Dolls”.
Who is known as black Barbie? ›Christie (1968–2005) Christie (2015): Barbie doll's first African-American friend character, Christie was part of the new group of Talking dolls for 1968.
Who makes black Barbie dolls? ›But thanks in part to its efforts to culturally diversify its doll collections, Mattel — which debuted Barbie in 1959 — started to create Black Barbies in 1980. And the number of Black Barbie dolls nowadays is staggering.
Who is the new black Barbie? ›24), Mattel released a new Barbie doll honoring African American entrepreneur and activist Madam C.J. Walker. The doll, part of the Barbie Inspiring Women Series, has already sold out on the company's website.
What is a rare Barbie? ›Vintage Barbie dolls on the market from 1959 to the late 1960s are especially prized among collectors. Often, these Barbies had bendable legs or red hair, and they are considered some of the most rare and valuable. Today, the price of a mint condition Barbie from this era can run close to $25,000.
Is there a black Barbie and Ken? ›Barbie's first black friend, Christie, was released in 1968. However, the first official Black Barbie wasn't released until 1980. Malibu Ken, the first African-American Ken doll, came along in 1982. Growing up, my parents didn't buy me Barbie dolls because they didn't look like me.
What do Black dolls mean? ›
She developed her collection by studying Black history and culture and has traveled around the country using her dolls to educate children about Civil Rights. Ms. Whiteman: “These Black dolls are more than play objects or toys. They symbolize the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
What were the Black dolls called? ›During the first half of the twentieth century, the Golliwog doll was a favorite children's soft toy in Europe. Only the Teddy Bear exceeded the Golliwog in popularity. Small children slept with their black dolls. Many white Europeans still speak with nostalgic sentiment about their childhood gollies.
Why do Black dolls cost more? ›“The problem, I believe when we look at these discrepancies in pricing is that toy manufacturers do not produce Black dolls in proportion to the number of people in the human population,” she said, citing that Black dolls are less commonly made and often hand-crafted.
Is there a black American doll? ›Claudie is the fourth Black doll in American Girl's historical line.
What were the first 3 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. By the end of the year, the company had recorded sales of more than $1 million.
What is black Label Barbie dolls? ›The Black Label (or tier) was introduced in 2004 and it features dolls designed for Collectors ages 14 and up. Much like the Pink Label, there's not production limit on Black Label Barbies. That said, collectors appreciate the elegant packaging and stunning designs of these dolls.
Why are Barbies controversial? ›Barbie is a 63-year-old doll, and its longtime iconography has made it a major staple of Mattel 's business. Though iconic, the brand has had a troubled past regarding its promotion of unrealistic beauty standards for children, according to parents and some researchers.
What is the origin of the Barbie doll? ›Barbie officially debuted on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York City as a creation of Mattel, Inc.'s Ruth Handler. Handler got her inspiration from the German Bild Lilli doll in 1956, and development of the Barbie doll began soon after. Barbie was first sold in 1958.
How do I identify a vintage Barbie? ›Barbie doll markings are found on the right side buttock, neck rims are not marked, any other markings on the backside, inside of arms and inside thigh were used by the manufacture for assembly and do not date the doll. The trademark date is the first date of patent or copyright in the country of issue.
Which came first Black Beatles or Black Barbies? ›"Black Barbies" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj and producer Mike Will Made It. It is a remix of the song "Black Beatles", which was originally produced by Mike Will Made It and performed by Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane.
What is Barbies full name? ›
Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Barbie was named after Ruth Handler's daughter, Barbara, and Ken after her son, Kenneth. She is from (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin, where she attended high school.
Is there a chubby Barbie? ›"See her hips?" Curvy Barbie has wider hips and a slightly fuller face and arms than non-curvy Barbies. You only notice this if you put her next to the other body shapes.
What is the best selling Barbie doll of all time? ›The best-selling Barbie doll is Totally Hair Barbie, released in 1992. Totally Hair Barbie has sold more than 10 million dolls worldwide.
How much is an original Barbie doll worth 1959? ›A long way from her initial $3 price tag, a mint-in-box original 1959 Barbie doll is worth $8,000-$10,000 today, according to Reader's Digest.
How much is a 60 year old Barbie doll worth? ›Original Barbie - The original first edition Barbie from 1959 is very rare. Money, Inc. reports that even in played-with condition, she is worth $8,000. In pristine condition, she could be worth more than $27,000.
Are Barbie dolls from 1966 worth anything? ›They are very rare and can sell between $500 and $1,000 if in mint condition. The second answer is more complicated: Mattel had the Twist N Turn waist for the Barbie doll patented in 1966, and that design of waist/body was used for dolls sold between 1967 and 1999.
Is there a Nicki Minaj Barbie doll? ›The Nicki Minaj Barbie Doll is a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll from that was made in 2011. People reported that, at press time, the bid for this doll was $4,855.
What race is Barbie from Barbie? ›| Barbara "Barbie" Millicent Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Species | Human-Sized Doll |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Current owner of The Barbie Boutique, race car driver, presidential nominee, astronaut, doctor, pilot, flight attendant, and at least 135 others. |
| Color | Pink |
Though, it has since been confirmed that Barbie doesn't have a girlfriend, but she's a LGBTQ+ ally.
Did Black Beatles or Black Barbies come out first? ›"Black Barbies" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj and producer Mike Will Made It. It is a remix of the song "Black Beatles", which was originally produced by Mike Will Made It and performed by Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane.
Who was the first Black 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.
What did the first black Barbie look like? ›Mattel attempted to make the first “black” Barbie in 1967 with the “Colored Francie”. However, Francie was just a mere replica of her white counterparts. She had the same head mold, just with deeper toned skin. Francie had eurocentric features and copper straight hair with bangs.
Is there such thing as a black Barbie? ›Since 1980, Mattel has released multiple versions of Black Barbie.
Why did Nicki Minaj make black Barbies? ›On Instagram, Minaj said she decided to record “Black Barbies” because “Cuz 2 Lil black kids got the NUMBER 1 RECORD IN THE COUNTRY & I'm soooooo happy for Mike Will.” (She and Mike WiLL have worked on countless records together, including The Pinkprint's “I Lied” and Rae Sremmurd's “Throw Sum Mo”.)
What do black dolls mean? ›She developed her collection by studying Black history and culture and has traveled around the country using her dolls to educate children about Civil Rights. Ms. Whiteman: “These Black dolls are more than play objects or toys. They symbolize the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
What were the black dolls called? ›During the first half of the twentieth century, the Golliwog doll was a favorite children's soft toy in Europe. Only the Teddy Bear exceeded the Golliwog in popularity. Small children slept with their black dolls. Many white Europeans still speak with nostalgic sentiment about their childhood gollies.