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News & ArtsMonday, October 12, 2009
Retail Black Barbie
Posted by Charles Mudede on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Barbie in the age of Obama?
Mattel recently unveiled a new line of African-American Barbie dolls, with fuller lips, a wider nose, and curlier hair.
Barbie designer Stacey McBride-Irby, a black mother, says she wanted her daughter to have a Barbie that looked more like her.
Those who think the black Barbie is just for black girls have a poor understanding of the world we live in. The same white girls who buy the music (and consume the images) of Beyoncé, will buy the black Barbie doll.
1
oh stacey. a black barbie looks no more like your black daughter than a white barbie looks like my white daughter. barbie isn't about reality.
3
I think she's pretty. Also, on the collector's market, the black ones always end up being worth more.
4
Is it possible that little girls identify with and want to be Barbie about as much as little boys identify with and want to be a robot that turns into a truck?
6
Looks like an attempt not so much at a black Barbie (which we've already seen; hasn't Barbie had black doll-friends already?), but a multiracial/multicultural Barbie. My guess is that, sadly, if they made a truly black Barbie, with sub-Saharan African skin tone, it wouldn't sell.
9
@4 I'm still battling insecurity issues because I can't look like Super Man, climb walls like Spider Man, or speak to fish like Aquaman. Don't even get me started about turning into a truck. Since I can't do that, I'm more or less unable to look at myself in the mirror just to shave. It's crippling. Luckily the side effect is that I'm looking more and more like Wolverine every day, which is a fair consolation.
Won't someone please think of the boys? How are we supposed to live up to these unattainable expectations that have been forced upon us since youth? Why can't someone make action figures that celebrate cubicle work, love handles, and male-pattern baldness? :'(
Won't someone please think of the boys? How are we supposed to live up to these unattainable expectations that have been forced upon us since youth? Why can't someone make action figures that celebrate cubicle work, love handles, and male-pattern baldness? :'(
10
I am a black woman and I love Beyonce. Ok, I'm really a 13 year old white girl. Would you like some sweet tea?
11
It's not about white girls being the ones that will get to play with the new barbie dolls, it's just a small part in helping about African American girls to grow up in a new America where they see images that look like them and which are considered beautiful. Eradicating the low self esteem and stereotypes and negative views (reflect on it mr Mudede) that have been feed to our children, hence stopping this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wy_0O_B…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wy_0O_B…
12
Or are you trying to imply mr Mudede that African Americans don't have any purchasing power? Or maybe that African American girls are somehow different from whites and have no desire to play with dolls? I would not put it pass you to think that way.
13
@11 - um, jobs would help too. Unemployment among African-American young men is over 25 percent right now. Black barbie can't get no man if he be broke de broke.
15
This is just more PC nonsense meant to divide the races even further.
It's quite brilliant, if you think about it - preach equality, and then go out of your way to emphasize the DIFFERENCES between the races (black barbie, a black president etc).
Quite an accelerant being poured. The klan would be proud.
It's quite brilliant, if you think about it - preach equality, and then go out of your way to emphasize the DIFFERENCES between the races (black barbie, a black president etc).
Quite an accelerant being poured. The klan would be proud.
17
agreed. I grew up as a white girl in the cd. Of the American Girl Dolls, I chose Addie, the runaway slave.
18
Charles,
I don't think anybody reasonable has any issue with black barbie. However, I've read far more problematic is the doll's figure which is impossibly disproportionate to real women/girl's figures that the dolls' appearance could lead to self-esteem even health problems for the gal who has one. I think she is kinda cute but she should be kept in perspective.
I don't think anybody reasonable has any issue with black barbie. However, I've read far more problematic is the doll's figure which is impossibly disproportionate to real women/girl's figures that the dolls' appearance could lead to self-esteem even health problems for the gal who has one. I think she is kinda cute but she should be kept in perspective.
21
@18 - If the figure was more realistic with a big butt... How would that encourage young girls to get off their big butts and exercise?
22
I remember one from the 70's that had her hair natural. I'll bet that one is worth a pretty penny to collectors.
23
11) It could also be said, It's just a small part in helping gay kids to grow up in a new America where they see images like them and in which they are considered beautiful, eradicating the low self esteem and stereotypes and negative views that have been fed to our children by folks like Loveschild.
Oh right, it's okay to hate gay people and for gay children to have low self esteem.
Oh right, it's okay to hate gay people and for gay children to have low self esteem.
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