Comments on: New Black Barbies Get it Half Right

By: Natural Hair Barbies for Natural Hair Girls

Natural Hair Barbies for Natural Hair Girls — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:38:16 +0000

[...] were all a bit disappointed back in 2009 when Mattel released their version of the multi-ethnic dolls. The African-American designer stated that she wanted the black dolls “to be an example to real [...]

By: Remember Kenya Dolls?

Remember Kenya Dolls? — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:06:28 +0000

[...] brought up because I was reading through naturallycurly.com and they had an article about a line of black barbie dolls. I feel pretty neutral about Barbies anyway. I’m not going to encourage my daughter to have one [...]

By: SilverAngel45

SilverAngel45 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:16:03 +0000

I think they did a good job, not the best but good. Black people are not all one skin color and as much as we love and try to embrace our natural beauty the majority of African American women don’t. I have natural hair and I’m a minority everywhere I go. Even white spanish and black women who have looser curl types get relaxers because it’s become a cultural thing. This represents what most women of color look like. All different shapes and shades. The majority have relaxers. This is what little girls see when they look at older women and their friends who have relaxers. My mom relaxed my hair at 5. It may not be the reality everyone wants but it is a reality. Not to mention this image was created by a black women. It’s impossible to represent every single African American with 3 sets of dolls. You need millions to do that. So, give Barbie some credit here. Don’t shoot it down because all the barbies dont have fros and curls! Besides barbie’s not the problem. It’s the actual human role models girls see. I don’t know about everyone but I always wanted to look like a real person (ex Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, JLo, Christina Milian, Kirsty Alley and Julia Roberts-nt always for their eitha!) not a plastic toy!

By: ~CurlyASP~

*~CurlyASP~* — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:51:40 +0000

I agree so much with NubianPrize! This is what makes us not accept our hair and unique facial features! Other non white groups are look at as exotic and pretty because or their unique features but ours aren’t “good enough.” Kinda why I’m a little worried about going natural….but I’m going to!!!!

By: NubianPrize

NubianPrize — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:47:34 +0000

Same old same old. Take a white featured doll & give it dark skin. Show disrespect for African American supercurly hair by giving the dolls straight or wavy hair. That tells every little black girl with kinky curly hair that her hair is so awful it isn’t worth putting on a doll & that black people are only considered worthy or acceptible if they don’t have that hair texture.Then you wonder why many AA mothers start perming their girl’s hair when they’re as young as 4 or 5 so that when they get to be teens & young women they’re losing their hair & by middle age they have almost none left.This is nothing but bigotry in disguise.

By: Nicole Cossman

Nicole Cossman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:37:14 +0000

I think it’s great that they are trying to reach out to the free market in this. However, would like to point out that no Barbie looks like any real person. It would be difficult to attain those perfect measurements of the actual Barbie doll. I think Barbies are great for little girls to play with and encourage them to be creative and use their imaginations, however I also think that parents need to actually teach and talk to their children about living happy healthy lives and not wishing they were like a Barbie doll. As far as healthy goes, meaning to show them with the proper exercise they will be very satisfied with how they look and they will be happy and live a longer life knowing they eat the right foods and get the right exercise to maintain a happy healthy life. Happy meaning they can be anything that they they want to be as long as they work hard for it and are willing to face challenges to get that far instead of having everything easily handed to them.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:05:46 +0000

What I personaly find distasteful is the roles they put them in–the Rihanna and Beyonce’ look alikes are doing things cultured and idependent–while the more attainable Kara doll seems to be a little less than a single teen mother–she’s so domestic comparaed to the other lighter and straighter haired dolls. Mixed message much? But overall I’m almost glad that they don’t represent multicultural women well–Barbie is a shallow, superficial beauty standard that all little girls think they can attain at one time or another. (I used to play with Barbies, but once I go to the Tween stage of my life I did’nt know why I did’nt look just like Barbie–tall, thin, ect.,)Besides, overall Barbie does’nt represent any women very well period. White, black, Hispanic, Native american, Indian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, Asian, Biracial, or Multiracial. While it’s not worng to play with Barbies, it is limiting to play with Barbies.

By: multicultcurly

multicultcurly — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:07:13 +0000

Courtney looks to be South Asian and Janessa seems representative of many mixed race Latinas and part white/part African American girls. I agree that the adult dolls, except for Kara (who I assume to be of multiracial heritage), don’t represent the hair that many AA women have naturally, but I think people forget that the only dark, nonwhite people in the US aren’t just AA. So at least the dolls represent some little girl today, although I know they’re marketed to AA. It would be nice too to have dolls that show the diversity of AAs today.

By: surlyQ

surlyQ — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:46:25 +0000

Does anyone remember Magic Curl Barbie from the early 80s? I had her. She had really tight curls, and supposedly you could straighten her hair with some elixir she came with. I always left her hair curly, because that is what mine looked like. I wonder why manufacturers shy away from representing different hair types.

I like how these new Barbies come in pairs, though. That sends a nice message.