Toy company Mattel has launched a new line of black Barbie dolls.
The new dolls have fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheek bones titally different than Mattel's Barbie - Christie, a black friend launched in early 1960s, Christie was essentially a white doll dyed brown.
The "So In Style" line, launched in September consists of Grace, Kara and Trichelle, each with her own style and interests and a younger sister to mentor: Courtney, Janessa and Kianna. The dolls have subtle and varying skin tones, light brown, chocolate, and caramel - and Trichelle and younger sybling Kianna have curlier hair.
Barbie designer Stacey McBride-Irby, who is black has, said she wanted to create a line of dolls for young black girls that looked like them and were inspirational and career-minded. For example, Kara is a maths and music major.
Many black parents are applauding Mattel for its stance - Black Barbie hit the shelves in 1980 with white features shared by many of the dolls following her.
But a common observation is being made ... Why the long straight hair as it does not address the beauty issues that many black girls struggle with. In the black community, long, straight hair is often considered more beautiful than short curly hair.
Chris Rock "Good Hair" documentary, highlights this issue, it shows black women straightening their tight curls with harsh chemicals and purchasing thousand-dollar hair weaves.
In answer to these critics McBride-Irby said she originally designed all the dolls with long hair remembering her pleasure as a girl of being able to comb her Barbie's long hair.
But in Trichelle and younger sybling Kianna she has created a kinked hair type while retaining the length, additionally a So In Style hairstyling set is available so girls can curl, straighten and style their dolls' hair over and over.Though again some critics find this troubling as it actively involves girls in the process of straightening hair.
Further criticism comes from black women concerned about the dolls' thin frames. Barbie, which had her 50th birthday earlier this year, has always flirted with the body image issue with many criticising its promotion of an unrealistic body image, with her long legs, tiny waist and large breasts.
Body image issues are just as prevalent amongst young white girls but some believe Barbie has a more negative impact on black girls. They are already struggling with messages that black skin isn't pretty and hair is too kinky and short.
Despite these complaints, Mattel seems to have generally got it right several things right, praise for highlighting values that are critical in the black community, such as education and mentoring. The varying skin tones have been recieved well as well as has the 'rea' looking facial features.
Mattel will be expanding next year with Rocawear clothing, new dolls Chandra and her little sister Zahara, and Darren, who will have a little brother he mentors.
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