Why No Barbie Dolls with Natural Hair? A Woman Helps Break the Mold
What inspired you to begin creating dolls that reflected the way natural African American women look?
As a child, I have always wanted to have a doll that looked like me. I wanted a doll that had my features and hair like mine. And I never saw that as a child. As an adult, it has gotten better. But often when an ethnic doll comes out, it sells out quickly and is no longer available to shoppers. So we are once again, left with the option of getting a doll that has non-ethnic features with long straight hair. And that is not ok. Our daughters and our community should have dolls, books and images in the media that represent our beauty just as readily as these things are available to non-ethnic cultures.
Chime Edwards is a native of West Point, MS and attended Rust College in Holly Springs, MS where she majored in Mass Communications. In her spare time, Chime enjoys posting videos about natural hair care on her YouTube channel for over 26,000 subscribers.
When the black Barbie line was added to Mattel toys I wondered about absence of a non-natural Barbie,as well. It is of course because of a loathing of black natural hair, not only by society at large, but also by black society. And that mind set won’t change unless we black people learn to love our whole and complete natural selves. I have to say it is very ironic, because I see so many white people trying to rock ‘fro’s and locs.
I love the look of those dolls. They are beautiful.
I am 55 years old today, however, when I was a child all of my Barbie dolls had afros.
I wish there were this kind when I was a little girl.