Ida B. Wells Is the Latest Black Historical Icon to Be Turned Into a Barbie Doll
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The latest Black historical figure to join the ranks of women icons who have been morphed into Barbie Dolls is Civil Rights activist Ida B. Wells.
The late investigative journalist — who was also one of the original founders of the NAACP — dedicated her career to reporting on the racial injustices against Black people that occurred in the South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Her devotion to combating racism and sexism by challenging the status quo over her lifetime made her an obvious addition to Mattel's Inspiring Women collection, an initiative launched by the toymaker to help inspire young girls through representation and close what it refers to as the "Dream Gap." The series, which spotlights historical and present-day role models who paved the way for generations of girls, has paid tribute to nearly a dozen figures so far, most recently inducting Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt into Barbie fame.
Among them, Ida will mark the fifth Black figure to be included. Before her, Rosa Parks, Ella Fitzgerald, and Maya Angelou have all gotten the Barbie Doll treatment. Katherine Johnson also received one, though hers is no longer listed on Mattel's site.
The new Ida B. Wells Doll will be available nationwide at Amazon, Walmart, and Target on Jan. 17, but read on to learn more about all the Black Inspiring Women Barbies included in the collection so far.
Ida B. Wells Barbie
The Ida B. Wells Barbie Doll ($57)l shows her in the middle of a newsroom draped in a blue dress and holding a "Memphis Free Speech" newspaper.
Maya Angelou Barbie
The Maya Angelou Barbie Doll ($35) comes with a miniature replica of her well-known autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", and features a traditional dress and head wrap and a face custom-sculpted to her likeness.
Ella Fitzgerald Barbie
The Ella Fitzgerald Barbie Doll ($28), one of the most beloved jazz singers in the world, features a curvy body type and a stage-ready look — complete with a microphone.
Rosa Parks Barbie
When Rosa Parks refused an order to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus, her act of defiance became the catalyst for change. The Rosa Parks Barbie Doll ($28, originally $35) honors the woman hailed as "the mother of the modern Civil Rights movement."
Katherine Johnson Barbie
One of the three mathematicians depicted in the hit movie "Hidden Figures", NASA employee Katherine Johnson was also honored with her own Barbie Doll.