Ida B. Wells Is the Latest Black Historical Icon to Be Turned Into a Barbie Doll

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.