The Awesome New American Doll Is Way More Than Just a Toy

A young girls smiles as she wears a backpack holding the newest American Girl doll, Melody.

She's black, stands up for civil rights, leads her church youth chorus, and is the newest role model for girls despite the fact that she's made of plastic. Last week, American Girl began selling its highly anticipated Melody doll in stores and online; Melody Ellison is a 9-year-old black girl living in Detroit in 1963 and joins the company's BeForever collection of dolls and books from American history. Melody is significant for many reasons; young black children can look at her and see a doll who not only resembles them, but encourages them to speak up about injustice. It's also meaningful because before Melody, the only other black doll from the collection was Addy Walker. She was born as a slave but escaped with her mom during the Civil War.

To make sure Melody's look and story were historically accurate, the company sought advice from a six-member advisory board consisting of NAACP directors, museum presidents, and professors. Many might notice Melody's hair is straight. Juanita Moore, the president of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, served on the board and said it paid particularly close attention to this. "In the late '60s, the majority of African Americans did have straight hair," she told USA Today. "It may not have been bone straight, but it was straightened. In addition to our own recollections growing up as '60s girls, there also was historical research."

Although the doll is expensive and out of reach for many people (she'll cost you $115), Melody still teaches children about the importance of advocating for civil rights. She becomes inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and is influenced by her older sister, who's a college student fighting for equal rights for African-Americans. She "experiences discrimination herself and as she hears about the atrocities happening throughout the country," said American Girl in a press release.

In many ways, this sounds like many young black kids today who experience the racial injustices currently facing our country. Melody's story encourages them to "lift their voice" and not stay silent when they see discrimination. It's exactly the type of empowering message young girls need to hear. "We're proud to introduce Melody and hope she'll serve as an important role model to girls, giving them the courage to use their voices to speak up about what they believe in — even when it's not easy to do," said the company. "A concept that's just as important today as it was over 50 years ago."

To celebrate Melody's debut, American Girl hosted an event at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit last week. Scan the photos and you see girls of all races who look happy to play with her. Of course, getting children of all backgrounds to understand her message is important. But there's something extra beautiful about seeing young black girls smile big as they hold onto a black doll wearing an equal rights pin on her dress.