Comments on: 9 Silkstone Dolls in 2010 – All White

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:20:27 +0000

I don’t know if anyone is still interested in continuing the discussion, or even writing about this subject, but I have to add my two cents.

I’ve never collected Silkstones, and don’t collect Barbie’s anymore. That scale

I recently purchased the summer issue of FDQ and am saddend that the only Black dolls in the magazine, are 2-3 rag dolls. It seems that over the last 2-3 years there are just fewer and fewer Black dolls.

I collect Tonner dolls, and while he does have: Esme, Friday Foster and Zoe Washburne, his line is mostly white. I love that 1/4 scale and keep hoping for more diversity. I have written to Robert Tonner and he responded by saying he’s always looking for new Black characters but it’s hard. I don’t know if that’s really the case, or is it that Black dolls don’t sell. I use to hear that male dolls didn’t sell, but they have a lot in his collection.

Yes, there are people in this country who want to run away from the past…just don’t talk about it. All it says to me is how little we’ve learned from our history. The only (vinyl) Black male doll in 1/4 scale is Russell Williams. Sorry I just don’t get into resin dolls.

By: Dolls of Color: A Sociological Perspective

Dolls of Color: A Sociological Perspective — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:26:03 +0000

[...] Beals with the FLashdance Barbie, the missing shades of black with regards to dolls, as well as the lack of Black Barbies in this year’s Silkstone Collection, the author of Dolls of Color addresses black dolls from a sociological perspective that is truly [...]

By: Therese

Therese — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:05:04 +0000

well, I believe “officially” the doll is “tanned caucasian” but really, she can be whatever you want… she’s Latina for me and believe it or not – the Palm Beach dolls all share the same “tanned caucasian” skin tone – any percieved differences in tones is an illusion due to the various outfit, make up and hair colours.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 04:33:55 +0000

What color is the Palm Beach Breeze doll? I wanted to purchase her because I thought she was AA, but can never really tell from the small pictures. I assumed it was an AA doll because they have a blonde and a brunette in the Palm Beach collection (typical and limited as usual-blonde, brunette, and AA-if they even make several color versions).

By: charles

charles — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:52:20 +0000

It may have more to do with the A.A. Silkstones not selling all that well.

As much as we might want them dolls like Sunday Best and Model # 5 sold much more slowly than other Silkstones.

Knowing Mattel they probably figured that since the Palm Beach dolls are all tan anyway no one would notice or care.

By: D7ana

D7ana — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:25:38 +0000

I think of Rihanna as the one beat up by boyfriend. Beyonce is okay. But they’re both past my time, LOL.

I don’t buy Silkstones so I’m not sad about limited AA dolls, but overall …

By: EbonyNicolel

EbonyNicolel — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:21:46 +0000

@ D7ana

I want to see Inception so bad but like you said, a lot of African American are not into mainstream period! For one lets look at the music; They only black artist you see are Rihanna and Beyonce and they keep getting whiter every day! I love the SIS line but, why am I buying 12.99 for the dolls with the same old bodies! I never like MadMen!

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:06:29 +0000

I stopped collecting Mattel in 2003. Since then I have purchased one doll. I finally decided that I was tired of begging them to take my money. I was starting to feel the same way about Integrity but this year they produced four AA dolls and Natalia.

By: Therese

Therese — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:03:12 +0000

Maybe *they* think that *we* are getting too much – maybe they think the Presidential role should be enough to shut ALL the PoC up for a while… they forget that *we* are NOT the President… he is his own person. We’re all individuals. *They* constantly forget that.

There is still a strong presence of segregation about – it is like *they* would prefer to live in a parallel world rather than a world that is completely integrated with all its elements.

By: D7ana

D7ana — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:04:28 +0000

There seems to be fewer African American dolls and African American roles in prominent mainstream movies (Inception, etc.) since President Obama won the election. Just my take – shrug. Lots of backlash from that appointment.

I love the SIS dolls and accept that possibly the poor economy may have had a role in only the ONE face mold being used, BUT it’s like the SIS dolls existence means there needn’t be a regular African American doll (like Christie, Nikki, etc.) in the main Barbie lines.

The lack of Asian American dolls since year 2000 puzzles me, too. For a while, Mattel would include at least ONE Asian American doll. The Asian American population hasn’t decreased so why?

There are more Hispanic dolls though. Usually, Barbie or the “White” main doll in recent series, is paired with a Hispanic doll. (Thinking Moxie Girls and the elusive run Sasha.)