Vogue Italia has a supplement with the theme of Black Barbie. Check out two of the pics.
Francie, “born” in 1980, was the First African American Barbie doll. She has the same features as all the other Barbies. This Fall, there will be a new line of Black Barbie dolls called “So In Style” dolls, which (according to vogue.co.uk) “have been designed with more authentic-looking black features, including a new facial sculpt that has fuller lips, a wider nose, more distinctive cheek bones and curlier hair.” I really don’t know what to say about this. It’s certainly troubling that Barbies-of-color were just painted over white Barbies, furthering emphasizing whiteness as a (concealed) standard. I’m also concerned about the “So In Style” line’s discourse of authenticity and the reduction of blackness to a fashion trend.
