The design and story teams behind American Girl dolls have taken great strides in recent years to create diverse toys for young girls.
Kids everywhere can now own American Girl dolls that are equipped with diabetic care kits, and, hopefully in the near future, dolls that reflect other medical conditions.
Mattel's newest creation is the Melody Ellison doll, the third-ever African-American American Girl doll to debut on shelves.
Following Addy — the Civil War–era doll — and Cecile — the girl who lived during 19th-century New Orleans (who unfortunately was discontinued in 2014) — Melody will live in 1960s Detroit and witness the political upheavals of the civil rights era.
American Girl has already released the first book in Melody's series, which introduces her as an optimistic, vivacious young girl. We can't wait to read about her next adventures!
Scroll further to read more about Melody's story, and let us know your thoughts about the new doll in the comments below.
[H/T: The Detroit News]
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, American Girl will be introducing a brand-new historical doll in its stores this summer.
Her name is Melody Ellison, and she is a 9-year-old girl from the civil rights era.
Melody lives in 1960s Detroit, MI, during a time of tremendous upheaval and social change.
To help with Melody’s design and story, American Girl consulted historians, educators, and former civil rights activists.
The team talked with former Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson; Juanita Moore, CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History</a>; and various other advisors, who each contributed snippets and details of their own childhood and upbringing.
American Girl has already released the first story in Melody’s book series: No Ordinary Sound: A Melody Classic.
Author Denise Lewis Patrick hopes that Melody’s story can inspire young girls to do “what they can to help change their community for the better.”
Melody is introduced to us as a member of her Detroit church choir, and a fan of Motown tunes.
Over time, she becomes more aware of the racial inequalities and discriminations that have affected her family, neighborhood, and community.
She is inspired by the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as she prepares to sing her solo for Youth Day at her church, but is greatly impacted by a sudden tragedy that arises in the South.
“When we learn about the civil rights movement, we learn about a handful of really important people” historian Mark Speltz told the Detroit News.
“But the movement was led by average and ordinary Americans, like Melody.”
Juanita Moore, president of the Charles H. Wright Museum, agrees that even normal little girls like Melody once had a meaningful impact on the struggle for equal rights.
“I love using history to tell stories and to teach people about life lessons,” she said in a statement to the Detroit News.
“I grew up during this period, and so the stories of Melody are really my stories.”
Melody will be the third African-American American Girl doll.
She comes after Addy, a Civil War–era girl who escapes from slavery.
Then came Cecile, a girl who lived in 19th-century New Orleans.
Unfortunately, Cecile was discontinued back in 2014 — along with the only Asian-American American Girl doll, Ivy Ling.
Many people criticized the company for overlooking minorities, and pushed for greater racial diversity in its dolls.
Melody hits store shelves this summer, and will come with her own bed, and a recording studio that plays Motown music.
Like all other American Girl dolls, she will come with many different outfits, including a blue-and-yellow houndstooth dress with a blue ribbon headband and blue patent leather shoes.
Please SHARE if you are excited for Melody's debut!
