Name: Bessie Coleman Barbie
Made by and When: Mattel, 2022
Material: Vinyl
Marks (courtesy of Cassiopeia Onyx): (Head*) ©2001 / Mattel; (Lower Back) Genuine / Barbie® / ©2015 Mattel / 1186 MJ, 1, NL / Made in Indonesia / (in gold letters) HJX37 / R431
Height: 11-1/2 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Curled under, black rooted hair; brown painted eyes, smiling mouth with painted teeth area
Head Sculpt: Desiree/Adria
Clothes: Army green aviator’s suit, black belt, black knee-high mock lace-up boots, and a brown vinyl cap that has an aviator insignia and the initials BC
Other: *The head mark is somewhat smeared but appears to be as described above.
From the Barbie Signature Collection of the Inspiring Women Series, this doll represents Bessie Coleman who became the first African American/Native American woman to earn an international aviator license at age 23 in 1921. The license was earned in France because Coleman was prohibited from attending aviation school in America solely because of her skin color. Her determination helped her fulfill her goal despite the odds she faced in America.
I made up my mind to try. I tried and was successful.— Bessie Coleman
Gallery
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