Tag Archives: black history doll

William Thomas Jr., aka Buckwheat

Name: William Thomas Jr., aka Buckwheat of “The Little Rascals”  Made by and When: Rachel McCullough Sherrod of Starkey’s Daughter Cloth Dolls, 2020 Material: Wool-blend felt (face, arms, and legs); cotton-blend (head and torso) Marks: Signed by the artist Height: 16 inches without the hat; close to 18 inches with the hat Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Black fleeceContinue reading “William Thomas Jr., aka Buckwheat”

Flo Jo

Name: Flo Jo Made by and When: L.J.N., 1989 Material: Vinyl Marks: ©1989 L.J.N./MADE IN CHINA (on the body) Height: 12 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Rooted long black hair, painted brown eyes, smiling mouth with painted teeth area Clothes: Wears a fashionable iconic one-legger pink and turquoise track suit; accessories include a gold lamé toteContinue reading “Flo Jo”

Maya Angelou Barbie Diorama

Maya Angelou Barbie Diorama (photos courtesy of Laila Johnson) Made by and When: Laila Johnson, 2021 Description: Laila Johnson collects Barbies and creates dioramas for them. She began making doll dioramas because she wants her dolls to have their own space to reflect their personality. Because Maya Angelou was a writer and poet, Johnson createdContinue reading “Maya Angelou Barbie Diorama”

Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie

Name: Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, ©2019, released in 2020 Material: Articulated vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth/Other: Black synthetic fibers were used for the hair that is styled in four sections of microbraids/brown painted eyes with blue eyeshadow and painted upper eyelashes/closed mouth with dark lip color/painted blue fingernails. Clothes: DressedContinue reading “Jean-Michel Basquiat X Barbie”

AKA Centennial Barbie

Name: AKA Centennial Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, 2008 (designed by Stacey McBride-Irby) Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Brown rooted upswept hairdo with sideswept bangs/brown painted eyes/closed mouth Clothes: Sleeveless salmon pink gown has gold trim crisscrossing the bodice and around the waist. Apple green diamond-shaped fabric centers the bodice and flows downContinue reading “AKA Centennial Barbie”

‘Her Minajesty’ Nicki Minaj Barbie

Photographs courtesy of Stephen Sumner Name: ‘Her Minajesty,’ Nicki Minaj Barbie, a one-of-a-kind Made by and When: Mattel, designed by Stephen Sumner in 2011 Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Pink straight hair with bangs/brown painted eyes/smiling mouth with painted teeth Designer’s Description: Created as a one-of-a-kind, the Nicki Minaj doll, ‘Her Minajesty,’ is wearingContinue reading “‘Her Minajesty’ Nicki Minaj Barbie”

Yara Shahidi Barbie

Name: Yara Shahidi Barbie Made by and When: Mattel, 2020 Material: Vinyl, Made to Move Petite body Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black curly textured hair, brown painted eyes and eyelashes, smiling mouth with painted teeth Clothes: Yara Shahidi Barbie wears a gray tweed-ish pants suit, a white tee with VOTE printed on theContinue reading “Yara Shahidi Barbie”

Venus and Serena Williams

Photographs courtesy of Telisa Spain and John (ebay seller oxy–moron) Name: American Champions Venus and Serena Williams Made by and When: Play Along, 2000 (released in 2001) Material: Vinyl Height: 11-1/2 inches Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Rooted hair with multiple braids/painted brown eyes/smiling mouths with painted teeth Clothes: Venus: Tennis dress has white halter straps, a red bodiceContinue reading “Venus and Serena Williams”

Ella Fitzgerald

Name: Ella Fitzgerald  Made by and When: Floyd Bell, 1999 Material:  Carved from basswood and jetulong, cloth body, wire armature, wooden stand Height:  18 inches tall Hair/Eyes/Mouth:  Black hair carved from a block of jetulong wood/carved facial features with brown eyes, a smiling mouth and painted teeth Clothing:  White brocade suit with full-length skirt embellishedContinue reading “Ella Fitzgerald”