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Black Barbie Is Running for President!
The Mattel toy line unveiled a brand-new set of dolls to teach young girls about the power of public leadership roles in order to pique their interest in the political process.
“2020 continues to be a monumental year, and as so many of us are activating — from living in a pandemic and fighting for our families and communities in uncertain economic times, to dismantling racist systems and marching on the streets — we must use this as an opportunity to inspire young women and girls to lead,” Erin Loos Cutraro, founder and CEO of She Should Run told ESSENCE Magazine.
Mattel joined She Should Run to create the Campaign Team set, which gives Barbie new careers as a candidate, campaign manager, fundraiser and voter. Since 2006, the organization has encouraged and supported women from every walk of life to run for political office. Erin says, “The work is necessary in order to change the political landscape. While women make up 51 percent of the population, we represent just a third of the nation’s elected leaders. For Black women, we only have to look as far as the 116th Congress to see our representation is still lacking. While 127 women serve in the most diverse Congress to date, only 22 of them are Black.”
Essence Magazine shares that civil rights activist and attorney Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
With that quote, both Erin and Mattel intentionally made the candidate for office a Black Barbie.
“Diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of everything the Barbie brand does and we are dedicated to removing barriers that prevent the next generation of girls from reaching their full potential,” Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, shared. “We know women, and particularly Black women, are unrepresented in elected positions, which is why we featured a Black doll as the presidential candidate in this Campaign Team set.”
Mattel points out that the Barbie set “shows girls the importance of a political team working together to bring home a victory. That includes everybody from the candidate to the voter.” Mattel created a Latino Barbie to encourage voter turnout where representation isn’t great next to white and Black voters. During this time, Black, indigenous and other people of color are in need of leaders who will work to create a better system of living. Erin says, “It is critical that we give our girls at home the support they need—early in life—to explore their voice and channel their energy to lead.”
The Black Presidential Barbie doll will be set in motion nearly 50 years after Shirley Chisholm’s historic race for the White House and after Democratic Presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden revealed he will have Senator Kamala Harris as his Vice President. Lisa says, “We hope this set inspires all girls of color to see themselves in leadership roles and raise their voice, from the polls to the podium.”
“Times are changing and Barbie is adamant that their dolls reflect that,” Essence notes. This addition to the Barbie brand plays a pivotal role in showing that little black and brown girls can be and do anything they put their minds to do!