Current:Home > BackKitty Black Perkins, who designed the first Black Barbie, reflects on her legacy-LoTradeCoin
Kitty Black Perkins, who designed the first Black Barbie, reflects on her legacy
View Date:2024-12-24 00:26:48
"Barbie" was a box office smash, taking the world by storm as it celebrated women and showcased the diverse history of the popular doll. The history of that diversity can be traced back to trailblazer Kitty Black Perkins.
Perkins designed Mattel's first Black Barbie, which debuted in 1980 after demand from collectors.
"Everything Barbie was, I wanted Black Barbie to be the opposite," Perkins, now 76, told CBS News.
In the 1960s and '70s, the only diverse dolls in Barbie's world were sidekicks. But Perkins' doll, made more in the image of Black women, would bear the marquee Barbie name.
"I wanted her to be able to do the same things that the White doll did, but just add a little more spice," Perkins said.
Like Barbie, Perkins is also the first of her kind. The first Black designer at Mattel grew up in the Jim Crow South. The creator said she didn't have any Black dolls of her own to play with growing up.
"I would actually color the skin of the paper dolls," she said, adding, "I wanted them to look like me."
Perkins retired from Mattel in 2004 as Chief Barbie Designer, leaving her imprint on the iconic doll for nearly three decades.
But for Perkins, Black Barbie was the mold to break the mold.
veryGood! (536)
Related
- Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe save Alabama football season, as LSU's Brian Kelly goes splat
- USWNT loses to North Korea in semifinals of U-20 Women's World Cup
- Residents of Springfield, Ohio, hunker down and pray for a political firestorm to blow over
- Philadelphia teen sought to travel overseas, make bombs for terrorist groups, prosecutors say
- Charles Hanover: A Summary of the UK Stock Market in 2023
- Philadelphia mayor strikes a deal with the 76ers to build a new arena downtown
- Drake London’s shooting celebration violated longstanding NFL rules against violent gestures
- Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2025 nominees include Eli Manning, Marshawn Lynch
- Elena Rose has made hits for JLo, Becky G and more. Now she's stepping into the spotlight.
- Eva Mendes Shares Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Are Not Impressed With Her Movies
Ranking
- South Carolina to take a break from executions for the holidays
- Asteroid to orbit Earth as 'mini-moon' for nearly 2 months: When you can see it
- Lady Gaga Explains Why She Never Addressed Rumors She's a Man
- Voters view Harris more favorably as she settles into role atop Democratic ticket: AP-NORC poll
- CFP bracket prediction: SEC adds a fifth team to field while a Big Ten unbeaten falls out
- Indiana woman pleads guilty to hate crime after stabbing Asian American college student
- KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky joins 'Shark Tank' for Mark Cuban's final season
- Happy 50th ‘SNL!’ Here’s a look back at the show’s very first cast
Recommendation
-
American Idol’s Triston Harper, 16, Expecting a Baby With Wife Paris Reed
-
This $9 Primer & Mascara Have People Asking If I’m Wearing Fake Lashes
-
These evangelicals are voting their values — by backing Kamala Harris
-
Tyson Foods Sued Over Emissions Reduction Promises
-
Britney Spears reunites with son Jayden, 18, after kids moved in with dad Kevin Federline
-
Indiana woman pleads guilty to hate crime after stabbing Asian American college student
-
Brewers clinch NL Central Division title with Cubs' loss to A's
-
'Survivor' Season 47: Who went home first? See who was voted out in the premiere episode