When I was a kid, American Girl dolls were my favorite toys. I loved to brush their hair, to dress them up, and do something else with them. But most of all, I loved the stories. For those who aren't familiar with them, every American Girl doll comes with a unique story. Each girl is from a different time period in American History, from the Revolutionary War to the 1970s. When I was a kid, I loved reading about each girl's world, their struggles, and how they overcame their circumstances. Even then, American Girl dolls taught a passion for reading and for history. But recently, they've been catering to a modernized generation, one who can stand to learn from civil wrongs.
The newest American Girl doll, Melody Ellison, comes from the Civil Rights Era. This 9-year-old African American girl from Detroit is influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. to follow her dreams. Melody is preceded by only one other African American doll, a slave girl from the Civil War era named Addy. Since Addy made her debut in 1993, the American Girl company has not continued the history of African Americans until now. African American history is just as essential to our nation's story as the Great Depression or women's suffrage, tales told by dolls Kit and Samantha. Finally, we are adding more African American voices to the narrative.
This is not to say that American Girl dolls do not have a history of telling the stories of traditionally underrepresented populations. Their historical collection has featured everything from Swedish immigrants to early Native Americans to Mexicans living in the Southwest prior to the Mexican-American War. The series has always encouraged young girls of all backgrounds to learn their history and have pride in themselves. Melody Ellison contributes to this legacy and enhances it.
Another collection in the American Girls franchise that encourages diversity and self-love in young girls is the Truly Me collection. These dolls allow children to choose from a variety a skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors to create a doll that looks like them. But more recently, the American Girl company has expanded this collection to include hearing aids, allergy-free lunch boxes, wheelchairs, and crutches. There aren't many dolls for disabled girls to identify with, but American Girls are trying to change that. I know that when I was a kid, I loved my American Girls. But today, after seeing all they've accomplished and all of the positive messages they promote, I think it's safe to say that I love them even more.
