For those of you who don't know, Melody Ellison is the newest American Girl Doll. American Girl comes out with many new dolls, but what makes Melody particularly special is that she is from the 'Civil Rights Movement.' She is Black and hails from Detroit, Michigan. As someone who's grown up with American Girl Dolls, I've seen the progression.

I had my 8th Birthday Party there and took Addy, the first African-American doll everywhere. I dressed her in endless clothes and read her story countless times. After her, I've only seen one other doll of color, but her story wasn't nearly as good and I personally don't think she did the company justice.

Now, in 2016, we are introduced to Melody Ellison. All dolled up in a light green plaid dress and navy blue hat, she embodies a typical African-American girl of the time, dressed to impress and look her Sunday best. One of the first things I noticed about Melody was her hair. It was straightened, a styling choice I assumed was made by the company to make her look "better". It could have also been a sign of the times as her mom might have straightened it for her so she would fit in better not only in school, but simply walking down the street.

Addy Walker, the first Black American Girl Doll faced slavery and a long trek to the North. Upon arriving, she struggled with racism, bullies, and other hardships that went with being a black female. Melody Ellison, according to American Girl, will face similar racial inequality and learn what the Civil Rights Movement is. She will watch Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on TV, or read about him in newspapers, and she will learn to survive and fight for her rights.

At around the age of our parents, she represents a time not too long ago, and while I haven't read the book, I'm hoping and assuming that American Girl does her story justice- or there will be hell to pay.

In the heat of the Black Lives Matter movement, Ellison's release in late summer of 2016 is more important than ever, and her story has had ample time to come together, creating what I hope to be an extremely important storyline and doll.

Unlike Addy's book and doll about slavery released in 1993, many people, both Black and White who are alive today remember the Civil Rights Movement in vivid detail. While Addy's story was probably for the most part based off of stories and other historical facts, Melody Ellison is based off of people alive today. If it doesn't represent it correctly, I believe that American Girl will be under fire. Having read dozens of American Girl Doll books, I've found that they tend to do their respective eras justice and I hope the same goes for Melody Eillison's.

As someone who literally grew up reading these books, learning the history, and probably my favorite part, playing with the dolls, I'm happy to see another African-American doll. Representation is crucial, regardless of what form that takes, and it pleases me to know that little boys and girls will get to grow up with more than one Black Doll with a fierce and engaging story.

Although not yet, I encourage you to keep tabs on Melody Ellison, and if you know someone who wants one or personally want one for yourself, they should be at their retail price of $115 in late summer of 2016.