*Mattel has released a Barbie doll of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, which is the latest addition to the Inspiring Women’s series.
According to Barbie’s Instagram page: “The #Barbie Inspiring Women Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time. This year, we’re adding two courageous women – Civil Rights activist, Rosa Parks, and the first American woman to fly in space, Sally Ride,”
Each doll comes with educational material about her life.
Parks cemented her place in American Black history and the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in 1955, which prompted a mass Black boycott of buses, organized by Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1999, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the USA.
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The Rosa Parks doll is styled in 1950s attire, and she was announced on 26 August, Women’s Equality Day, along with the Sally Ride doll, to honor the first American woman in space.
“Sally Ride was the first American woman, and the youngest American, to fly in space. Her adventurous nature, quest for discovery and pioneering accomplishments inspire girls everywhere to boldly reach for the stars,” a Mattel spokesperson told collectSPACE.
“As a brand that is dedicated to inspiring the limitless potential in every girl, Barbie is shining a spotlight on role models, historical and modern, to show them they can be anything,” Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie, told HuffPost.
Both the Rosa and Sally dolls are available at Barbie.com, or find the Barbie Sally Ride doll exclusively at Target, and the Barbie Rosa Parks doll exclusively at Walmart.
“Both Sally Ride and Rosa Parks are changemakers, so these dolls celebrate their achievements, while also encouraging girls to challenge the status quo,” McKnight added.