When Barbie Stopped Being White

When Barbie Stopped Being White

The story of the first Black doll to have the name Barbie.

Until 1980, Barbie was always white. Mattel had made Black dolls before, but they were sidekicks to the brand’s main character with facial features that didn’t really distinguish them from the other dolls. Correspondent Tracie Hunte brings you the story of the first Black doll to have the name Barbie. Hear from Kitty Black Perkins, Mattel’s first Black designer who brought her own style and preferences to the task of creating the doll. And Lagueria Davis, director of Black Barbie: A Documentary, on what her research taught her about Mattel’s early efforts to be more representative.

This episode was produced by Alana Casanova-Burgess and mixed by Mike Kutchman. Tracie Hunte is on X (Twitter) @traciehunte, and you can hear her in conversation about beauty with Tressie McMillian Cottom, author of “Thick: And Other Essays,” on this episode of our show (from November 3rd, 2022). For more of Barbie’s backstory, check out The Barbie Tapes, a special series from the LA Made podcast.

Send us your song for our summer playlist! What’s a song that represents your personal diaspora story? Go to notesfromamerica.org and click on the “RECORD” button to leave a voice note with your answer. Tell us the name of that song and the artist, and a 1-minute story that goes along with it. We’ll gather all of the songs and your stories in a Spotify playlist that we’ll update all summer.

Tell us what you think. Instagram and X (Twitter): @noteswithkai. Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or going to Instagram and clicking on the link in our bio.

“Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. Tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Jaksot(424)

Episode 7: This Is Your Brain on Politics

Episode 7: This Is Your Brain on Politics

Stress is a part of everyday life. But in this election filled with bombast, 24-hour news coverage, and October Surprises emerging at nearly every turn, the road to November 8th often appears overwhel...

3 Marras 201641min

Episode 6: The Kids Are Not Alright

Episode 6: The Kids Are Not Alright

Gang violence and a drug epidemic might not be the first things one thinks about when they picture the American suburbs, but they have become prominent facts of life for many residents in Suffolk Coun...

27 Loka 201640min

Episode 5: White Like Me

Episode 5: White Like Me

Once again, race has become a central issue in a presidential campaign. But this time, it's not all about people of color. It's also about white Americans, and what their place is in 21st century Amer...

20 Loka 201633min

Episode 4: Down the Rabbit Hole

Episode 4: Down the Rabbit Hole

So how did we get to this point? Where a nominee for a major party has been heard bragging about assaulting women. The United States of Anxiety has been listening carefully to Trump supporters in an e...

13 Loka 201637min

Episode 3: This Land Is My Land, That Land Is Your Land

Episode 3: This Land Is My Land, That Land Is Your Land

Tom McCarthy, a retired NYPD detective and lifelong Long Island resident, has spent much of his adult life straddling two very different worlds. Each day he would leave the calm of his suburban commun...

6 Loka 201631min

Episode 2: Who Owns the Deed to the American Dream?

Episode 2: Who Owns the Deed to the American Dream?

The idea of an idyllic 'suburbia' has been a touchstone along the cultural landscape of America for over 70 years. From Norman Rockwell's 1943 Freedom from Want to the printed pages of Martha Stewart'...

29 Syys 201627min

Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

For many voters, this election is not simply about deciding the next President of the United States, or even setting the landscape of national politics. Instead, it serves as a referendum on what it m...

22 Syys 201629min

Welcome to The United States of Anxiety

Welcome to The United States of Anxiety

About the show: In a Presidential election cycle big on negativity and short on discussion of issues, anxiety is proving to be a dominant theme -- over the economy, national security, and indeed, what...

19 Syys 20169min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-podme-livebox
rss-asiastudio
otetaan-yhdet
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
the-ulkopolitist
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
linda-maria
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-polikulaari-pitka-kiekko-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-sinivalkoinen-islam
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
rss-girls-finish-f1rst
rss-ulkopoditiikkaa