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The Barbie clan began its life as white and remained so until 1967, when “Colored Francie” made her debut. But this Francie doll was produced using the existing head molds for the white Francie, and, other than her dark skin, lacked any other distinguishing African features. The first African American doll in the Barbie circle is usually regarded as Christie, who appeared in 1968. It wasn’t until 1980 that actual black and Hispanic Barbie dolls hit the market. Yet despite Mattel’s attempt to take a more racially sensitive stance, Ann Ducille, professor of American and African-American...