At the suggestion of a fellow Barbie enthusiast, I created a petition to Mattel to produce an African American Silkstone® Ken in a sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the global market. You may read the petition and sign it here. Thank you in advance for your signatures.
Black Doll Collecting by Debbie Behan Garrett @blackdollcollecting.blogspot.com
Monday, October 10, 2016
Petition to Mattel for an AA Silkstone Ken
I am a Black-doll enthusiast, doll historian, freelance writer, author of The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls; Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion; and The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak, I Listen. Founder and curator of DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum at virtualblackdollmuseum.com Please visit and become a contributing patron. Black dolls are my passion, my drug of choice. They renew my spirit!
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Thanks for starting this petition. I signed! I hope this moves Mattel to produce at least one AA Silkstone Ken!
ReplyDeleteThank you for signing, Phyllis! I hope Mattel follows through.
Deletedbg
Thanks for creating this petitition, I signed it yesterday. ( Wasn't sure it had gone through at first because the site is different.)
ReplyDeleteIt would be so great if he was articulated too. I was pretty surprised there wasn't a black Silkstone Ken already, I guess I got confused on that point by the fact that a friend of mine has had what seemed to be high end black Kens for years with her Silkstone Barbie's. It turns out that they're Fashion Royalty Darius.
I appreciate your signature Maricha. Nope, Mattel has not made one Silkstone AA Ken. The Silkstone collection to date can be seen at the BarbieCollection website (four pages) here.
DeleteI should have pointed out in the petition that collectors have had to use African American male dolls by other companies to pair with their dolls. I think I will do it. Mattel needs to know.
dbg
It stands to reason that since the petition has signatures, I cannot edit it. The fact that collectors are using AA male dolls by other manufactures would have been great to point out.
Deletedbg
Yes, it's definitely problematic that people who love Silkstone dolls have to buy from other manufacturers to get male dolls of equal quality.
DeleteIt was one thing to marry play line Barbies with shorter GI Joes so the wouldn't all be married to the same looking Ken when we were children but Silkstone collectors often create expensive dioramas. A bit of diversity in Kens would be useful and Silkstone is more durable and beautiful than what they use for regular dolls.
Too bad this petition can't be altered, but does it get sent to the organization with a cover email that might point that out?
Again, thanks for starting this petition.
Hi Maricha,
DeleteI believe the petition will be sent as is. If I have an opportunity to add text at the end, I will. In the mean time, those who sign it have the ability to add a comment at the time of signing. I will check to see if comments can be added later. If not, hooefully, someone who has yet to sign it will make a comment in this regard.
dbg
I can post a comment to the petition. Will do that when I get to my PC or from my laptop. This device has a tendency to freeze and I would hate for it to freeze while posting to the petition.
Deletedbg
Hi Maricha,
DeleteYesterday I added a comment to petition to inform Mattel that in the absence of AA Silkstone males, some collectors use other manufacturers' AA male dolls to pair with their AA Silkstone Barbies.
Also, I wanted to bring the additional comment/question to you from Tyra regarding her Barbie clone to your attention. You can read the comment here.
Thanks!
dbg
It's good that you were able to add the comment. I think dollmakers must not often be collectors as well or they'd notice the issues the voids in their production create. Using male dolls from other lines mean the face ups aren't necessarily harmonious which means sending a doll out to a customizer unless you're good at painting tiny faces.
ReplyDeleteI left a reply for Tyra, too:D
The void creates so many more issues than the absence of the doll itself. All of this would be solved or prevented if they would just supply the obvious demand or ask collectors if they aren't sure.
DeleteThank you for answering Tyra's additional question. I am sure she appreciates it as well.
dbg