After she arrived as a birthday gift from my son last year, Fab Fringe (the tall redhead Barbie with the short Afro shown above) remained in her original unflattering clothes: floral front, long-sleeve shirt, denim shorts, and black booties. Later in the year, I purchased three Black Dolls Matter T-shirts from the Etsy shop of the same name. Fab Fringe replaced her original top with one of those T-shirts and continued wearing her denim shorts and booties with it, as seen here. Because of her short hair and the need for earrings, I pierced her ears shortly after she arrived, after which she wore gold hoop earrings.
After Zig and Zag (or ZiZi) borrowed Fab Fringe's gold hoops, I made a pair of earrings for Fab Fringe by removing two crosses from an inexpensive necklace and adding earring hook wires to each.
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| Her new earrings suit her well. |
What gives Fab Fringe her edginess is the black leggings she now wears underneath a black skirt made from a headband and of course her Black Dolls Matter T-shirt. Initially, she was going to wear the skirt without the leggings, but the stretch of the fabric made it see-through. She slipped on the leggings to avoid being that edgy.
Fab Fringe is going to a protest rally that will be held outside the headquarters of a major doll manufacturer. It will be a peaceful protest, but her presence alone, coupled with her attire along with the other ladies who will accompany her, should send the proper message to the doll company that their lines should reflect the society in which we live. Their concern is the lack of African American male dolls. Where are they? The ladies want to know.
The ladies who will join Fab Fringe are Emoji Fun Barbie, ZiZi, Tamica, and Musician Barbie. Take a look at their signs.
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| Fab Fringe's sign reads: Black Male Dolls Matter |
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| "Mass Produce August Joel Tate" is Emoji Fun Barbie's request. |
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| ZiZi agrees males are needed but she wants articulation! |
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| Tamica, who sometimes spells her name "Tamika," lies on the ground with her sign that reads, "Where are the Male Dolls?" |
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| Musician Barbie is asking for an AA Silkstone male. |
These ladies want the men represented and they want them now!
While their protest is for more Black male dolls, they realize representation in doll form for everyone matters. Black dolls matter, Asian dolls matter, Latino dolls matter, Native American dolls matter, indigenous dolls of other areas matter, etc., etc., etc.
dbg
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Love the outfit Fab Fringe has on! Oh, and the signs are great too! Hope they are out there marching in force! I agree with everything on their signs!
ReplyDeleteThey were in full formation, Phyllis.
Delete:-)
dbg
I am down with this protest.
ReplyDeleteThanks, MDW! The ladies and I appreciate it.
Deletedbg
This is a very cute post! Fab Fringe is looking fabulous with her edgier look. All of the protesters look super cute, and I join them in their desire to see more Black male dolls.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Roxanne!
DeleteHopefully their protest will work.
dbg
LOL @"her original unflattering clothes: floral front, long-sleeve shirt, denim shorts, and black booties." I agree that the top belongs on another doll.
ReplyDeleteLove the cross earrings on her, too. They give her a stronger, more individualized character. Love the "Black Dolls Matter" tee shirts, too. I wish them luck in their pursuit and their commitment. Come on, doll manufacturers.
Thanks, D7Ana. I wish them luck in their pursuit as well... and perhaps this post will be seen by the right people to make their wishes come true.
Deletedbg
OMG!!! I get it...Speaking of Edgy!!! That's cool! I really really want T-shirts for my dolls! Is the Etsy store still there? I'll have to check. I would like to know where supportive dolls can sign up and if required join the Formation! The women's march was held all over the world...I'm sure we can get something going Down Under. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Julius,
DeleteThe Etsy store is still there. There are two sizes that fit playscale (11-1/2-inch) and 18-inch (American Girl) dolls. Here is the direct link.
Supportive dolls and those "down with the cause" can sign up here. Fab Fringe will make sure they are provided the necessary information needed to join the formation. :-)
dbg
I really like the changes you made to her outfit.
ReplyDeleteThose dolls have a just cause. It's to be expected that girls outnumber boys in Toyland but there are so few male dolls of color that people go to other lines and vintage toys to have one or two.
Thanks, Maricha. I had to retire the floral shirt.
DeleteI have gone to other lines for male dolls to pair with my dolls. For a while I was able to find several World Peacekeeper action figures whose clothing was not too military looking, but that brand of AA guys has become harder to find.
dbg