Dolls of Color and a Touch of Africa

The cover image of the Winter 2026 issue of Doll News (above left) features a lovely antique doll of color marked Heinrich Handwerck / Simon Halbig.

Dolls of Color is the theme of the Winter 2026 issue of the United Federation of Doll Clubs' Doll News. My article, "A Collection with a Touch of Africa," is included in this issue and begins on page 66.  As a UFDC member, I have access to the digital version. The layout, as usual, is beautiful, and the full-color articles include a variety of lovely dolls of color. 

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Just Like People, Black Dolls Come in All Colors

As illustrated in the above screenshot, the manufacturer of Jesui describes the doll's complexion as  "black."

A reader who identified themselves as one of the research and development marketing assistants for the Queban line of dolls contacted me through the Contact field of this blog stating emphatically that "the BJD doll Jesui by Queban is not a black doll." They ended the email by requesting that I correct this error in my blog post dated July 28, 2022, (find the link below). 

The tone of the email was rather harsh with the person taking a "know-it-all" stance about the doll line. My reply iterated that my post never mentioned the doll's ethnicity. I also included the screen snapshot shown above from the Amazon buy page wherein the doll's complexion is described by Queban as black. This person's email was, therefore, pointless. If they were truly an R&D assistant for the product, they obviously missed the company's intent regarding the doll's hip-hop background (which originated with Black culture) and their description of the doll's black complexion (which is actually caramel).

Jesui has black-rooted hair, blue eyes, freckles, and a caramel complexion.

The intrusive email was brief but the false sense of entitlement that demanded I "correct" the doll's ethnicity did not sit well with me at all. My reply was as polite as possible after "reading" the email and "reading" the writer's overall intent to exert a sense of authority and superiority by demanding I change something that did not need changing.

For that reader and others who see light-complexioned dolls as "not black," the newsflash is this: dolls that represent Black people and others of African descent are now manufactured in all colors of the African color spectrum. 

My mother is shown with her coworkers and the doctor for whom they worked in this February 19, 1988, "reunion" photograph taken a few years after the doctor retired from practice. (Rest peacefully mama, we will always miss your beautiful, graceful, elegant, caring, God-fearing presence.)

Black people (like my dear mother who transitioned on November 25, 2022,—the reason I have been absent from this blog) can be as fair in color as a "white" person and are often mistaken as being of Eurocentric descent. So when you see a doll with a light complexion with blue eyes and freckles like Jesui, don't automatically assume the doll represents a "white" person or that the doll cannot possibly be "black." Also, please don't assume that the person is biracial. My mother was not. The offspring of two Black parents can result in a variety of complexions. 

Like the doll, Black people can have blue eyes, freckles, and pale complexions. If you're uncertain about a doll, ask the manufacturer their intent, but more importantly free your mind from being bothered by the many offerings of dolls of color that are now on the market because there are always more or other white dolls from which to choose, always. More important than anything else, know this: once a doll becomes part of a person's collection or part of a child's playthings, it can be whatever the owner wants it to be— a white doll can even be considered a Black doll's relative. How about that? This is a new day. No longer are black dolls manufactured in two colors only, blue-black or Hershey brown. 

Finally, kudos to Queban for offering affordable brown-skinned BJDs that both collectors and children can enjoy. (And if you so desire, their dolls can be considered white, too.) 

Read the original blog post about Jesui here.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

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Where to Buy Black Dolls

This post includes a list of companies and websites in alphabetical order that sell black dolls and other dolls of color suitable for children.  These companies either sell black dolls exclusively or they have an inclusive doll line (with at least one doll of color included in their current lines).  The dolls will vary in price.  Trinity Dolls Inc. carries dolls made for adult collectors but will soon have dolls made for children.  Bookmark their website.  Names followed by an asterisk (*) are not US-based companies/sellers  Names followed by two asterisks (**) sell handmade dolls that are suitable for children.  AAC (denotes dolls suitable for adult collectors and children are available). The initials NH denote dolls with natural hair (all or some are sold at the site).

A Girl for All Time (Bex)* NH

A Girls*  (NH)

Adora Dolls 

Adora Dolls Amazing Girls Sienna (an Amazon exclusive)  (NH)

Afrikashyne  (NH)

All About the Doll (*)

American Girl (Addy, Create Your Own Doll, Gabriela, Melody, Truly Me; 18- and 5-inch-mini-dolls)

American Girl Wellie-Wishers

Barbie (some w/NH)

Beautiful Blessings (12-inch full-figured fashion dolls with a touch of elegance)

Brains and Beauty Dolls (NH)

Creations by Ba'ucham (hand-crocheted dolls)**

Coloured Goodies* (NH)

Detroit Doll Show occurs annually the 2nd Saturday in November  (AAC)

Festival of Black Dolls Show and Sale occurs annually the 2nd Sat. in Nov. in Oakland, CA (AAC)

Fresh Dolls and Positively Perfect (NH, 12-inch fashion dolls, baby and toddler dolls)

Fusion Dolls (NH)

Harperiman (NH) Makers of Black cloth dolls "that help reinforce how beautiful our children are by providing them with positive affirmations of themselves through dolls that they can actually identify with."

Healthy Roots Dolls (NH)

Hearts for Hearts (multicultural dolls, NH)

Herstory Doll* (NH)

I am U Dolls (by Stacey McBride-Irby)

Ikuzi Dolls* (NH)

Journey Girls on Amazon

Kenya and Friends (some w/NH; see 2nd comment for retailers)

Lottie Dolls (Kid Activist Lottie has NH.)

Madame Alexander  (very limited dolls of color offerings)

Makedaa Dolls* (NH) (the link to the website has been removed because it is broken--I am not sure if this company is still in business.)

Malaville Toys* (NH)

Melanites (Jaylen, Action Pal)

Msimbi* (NH)

My Doll Best Friend

My Life As (a Walmart-exclusive 18-inch doll line, also some mini dolls, some w/NH)

My Salon Doll (Dolls with stylable human hair)

Our Brown Boy Joy (talking plush dolls designed to empower brown boys)

Our Generation Dolls (Target-exclusive 18-inch dolls and accessories)

Pattycake Doll Company (a variety of multicultural dolls for everyone, NH); for mobile and tablet users, visit Patty Cake Doll Company's new site.  

Pretty Brown Girl

Salam Sisters* (NH)

Sibhale Collection (NH)

Queens of Africa (NH)

Starpath Dolls

Starkey's Daughter Cloth Dolls**

Tomorrow's Girl's Crochet Dolls by Pat McLean

Trinity Designs, Inc. (higher end, collectible sorority-inspired dolls, some w/NH)

Urbidolls* (NH)

Worldgirls

Search Results for "African American Doll" at Amazon, Target, and Walmart:

Amazon

Target

Target also has a Just Like Me link where you can search for dolls with specific characteristics, e.g. skin tones, eye color, hair color, hair texture, etc.  I tried one skin tone category, but a variety of skin tones resulted.  Maybe this is still a work in progress.

Walmart  

(Earn cashback with qualifying purchases from the above three retailers and many others by joining Rakuten and navigating from Rakuten to their websites before your purchase is made.)

You can also search Etsy for "African American" or "Black" doll; read descriptions carefully as some dolls may not be suitable for children.

The 2017 article, "Where Are All the Black Dolls in Toy Stores?" by Antoine Speaks offers additional black-doll-buying sources and valid reasons why black-doll representation matters.

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If you know the names of other companies that sell new black and brown dolls suitable for children, please add those names in a comment and I will revise this post with those names.

Disclaimer:  This list was compiled as a courtesy for those who have had difficulty finding black and brown dolls.  Please note that while I own dolls by many of these companies and/or know others who do, I am not affiliated with any of the companies or brands listed.  

dbg


There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
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Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

Rocawear So In Style Dolls Coming to a Store Near You Soon...

... or they may already be there. 

Rocawear So in Style Chandra (the new girl in the S.I.S. line) and Rocawear Trichelle were purchased at a Maryland Toys R Us by a fellow doll enthusiast and member of my WLBD discussion group. 

The dolls are a brilliant result of a collaboration between Mattel and Rocawear (co-founded by music mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter).   The dolls' Rocawear fashions are reflective of the hip-hop culture that is appreciated within US borders and internationally.  I imagine that teens who have long forgotten the joys of doll play and some, whose interests never included dolls, will find these hip-hop clad dolls appealing enough to own.

If your plans include adding the Rocawear S.I.S. dolls to your collection, or if you would like to encourage a teen girl to revert to former doll play/appreciation, check your local stores for availability.

Rocawear Grace, Chandra, Trichelle, and Kara are already available for ordering at the Toys R Us website for $12.99 (sight unseen as images are not available at this time). 

L-R:  Rocawear S.I.S. dolls, McBride-Irby, and the original S.I.S. dolls

Photograph from Toys R Us blog

Read Dolls of Color's recent interview of S.I.S. designer, Stacey McBride-Irby, who shares more about the S.I.S. concept and how it became a reality. 

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