Wildly popular children’s brand American Girl is commemorating its 30th anniversary with a brand new doll straight out of the Civil Rights movement, CBS News reports.
Set to unveil this summer, American Girl’s newest “Be Forever” historical doll is Melody Ellison, a 9-year-old girl living in Detroit in the 1960s who loves to sing and uses her voice to contribute to the movement.
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Melody is to become the company’s third African-American doll.
Senior director of global brand at American Girl, Julia Prohaska, said that the doll is debuting at this time as a reflection of cultural landscape, a decision that was well thought out.
“We do approach every character very thoughtfully so this isn’t something that we rush into,” she said. “We’re not looking to address critical demand. We’re looking to tell stories in the most authentic and genuine way.”
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Melody’s character accessories comes complete with a bed and a recording studio that features music from Motown.
Historians, including the late Julian Bond, were consulted to ensure the authenticity of Melody’s story.
For more information on Melody, visit the American Girl website.
