‘Each doll has a purpose’: Taking a tour of the National Black Doll Museum in North Attleborough

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WLNE) — Black Barbie turned 45 over the weekend, marking nearly half a century of hard-fought representation on store shelves.

She and hundreds of other cultural icons grace the shelves of a unique museum in Massachusetts, offering a beautiful look into black history.

It’s been historically hard for black mothers to find positive representation on store shelves when shopping for dolls for their young daughters and trying to shape their self-perception.

But, history is definitely in the making in North Attleborough, home to the 8,000-square foot National Black Doll Museum founded by sisters Deborah Britt, Tamara Mattison and Felicia Walker.

“We’ve been collectors all our lives,” said Walker.

“We both grew up in the Civil Rights era. Both of our parents were activists. My grandmother used to dye dolls for Deborah.”

The museum now showcases centuries of cultural significance through a diversity of eclectic dolls.

Curator Jerica Washington is one of the guides who shows you through a wealth of history, from the adornments of African rap dolls, to Native American dolls, Vietnamese and Asian dolls, historical black pilots, filmmakers, ballerinas, and of course, the story of the first black Barbie, now in its 45th commemorative year.

“That would all start with the Kitty Black Perkins who is a designer in the 1980s and Katie Black will be responsible for creating a Barbie doll to have it represent or look like women of color,” said Washington.

It’s also an interactive endeavor, as curators encourage guests to share their own stories.

“We’ve had veterans come in and remember their great great grandfather’s from generations ago,” said Washington.

“Each doll is different. Each doll has a story. Each doll has a purpose.”

As it grows, their expansive collection reaches far and wide.

“I can say it has reached Africa,” said Walker.

It teaches people young and old, and remains relevant as it empowers all people to affirm the beauty in their identity during each and every visit.

“As you look through these dolls it’s a great way to understand how we’re capturing our heroes,” said Washington.

“Dolls empowerment inspiration. That is what DEI is to the museum because with that it encapsulates diversity equity and inclusion because we’ve always been inclusive of other cultures,” said Washington.

“With everything going on in the world, we are necessary, and we try to let other people know that they are necessary too.”