Barbie announced that the newest edition to the Inspiring Women Series is pioneering journalist, activist and researcher Ida B. Wells.
An activist for civil rights and women's suffrage, Wells co-founded the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to collectively fight for freedom, justice, and equality.
Most recently, the doll series has paid tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
To celebrate Wells' legacy, Barbie is partnering with Girls Write Now, a non-profit organization that helps break down gender, race, age, and poverty barriers to mentor the next generation of writers and leaders.
As part of the campaign, the Barbie brand is:
- Funding high school girls and gender-expansive young adults with writing and publishing programs, introducing role models to inspire the next generation of writers and leaders through a Barbie Dream Gap Project donation;
- Sponsoring a virtual Barbie Dream Gap event on Feb. 18 with Michelle Duster, author, public historian and great-granddaughter of Wells;
- Participating in a Girls Write Now Different Perspectives Initiative later this year, where girls are encouraged to write their own story, from their perspective, inspired by the same video clip. Barbie will be sharing two Barbie-inspired videos to help guide girls in the program; and
- Empowering Amazon shoppers to donate a percentage of the proceeds from their purchases to Girls Write Now in celebration of Black History Month through Amazon Smiles.
The Ida B. Wells doll will be available nationwide at Amazon, Walmart and Target on Jan. 17.