According to the documentary, the first Black Barbie doll became a symbol of power and continues to be a beacon of hope for young Black girls. Black Barbie: A Documentary is streaming on Netflix.

She’s been the global symbol of a certain ... tree lighting with Santa and Barbie the other day,” says a mom in one of the focus groups. “If a black woman or a redheaded woman or a heavyset ...

Barbie adopted progressive stances: The same year as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, Mattel introduced Christie, a Black doll with a mod swimsuit. Many activists, though, took issue with the dolls.