The official Black Barbie doll was introduced by Mattel in 1980, showcasing distinctly African American features. This marked a departure from earlier Black dolls produced by the company, which were primarily Barbie's friends, such as Francie, who had a colored skin tone, and later Christie, who is considered the first black doll before Black Barbie. The packaging proclaimed, 'She’s Black! She’s beautiful! She’s dynamite!'

In 1991, building on the success of Black Barbie, Mattel designer Kitty Black Perkins created the first exclusive line titled 'Shani and Friends.' This collection featured three characters—Shani, Asha, and Nichelle—each representing a diverse range of skin tones, hair colors, and textures. Over the years, a…