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It’s crazy to think it’s been 40 years since Mattel released The Original Black Barbie. It actually wasn’t until the ‘80s when a black doll by Mattel was given the name ‘Barbie.’ Lifestyle Maven reports that, “Previously, those Mattel dolls with their melanin poppin’ were just friends of Barbie, like Christie and Francie.”

Kitty Black Perkins designed The Original Black Barbie, 40 years later Bill Greening designed the 40th anniversary of the First Black Barbie in honor of Perkins, who was his friend and mentor in life.