American Girl Moves Past Slavery, Introduces New African-American Doll

If you're familiar with the American Girl franchise, then you certainly know "Addy Walker," the single African-American character in the company's Historic Collection, and a former slave. Albeit educational, Addy's story -- of escaping slavery and looking for her father and brother who’ve been sold away -- is interesting entertainment for the eight-and-over set American Girl created it for.

Their latest character, Cécile Rey, "a bold, confident girl from a well-to-do African-American family," tells a different story. In a series of six books, set in 1850s New Orleans, Cécile Rey and her friend, Marie-Grace Gardner, form what American Girl calls "a unique bond through their shared love of music," and go on to help their community during the yellow fever epidemic that sweeps through New Orleans in 1853.

African-American author Denise Lewis Patrick brought Cécile Rey's character to life and sat down with American Girl for a brief Q&A:

What did you do to prepare to write Cécile’s stories?

The first thing I did was to read about what New Orleans was like at the time her stories take place. What did the city look like? How did the different people live together? What kinds of work did free people of color do, and where did they live in the city? I found answers to these questions in books, drawings, old newspapers, and in the narratives, or diaries, of real people who lived in the 1850s. Next, I read about yellow fever, and how that terrible disease affected everyone who lived in the city. I imagined that people must have felt in many ways the same as they did after Hurricane Katrina, or after 9/11 in New York. I decided that I wanted Cécile's stories to show how something so big touched and changed the lives of real, normal people. But the most important thing I did was to go back and walk the streets of New Orleans, to smell the history in the old buildings and see the wonderful cast iron rails. New Orleans is more than a place to me. It's a feeling.

What were the most challenging aspects of writing the Cécile books?

I believe the most challenging aspect of writing these books was deciding what to leave out of Cécile's story! Almost immediately, I began to imagine this lively, smart girl and the family she came from. In my own family, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are very important, and cousins are, too! I even created a family tree for the Rey family, with details such as what Papa's mother did (she made hats), and how Cécile's parents met (their fathers were friends). "Building" a life for the Rey family helped me to know Cécile as well as I know any real person.

How would you describe Cécile's personality?

In my mind, Cécile Amelie Rey is bright, curious, and has a mischievous sense of humor. She loves secrets, of course, and also enjoys learning new things and meeting new people. She's not quite a "girly-girl," because unlike most girls of her time, she hates sitting still and being quiet!

How would you describe Cécile's circumstances in the story?

I would say that she’s a child who grows up fast, because she has to face some very serious events in her family and community. She also outgrows the kind of sheltered life she's had before, in becoming friends with Marie-Grace and actively helping children who are less fortunate.

Were any of Cécile's stories based on your own or your family's personal experiences?

My father and my New Orleans relatives used nicknames for us, the same way her family does. Food is very important to my family, as it is to the Reys -- especially when we're celebrating anything. But on the other hand, maybe Cécile herself is a bit like I was as a girl: always listening to the grownups talk, and always asking questions!

What did you discover about New Orleans in writing the Cécile books?

What I discovered about New Orleans as I was writing these books is that there's even more to love about this city.

What do you hope girls will learn from Cécile?

I hope that girls learn from Cécile that sometimes, true friendship finds you even when -- or especially when -- you're not looking for it. It comes when you need it. She discovers an ability that all girls have -- to bravely open their hearts to a bigger world than the one they've known.

Milwaukee news anchor Shelley Walcott blogged about the debut earlier this week, noting: "As a parent, I find Cecile's story a lot more appropriate for play time than plantation scenes and a bullwhip-cracking slave master."

Quick Poll

Do You Agree?

Yes. It's about time American Girl created another black doll that celebrates a more positive time in African-American history.

No. Learning about the history of slavery in America is critical, and should in no way be hidden from our children.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[ugacrew]

09:38 PM on 09/27/2011

This is long overdue. I have always thought the original black version was racist primarily because they could have protrayed this doll as one who had withstood adversity and a life of struggles. They also could have protrayed the white dolls as children of slaveholders, in view of their portrayal of the black doll as a slave.

[beachgirl61]

04:36 PM on 09/19/2011

Brava to America Girls for having more than one Black doll. There is a wide diversity of experiences in the African American community and all of the stories deserve to be told. We don't limit the experience of white people to one person, so why limit the stories of racial/ethnic minorities?

[Kristen Primm]

02:07 AM on 09/09/2011

As a child, I loved the Kirsten books!!! Why do they retire dolls?!?!?!

[gtdanyelz]

03:54 PM on 09/08/2011

The new African American doll also marks a first in that a Creole of color doll is depicted. Creole meaning a doll that speaks of African plus French or Spanish ancestry.

Most free black ancestors began as enslaved blacks, whether in New Orleans or in places like Charleston. Most people here have no idea about history.

[Bienville]

01:11 AM on 09/10/2011

Many of the New Orleans Creoles trace their ancenstry to Haiti. A revolution there around 1800 caused a mass migration to New Orleans. Perhaps they also fled to Charleston, I do not know.

[gtdanyelz]

11:18 AM on 10/21/2011

True, but they did not go to Charleston, only Francophone, Catholic colonies.

Many New Orleans white Creoles either don't know or have covered up the fact that their families began in Louisiana with white fathers and biracial mothers.

There were at least three recorded migrations from Haiti of both Creoles and Creoles of color during the time of the Haitian Revolution.

A lot of New Orleans Creoles of color also have Native American ancestry, not just French or Spanish forebears.

[Aesthete]

03:18 PM on 09/08/2011

I did not respond to the Quick Poll above because this is not an either/or proposition. I am a modern American woman who enjoys a far better life than my slave ancestors, but I feel strongly about the importance of knowing one's own history. No, slavery was a heinous crime against humanity, as is found in much of human history. Although man is capable of great good, great evil and cruelty continues to this day throughout the world. Go far enough back into the history of any people and you will find something ugly. Man's inhumanity to his fellow man is as old as history itself but we need to know about it. I was fortunate in attending a middle and high school that was 99% white in a small town that was nearly all white, but they were not afraid to teach all aspects of American history as well as world history, and for that I am grateful.

[Adia Lynette]

02:35 PM on 09/08/2011

.Even though I was still in elementary school, I remember the hullabaloo about Addy being an escaped slave (though the majority of her books deal with life in the city). And once again, even though I was in elementary school at the time, I never understood the uproar. Yes, part of who Addy is as a character cannot helped but be formed by slavery, but she continuously looks to the future with hopefulness and experiences as many joys and she does sorrows.

People who are cranky about her slave history have clearly never read the books or seen her beautiful collection of dresses and items. What I remember most about her character is that she was a very talented student, a very loyal friend, has a quiet determination that I admire, and that her mother was a fierce seamstress who kept Addy looking as wonderful.

I'm equally pleased with Cecile because Free People of Color are very rarely discussed in history books. I'm really glad that the dual book system is set up so that even if you only read Marie-Grace's books, her close friendship with Cecile makes it impossible for you avoid learning anything about Free People of Color. American Girl is supposed to celebrate girls from all times - not just the ones that involved silk gowns and curls. I love Addy and will eventually add Ms. Rey to my collection.

[Thomas Izaguirre]

02:34 PM on 09/08/2011

Just one problem: prior to the 14th Amendment, there were no such thing as "free Negroes," only those that happened not to be enslaved. Even if not under enforced servitude without consent or contract, how could anyone truly be free if s/he could not vote, hold office, get certain levels of education without clandestine assistance, was prevented by law from certain occupations, or not even recognized as a human being under the law? Moreover, those lucky enough have wealth or property were in constant precarious peril of having that, along with their lives and liberty, arbitrarily seized or taxed away with utter impunity. New Orleans was a seething contradiction where the rank hypocrisies of the time gave way only because of the pragmatism of business, and then only so much. One misstep, and the character of Cecile could have easily found herself enslaved either as a house servant in some far-flung plantation or as a high-class prostitute (courtesan or concubine were the politically correct terms of that time). And it bears noting that most prostitutes got their start in the very age range of some of these characters. Far removed in time and place from all this, there is the unfortunate tendency to romanticize, to cheer them for having endured this. That is insulting as they should never have had to endure it in the first place.

[Adia Lynette]

09:57 PM on 09/08/2011

Have you read the books?

[Bienville]

01:20 AM on 09/10/2011

I have to observe that New Orleans had a much better racial attituted before the Americans came in 1803. The French and Spanish colonial tradition granted so-called "free people of color" with rights that were steadily eroded by American law, until a high-water mark (or, low water, depending on your point-of-view) in the 1860s.

This statement described many white Americans, too: "could not vote, hold office, get certain levels of education without clandestin­e assistance­, was prevented by law from certain occupation­s." Although, the added outrage of slavery was unique to blacks.

[ronaldhonolulu]

02:18 PM on 09/08/2011

Actually, slavery in American is alive and well!

[jllowery]

02:33 PM on 09/09/2011

No it is not.

[Adia Lynette]

01:51 AM on 09/11/2011

Sadly, yes it is. It's called "Human Trafficking".

[s5cat2dog]

01:15 PM on 09/08/2011

Dolls are SCARY. My opinion, and I don't care that most seem to disagree.

[lbe3751730]

01:05 PM on 09/08/2011

are the felicity books gone or is it just the doll has been retired? i like felicity and samantha and even though i can't afford them i alaways hoped to get them one day but samantha has been retired for some time now.

[daniele7ster]

04:23 PM on 09/09/2011

The American Girl store has a huge bookstore on the ground level. Not sure what becomes of retired dolls once they move out of the museum upstairs ...

[lbe3751730]

01:01 PM on 09/08/2011

questions like the quick poll on this doll is very misleading. you shouldn't have to choose between the two. they are both important and you can't change history even though they are trying there best.history is what it is

[Yam716]

12:23 PM on 09/08/2011

Have they done away with the Addy Walker story completely? I hope not. I read the series as a child and it was great! I even had the Addy doll.

That said, why can't we talk about slavery? Isn't it important to know where you came from? To know the full history, despite the fact that it's not peachy?

IDK much about Cecile but I wish her success.

[adriecm]

12:23 PM on 09/08/2011

I like both. I grew up reading the Addy books.
That doll, and the others, got me interested in reading and learning about history and different cultures. I think the new doll is great. It shows a different side, which is nice.

[Kortney]

02:37 PM on 09/08/2011

I agree..

[itismedia]

09:55 AM on 09/08/2011

While slavery was a horrible time in our history it is something that should be taught and discussed. We should learn from our history in order to become better people. Pretending something didn't happen does not make it so. I think American Girl has done a great job with BOTH dolls as they both represent important parts of American history.

[labontefanswife1]

09:46 AM on 09/08/2011

I just don't get American Girl doll's, I guess I never will. My daughter's have had many "higher-end" dolls over the years, but have never owned an American Girl doll.

[The Angel Technician]

02:11 PM on 09/08/2011

They are designed to empower young impressionable American girls, get them interested in history and cultural diversity. If those are things that do not interest you or things that you have no knowledge of then you will probably not get the "American Girl" line of dolls. There is always Barbie for your daughters. She can teach them how to be insanely skinny, look pretty for boys and to be mass consumers.

[labontefanswife1]

08:21 PM on 09/08/2011

I don't know, just something about someone paying $100 for their child to play with a homeless girl or a slave girl seems wrong. My friend has a couple of these dolls, and she tells me that the stories are fiction, which I think it would be more interesting if they were true stories. Then young girls could be truly empowered learning about the real heroines of the past. Like a young Mary Pickersgill, or Rosa Parks, or Irena Sendler. I understand the importance of teaching children the past, but it just seems off...

[daniele7ster]

04:29 PM on 09/09/2011

I think the dolls fill the gap between Baby Dolls and Barbies. Each one has its own books, including a mystery series. (Nancy Drew 2.0) They remind me of "Sasha Dolls," a culturally diverse series of dolls designed by Swiss dollmaker Sasha Morgenthaler. http://www.sasha-dolls.com/