Culture

Mattel unveils barbie honoring Maya Angelou

Mattel has unveiled a Barbie honoring iconic author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, ahead of Black history month.

Published

5 years ago

January 15, 2021

UVM Staff

Mattel Unveils Barbie Honoring Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (Photo: Mattel)

Stay connected via Google News

Mattel has unveiled a Barbie doll honoring Maya Angelou ahead of Black history month.

Maya Angelou barbie

The Barbie wears a floral print floor-length dress and a matching head wrap. She also proudly holds Angelou’s infamous literary piece I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

The figurine of the iconic author and civil rights activist is part of Barbie’s Inspiring Women series which includes other dolls of influential women.

Maya Angelou, Mattel

Commitment to the Black community

Angelou’s barbie was also created to honor the company’s commitment to the Black community in 2020, which includes initiatives such as making sure one in five dolls created are Black of various skin tones.

“Our efforts include a commitment to spotlight more Black role models who are female, and now, we are introducing a doll that honors Dr. Maya Angelou, author and activist who used her voice and unique writing style to connect with people and inspire generations,” Mattel wrote in a statement.

Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved. Unheard Voices Magazine ®

Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!

Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, News Break

Up Next

Converse debuts Crispus Attucks All Star shoes in honor of trailblazing Indiana High School basketball team

Don't Miss

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

UVM Staff

Unheard Voices, an award-winning, family owned online news magazine, began in 2004 as a community newsletter serving Neptune, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, N.J. Over time, it grew into a nationally recognized Black-owned media outlet. The publication remains one of the few dedicated to covering social justice issues. Its honors include the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and multiple media innovator awards for excellence in social justice reporting and communications.