The Kenya Doll and Other Classic African-American Toys

Take a trip down memory lane with Black toys of yesteryear.

Kenya Is Back - As girls — and some women in their 20s — anxiously await the return of the Kenya doll, BET.com looks back at African-Americans dolls and toys that made our youth memorable. —Britt Middleton Manufacturers of the popular Kenya doll, plan to relaunch the all-African-American line of dolls in November. And yes, she will still come with her trusty Magic Hair Lotion, styling guide and hair accessories to keep her flowing mane in shape. (Photo: kenyasfriendshipclub.com)

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Kenya Is Back - As girls — and some women in their 20s — anxiously await the return of the Kenya doll, BET.com looks back at African-Americans dolls and toys that made our youth memorable. —Britt Middleton Manufacturers of the popular Kenya doll, plan to relaunch the all-African-American line of dolls in November. And yes, she will still come with her trusty Magic Hair Lotion, styling guide and hair accessories to keep her flowing mane in shape. (Photo: kenyasfriendshipclub.com)

G.I. Joe - Way before the cartoons dominated Saturday mornings in the 1980s, G.I. Joe was a popular line of action figures. Adventurer Team G.I. Joe, with his "eagle eyes, life-like hair and beard and Kung-Fu grip” was the line's first African-American action figure in 1970.  (Photo: Hasbro)

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G.I. Joe - Way before the cartoons dominated Saturday mornings in the 1980s, G.I. Joe was a popular line of action figures. Adventurer Team G.I. Joe, with his "eagle eyes, life-like hair and beard and Kung-Fu grip” was the line's first African-American action figure in 1970.  (Photo: Hasbro)

Disney's Princess Tiana - Princess Tiana is rather new on the scene, but as the first Black Disney princess, she instantly won a place in the hearts of women young and old. (Photo: toysrus.com)

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Disney's Princess Tiana - Princess Tiana is rather new on the scene, but as the first Black Disney princess, she instantly won a place in the hearts of women young and old. (Photo: toysrus.com)

The Christie Doll - Christie, Mattel's first Black friend of Barbie, was introduced in 1968. With her perfectly coifed afro and bold ensembles, she was hard to miss. Mattel also produced a Black Barbie doll. (Photo: Mattel)

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The Christie Doll - Christie, Mattel's first Black friend of Barbie, was introduced in 1968. With her perfectly coifed afro and bold ensembles, she was hard to miss. Mattel also produced a Black Barbie doll. (Photo: Mattel)

Addy Walker - Addy Walker was the first Black doll in the American Girl collection and the first to tell the story of a Civil War-era family separated by slavery. (Photo: americangirl.com) 

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Addy Walker - Addy Walker was the first Black doll in the American Girl collection and the first to tell the story of a Civil War-era family separated by slavery. (Photo: americangirl.com) 

Photo By Photo: americangirl.com

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Fat Albert  - With his jolly demeanor and classic catch phrase, it's no surprise why children of the 1970s went crazy for the Fat Albert action figure based on the animated series created by Bill Cosby. (Photo: Sababa Toys)

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Fat Albert  - With his jolly demeanor and classic catch phrase, it's no surprise why children of the 1970s went crazy for the Fat Albert action figure based on the animated series created by Bill Cosby. (Photo: Sababa Toys)

The Black Ranger - Black actor Walter Emanuel Jones happened to play the Black Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series of the 1990s. (Photo: Disney)

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The Black Ranger - Black actor Walter Emanuel Jones happened to play the Black Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series of the 1990s. (Photo: Disney)

Photo By Photo: Disney

My Buddy - The My Buddy dolls were a constant companion for many little boys in the 1980s, although his vacant eyes and smirk seem a little more devious now than we remembered. (Photo: shopgoodwill.com)

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My Buddy - The My Buddy dolls were a constant companion for many little boys in the 1980s, although his vacant eyes and smirk seem a little more devious now than we remembered. (Photo: shopgoodwill.com)

Cabbage Patch Kids  - Cabbage Patch Kids may be the symbol of all that is sweet and good in the world, but their popularity was so overwhelming in the 1980s that parents rioted in toy stores to get their hands on one. As an added bonus, the dolls came in both male and female versions and a wide range of ethnicities. (Photo: franshouseofdollsandtoys.com)

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Cabbage Patch Kids  - Cabbage Patch Kids may be the symbol of all that is sweet and good in the world, but their popularity was so overwhelming in the 1980s that parents rioted in toy stores to get their hands on one. As an added bonus, the dolls came in both male and female versions and a wide range of ethnicities. (Photo: franshouseofdollsandtoys.com)