American Girl hit 30 years old this year and to celebrate they introduced a few journalists to their newest historical doll.

Melody Ellison is just 9 years old. She is African American in the civil rights era! She is also a singer and comes with a full story. GoodBlackNews.org said this of the doll.

To ensure her story was authentic, American Girl formed a six-panel advisory board made up of historians and educators, including the late civil rights activist Julian Bond.

Lead designer Heather Northrop and her team worked with the board to bring Melody’s story to life. When it came to choosing her hair, Northrop said she consulted the panel several times to get the texture right. Melody even has her own bed and recording studio that plays music from Motown.

She’ll won’t be cheap though when she finally hits shelves later this summer. She will retail for $115 just for her or nearly $900 with all her accessories!

Further reading:

American Girl Debuts African-American Doll From Civil Rights Era

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/an-american-girl-doll-moves-in-down-the-hall/
http://www.americangirl.com/shop/no-ordinary-sound-melody-classic-1-dlf58