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, Cecile 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, Cecile 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.
