Toy maker Mattel Inc. announced last week it would produce a special collectible Barbie in honor of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation's first Greek-lettered sorority established by black women.
The doll will be clad in the sorority's colors, pink and green. The doll is the first in the company's history to be based on a sorority or other organization founded by black women, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The sorority celebrated its centennial Saturday in D.C.
Howard University students founded the sorority in 1908. Its headquarters is now located in Chicago.
Alpha Kappa Alpha members have included civil-rights activist Rosa Parks, former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, author Maya Angelou and four of the past seven black Miss Americas.
-CHRIS COTTRELL
