American Black Beauty Doll Association (ABBDA) Raffle Dolls
Since the very first Festival of Black Doll Show, in 1985, ABBDA has created a handcrafted Raffle Doll every year for the doll show. We’ve skillfully collaborated to produce a one-of-a-kind creation, usually out of porcelain, but other materials as well. Recently, we have fashioned the raffle dolls after notable black forerunners, such as Madam CJ Walker, Harriet Tubman and Ruby Bridges.
ABBDA is “Soaring to New Heights” and has selected to create a replica of the first African American female astronaut MAE JEMISON.
Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first African-American woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. She has also written several books and appeared on many television programs including an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Born on October 17, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison graduated from Stanford University with degrees in Chemical Engineering, as well as African and African-American studies. She then earned her Medical degree from Cornell University. Jemison was a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985. She is quoted by saying, “Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination” and “Never limit others because of your own limited imagination".
ABBDA RAFFLE DOLL HISTORY
2022
Ms. Teloca McLin of Oakland, California, was the 2022 winner of the Festival of Black Dolls Show & Sale Raffle Doll. This one of a kind felt replica was of black aviatrix Bessie Coleman! Coleman’s nicknames were “Brave Bessie or Queen Bess”. Her goal was to encourage women and African Americans to reach their dreams.
2021
The 2021 winner of the Festival of Black Dolls Show & Sale Raffle Doll was Ms. F. Davis of Richmond, California! The porcelain replica was of none other than Madam C. J. Walker, successful pioneer and innovator of her era.
2020
In this new decade of 2020, ABBDA choose to replicate in porcelain, Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist and political activist. The raffle doll winner was Mrs. D. Cook of San Francisco, California
2019
In 2019 ABBDA selected to reproduce in porcelain, civil rights martyr Emmett Till. The raffle doll winner were Mr. & Mrs. G. Osborne of Aurora, Colorado.
2018
In 2018 ABBDA selected to reproduce in porcelain, Linda Brown, campaigner for equality in education and center of the historic case of Brown vs. the Board of Education. The raffle doll winner was Mrs. J. Moorey of Aurora, Colorado.
2017
In 2017 ABBDA selected to create, in porcelain, a replica of Ruby Bridges. An American civil rights activist, she was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana The raffle doll winner was Miss J. Williams of San Leandro, California.
