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Original poster

Black action men, Asian action men- where can I get them?

33 replies

ScummyMummy · 30/05/2004 19:55

Just realised that my sons' extensive collection of action men are all white. Not happy about this. Does anyone know where I can get some black and asian action men? I've never seen any in Woolies or Argos which are my main toyshops of choice.

Also, are other parents concerned that mainstream retail outlets do not embrace diversity when it comes to dolls? I think it's a bad thing.

OP posts:
popsycal · 30/05/2004 19:57

just tried to google this out of interest.....

don't!

hercules · 30/05/2004 19:59

Never seen such things although you can get ethnic dolls.

jampot · 30/05/2004 19:59

I think you're right when it comes to male dolls but Barbie, Polly Pocket, Diva Starz, Bratz etc all seem pretty diverse to me. Not really thought about action man et al as ds was never really into it. Fisher Price do some nice "loving family" dolls covering the whole spectrum.

spacemonkey · 30/05/2004 20:00

Good question sm, and unfortunately I don't know where you might find such things.

When I was a kid (i.e. in about 1976) I had a black Sindy-type doll called "Domino". My dd had a black tiny tears doll. But I've never seen a black action man - ridiculous isn't it!

kalex · 30/05/2004 20:02

LOL spacemonket, were you only a child in 76, what were you the rest of the time

popsycal · 30/05/2004 20:04

Fisher price 'little people' also have a variety of ethnic groups as standard - but may be a bit too young for you sons by the sounds of it..

spacemonkey · 30/05/2004 20:04

oh you know what i mean!

discordia · 30/05/2004 20:06

There's a newish AM character who is dark skinned. Can't remember his name - something to do with a wolf? Never see any of Barbie's multicultural friends round here even tho I shop in Derby which is pretty multicultural. It is sad.

lou33 · 30/05/2004 20:16

She was a goth for the rest of the time Kalex.

SoupDragon · 30/05/2004 20:24

LOL @ Popsycal googling (I assume) "black action man"

popsycal · 30/05/2004 20:30

yes...correct

kalex · 30/05/2004 20:32

PMSL Lou33

Hulababy · 30/05/2004 20:36

This one is darker skins than the others I think - looks it in photo. Sadly it's an Australian site

On this site there are a lot of action men. Not checked them all but found these possibilities:

There is a Samurai one here

This is a native american indian called Red Wolf

lou33 · 30/05/2004 20:39

OMG, just don't try googling images using "black action man" while safesearch is off!

Hulababy · 30/05/2004 20:43

LOL at you two trying it out!!! I added the word mattel and toy to the end which did make it a bit 'better'

KatieMac · 02/06/2004 19:06

I had a lot of trouble finding a "mixed race" baby doll for my DD - but she didn't care if they were white or black.

However my Ofsted inspector (I'm a childminder) suggested that I wasn't portraying positive multicultural images - what on earth are my dd and dh(jamaican!)

hmb · 02/06/2004 19:21

Popsycal, I have just read this thread and LMAO at you googling black action man!!!

Almost as stupid as me when I was looking for a steam stripper via google!

treacletart · 02/06/2004 20:36

here you are Scummymummy, I've just found a vintage black Action Man for you on ebay his name is Tom Stone...

SoupDragon · 02/06/2004 21:01

I've just Googled black action man (obviously I had to try it out...) and got vintage action men! very disappointed.

popsycal · 02/06/2004 21:02

Soupy - did you scroll onto page 2 of the search????

I still can;t quite believe I searched for that though - innocently too!

lou33 · 02/06/2004 21:15

Ooh i got a saucy something on the first page!

popsycal · 02/06/2004 21:25

so did I,,,,but thought it might be worth checking out the other pages

i was searching for something really innocent the other day and got a BIG shock on page 2.......

Can't remember what it was now!!

WideWebWitch · 02/06/2004 21:29

Scummy, I agree with you, it's crap isn't it? My mum found a black Barbie type doll (I can't remember what she's called though) but I've never seen an Action Man that isn't white. Shall we complain to whoever makes them?

SoupDragon · 02/06/2004 21:30

I got a nasty shock looking for the clangers website once.

SoupDragon · 02/06/2004 21:34

Nothing at all saucy in the first 60 results for me. I'm sure I don't have parental controls set for myself.