American Girl Saga Continues
American Girl Saga Continues
The message being delivered to the American Girl company by about 50 high school students and community leaders assembled outside the store’s headquarters on Chicago Avenue March 29 came through loud and clear.
Don’t mess with Pilsen.
Many in the Pilsen community were upset when the company released a Latina doll earlier this year named Marisol whose family was leaving the neighborhood because it was too dangerous. Residents argued that the story had been formulated without consulting Pilsen residents, and that it furthered negative stereotypes of an urban Latino neighborhood while ignoring the positive things going on in the vibrant community.
Students from Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy, an alternative school in Pilsen, joined students from the Pedro Albizu Campos alternative high school in Humboldt Park in calling for the company to withdraw the book about Marisol. They also asked the company to put its money where its mouth is by offering 15 scholarships for local students and funding for youth programs, to show the company has a genuine interest in the neighborhood beyond selling dolls and books.
”They’re making money off the community but not investing in it,” said Lozano student Adam Rios.
Maria Quintana, a Lozano student who spoke at the rally and delivered the students’ requests for scholarships, said she felt the rally was a success.
“It was amazing for young people to get together and have our voices heard,” she said. “That doesn’t happen often enough.”
“I think we should be proud of what we did,” agreed Lozano student Alfredo Martinez. “If they don’t respond to us, we’ll have to work even harder to show them what we’ve got.”
Students and community leaders said the idea of Pilsen as inordinately dangerous is just not true.
A statement from American Girl pointed out that Marisol did call Pilsen “the best place in the world” and was sad to leave. It said the family’s decision to move was based on wanting a house rather than apartment, wanting a yard and her mother wanting to be closer to work.
“(Author Gary) Soto chose to set the story in this neighborhood because, upon his numerous visits there, he was impressed and intrigued by its charm, rich tradition and energy,” says the statement. “We are proud to have created this beautiful and engaging Latina character for millions of girls of all races, backgrounds and cultures to enjoy.”
Pilsen Ald. Danny Solis called on American Girl to “regain Pilsen’s trust in your company,” a request some snickered at since the majority of Pilsen families probably have never been frequent customers of the store, which sells most dolls for $85.
Several speakers mentioned the gentrification going on in Pilsen, and theorized that the book could be part of an effort to move low-income Latinos out and clear the area for higher-income people. Even if there was no actual attempt to do so, others noted, no realistic story about Pilsen could ignore the ever-present gentrification issue.
”There are other issues like gentrification going on in Pilsen,” said Yvonne Nieves, a counselor at Albizu Campos. “Maybe if the book said little Marisol moved out because she couldn’t afford the rent anymore, that would be more realistic.”