I had all kinds of dolls that represented various groups of people. My mother refused to buy my eldest sister Barbie, because she thought the doll would warp her and was a bad influence for women (this was in the 70's). My sister saved up her allowance money and bought them for me since she was deprived.
I had plenty of other dolls, and my room was decorated with Raggedy Anne and Andy, which I think I can blame my clown phobia on.
My mother finally relented and I had barbies of all colors (and jobs!). Why shouldn't my dolls look like my friends and family members? Same with my Cabbage Patch Kids.
slight hijack ahead...since my mom was a hippy feminist my sister had Holly Hobbie, Boy Scout Dolls, and The Sunshine Family (hippies that traveled in a VW bus and sold crafts and what not), anyone else remember those?