Shondaland's ‘Black Barbie’ Documentary: A Tribute to Black Excellence

Emotional, educational, and empowering—these three words perfectly encapsulate the experience of watching ‘Black Barbie: A Documentary.’ Written and directed by Lagueria Davis, the film takes viewers on an engaging journey through the creation and evolution of the Black Barbie. It highlights the significant roles of three influential Black women, including Davis’ aunt, Beulah Mitchell, one of the first Black employees at Mattel.

In the opening moments of the documentary, Lagueria Davis shares how, in 2011, she moved to Los Angeles to further her film career and temporarily stayed with her aunt, Beulah Mitchell. During her stay, Davis slept in a bedroom filled with boxes of dolls and dolls stacked to the ceiling. Although Lagueria was never a fan of dolls growing up, her curiosity about her aunt’s extensive collection led to a significant revelation. This discovery ultimately inspired the creation of an intriguing story about the cultural, social, and historical impact of the first Black Barbie doll. The documentary premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2023 and was subsequently picked up by Shonda Rhimes’ production company, Shondaland.

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The 40s-60s

The film enlightens viewers on the politics of the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights Movement, and racial segregation, while also emphasizing the significance of Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s 1940s “doll test.” This study revealed how Black children felt inferior due to their race, with questions such as “Which doll is pretty?”, to which they would point to the White doll, and “Which doll is bad?”, prompting them to point to the Black doll. And when asked, “What doll do you look like?” they would hesitantly and uncomfortably point to the Black doll. The test had a profound impact on the Supreme Court’s decision to end legal racial segregation in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education (1954) case.

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The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question

Reflecting on Barbie

Additionally, the documentary features stories from Black women who worked at Mattel and includes appearances by notable figures such as television producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, renowned ballet dancer Misty Copeland, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and many more. Some of the Black women interviewed in the documentary either teared up or broke down during their confessionals, as they recalled the painful childhood memories of being mistreated simply for being Black girls. They reflected on how seeing only White Barbies made them feel “less than,” “not pretty enough,” or incapable of pursuing the diverse careers depicted by the original Barbie dolls. This highlights the profound negative impact a lack of representation can have on an individual. Black Barbie was revolutionary in creating a new perception for Black girls and women, serving as a powerful reminder that they are beautiful too.

Paving the Way

Beulah Mitchell began her tenure at Mattel in 1955 on the assembly line, where she remained dedicated for over four decades. Growing up, Mitchell had a fascination with dolls, finding them beautiful and adoring their fashion, though she never imagined owning one that resembled her. In the documentary, she recalls building a strong relationship with Ruth Handler, Barbie’s founder, who often visited the assembly line seeking their opinions on future Barbie designs. About five years into her employment, Mitchell proposed the idea of a Black Barbie to Handler, who responded, “We’ll see.” While Mattel introduced Black dolls like “Christie” in the late 1960s, they were distinct from Barbies. Christie was simply a side character.

The first true Black Barbie came into existence decades later, thanks to Kitty Black Perkins, its inaugural Black designer, who began working for Mattel in 1976. In a Mattel magazine, Perkins stated, “When I designed Black Barbie, I wanted her to reflect what Black culture was … And when Black Barbie came out, it raised the bar on Black dolls” The 1980 release of the Black Barbie marked a significant change from the traditional Barbie, featuring full lips, a wide nose, bold attire, and a short afro.

Experiments and Studies

An interesting concept the documentary sheds light on is that while many Black children today may not feel “ugly” or “bad” as shown in the 1940s Kenneth and Mamie Clark doll test, they are aware that Black Barbie was not the original “real Barbie” and doesn’t have her own story. This idea was explored through a study led by Yeshiva Davis (LFMT), inspired by the Clark and Clark doll test but broadened to include all skin shades, shapes, and sizes. The study focused on today’s children and their perceptions of modern Barbies. When asked which Barbie doll (out of roughly 10) they thought was the prettiest, the answers were varied, but the reasons were particularly intriguing. Some responses included, “She has skin like mine,” “Because of her dress,” and “I love her hairstyle.” The big picture was that none of the answers were negative about race.

Dr. Amirah Saafir, a Professor of Child and Adolescent Studies, facilitated a discussion among experts and researchers from various fields to explore the implications of the new test. During the conversation, Dr. Saafir posed a critical question about whose responsibility it is—whether it lies with parents, teachers, television shows, companies like Mattel, or others—to help children understand race and engage in safe, respectful conversations about it. Antwann Simpkins from UCLA’s Department of Sociology offered profound insights, stating, “To me, the ultimate goal of authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion is to disrupt the violent institutions, structures, and dolls … that exist because of the long legacy of colonialism.” They emphasized, “And until we are doing that work, then we’re just playing ourselves.” The conversation was eye-opening and thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to reflect on their understanding of race and ethnicity, their contributions to dismantling systems, and how they engage with children on these topics, given the impressionable nature of young minds.

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The Visual Appeal

The story of ‘Black Barbie: A Documentary‘ is beyond words—fascinating and deeply informative, it’s an experience that must be witnessed firsthand. What sets this documentary apart is its visual allure. Unlike documentaries in stark black and white with somber scores, ‘Black Barbie’ is a burst of color and vitality. Each speaker exudes conviction and often joy, making the journey through the decades seamless and engaging. The creative transition scenes transport us effortlessly from one era to the next, while the inclusion of a visual timeline with graphics prepares the audience for the dive into each chapter. These precise details underscore Lagueria Davis and her team’s commitment to blending visual appeal with rich, educational content.

A Thank You…

This documentary comes highly recommended, offering an essential viewing experience for everyone. It embodies a profound dedication to history and passion, thanks to the remarkable efforts of Lagueria Davis, Shonda Rhimes, and all those involved in bringing this empowering and enlightening film to life. Special appreciation is owed to Beulah Mitchell, Kitty Black Perkins, and Stacey McBride-Irby for their courage, resilience, and commitment to affirming the existence and value of Black girls.

While Black Barbie may not have her own movies or series like ‘Barbie Movie‘ or ‘Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse‘, this documentary stands as a testament to her heroic contribution to history. It celebrates her role in empowering Black girls to embrace being Black, beautiful, and dynamite.

Starring: Beulah Mae Mitchell, Kitty Black, Perkins | Director & Writer: Lagueria Davis | Executive Producer: Shonda Rhimes | Archival Producer: Rebecca Kent

By Kaili Spooner

Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.

I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”

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Kaili Spooner

Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.

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