And so she did: “Black Barbie: A Documentary,” her newly-released project, takes a deeper look at the story behind Black Barbie and its impact on representation in the toy business, and culture more broadly.
The first Black Barbie (pictured center) wore a bold red dress, gold jewelry and an afro.
The actual Black Barbie doll didn’t become a reality until decades later, after the company hired Kitty Black Perkins in 1976 as its first Black designer.
“Having Black Barbie (dolls) just reinforces the fact that being Black is fly and amazing — and that Black women are gorgeous.
Black Barbie is also validation for us filmmakers, everybody who worked on it, being seen and heard in this industry,” she added.
Persons:
Lagueria Davis, Beulah Mitchell, Davis —, —, Barbie, ” Davis, Black Barbie, Black, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Maxine Waters, Copeland, Muhammad, Mitchell, Ruth Handler, Patricia A, Turner, Handler, “, ” Mitchell, “ Christie ”, Julia ”, Christie, Julia, Diahann Carroll, Kitty Black Perkins, Black Barbie’s, Black Perkins, ” Black Perkins, Aaliyah Williams, ”, ’, White, Yolanda Hester, Shani, Stacey McBride, Irby, McBride, Kitty, Stacy, Williams
Organizations:
CNN, Mattel, SXSW, Black, Netflix, “
Locations:
Mitchell’s