The creation of the first black Barbie doll is a historic and iconic event in toy history. A new Netflix documentary explores the behind-the-scenes design of this iconic doll, with exclusive interviews with the original designer.
Director and screenwriter Lagueria Davis was inspired by the personal story of his great aunt, Beulah Mae Mitchell, who worked at Mattel and asked the essential question: Why weren’t black Barbies made? This question sparked a conversation that led to the creation of the very first black Barbie in 1980.
The Netflix documentary traces the story of the first-ever black Barbie, with first-hand accounts from the doll’s original designer, Kitty Black Perkins. The latter remembers the first discussions about the doll’s appearance.
“I did a lot of research. We did a lot of focus groups with little girls to find out exactly what they wanted. We also consulted with their moms. Our team working on the Black Barbie was amazing. We had a sculptor specific, Abo, which was brilliant. It slightly widened the black Barbie’s nose, thickened her lips, and made her silhouette more sculptural. It provided me with an extraordinary basis to work with,” explains Perkins in a recent interview with l. ‘AP.
The documentary features interviews with representatives from Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, designers, and marketers, exploring all the planning and thinking that went into designing the first doll, marketing it, and putting it on sale in stores, thus allowing children to broaden their vision of the world and more specifically black children to feel represented.
Interviews with children are also included to understand how they perceive different Barbie dolls and the impact on their play, self-esteem and identity.
The film’s producer, Aaliyah Williams, says it was surprising and interesting to hear the children talk about the doll and the insights it brought to the filmmakers. According to her, children have an open-mindedness that often exceeds that of adults.
However, Lagueria Davis points out that these discussions with the children also revealed their deep sensitivity to racism. Despite educational efforts at home, children are influenced by outside forces.
This documentary celebrates black culture, traces the history of black dolls and their impact on civil rights and entrepreneurship. “Black Barbie” is now available to stream on Netflix worldwide, giving viewers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this cultural icon.