Shonda Rhimes, the prolific producer known for her work on Netflix, has acquired the rights to “Black Barbie: A Documentary.”
The film, originally premiered at SXSW, delves into the history of Mattel’s introduction of the first Black Barbie in 1980, marking a significant moment in bringing diversity to the iconic doll brand.
Lagueria Davis, the filmmaker behind this documentary, wrote and directed the film. Her inspiration came from her aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell, who was one of three Black women working at Mattel advocating for the groundbreaking Black Barbie.
“Black Barbie” explores the importance of representation and how dolls can play a vital role in shaping identity and sparking imagination.
Cultural commentators, historians, and consumers provide their insights into the doll’s impact. Black women, including Mitchell, share their personal stories of not seeing themselves represented and discuss how Black Barbie’s introduction influenced them.
According to a report by Daily News, Lagueria Davis expressed her excitement about the documentary’s acquisition, saying:
“Telling Black Barbie’s story has been such a personal journey, and it warms my heart to celebrate the legacy of my aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell, Kitty Black Perkins, and Stacey McBride Irby in our film. We couldn’t have asked for better collaborators than Shondaland and Netflix to bring this story to the world.”
Shonda Rhimes, known for her groundbreaking work, has recently had her likeness honored with a Barbie doll as part of Mattel’s International Women’s Day celebration.
This acquisition aligns with her ongoing commitment to promoting diversity and representation.
This news follows the announcement of Greta Gerwig’s history-making, billion-dollar feature film starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.
The star-studded cast also includes Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, and Academy Award winner Helen Mirren.
