Greta Gerwig didn’t call Margot Robbie’s “Barbie” character Stereotypical Barbie for nothing.
The history of the white, blonde “all-American” beauty ideals have been wrapped up in the iconography of the Barbie doll itself, and now, Netflix’s aptly-titled “Black Barbie” documentary charts the creation of the first Black Mattel doll.
Executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, “Black Barbie” centers on a trio of Black women who forever impacted the legacy of both Barbie dolls and conglomerate Mattel itself. The first Black Barbie was created in 1980 after a Mattel employee asked company co-founder Ruth Handler, “Why don’t we make a Barbie that looks like me?”
It was a great question. And then they did exactly that by launching the first non-white Barbie.
The Shondaland documentary charts the historical impact of Black dolls on both the Civil Rights Movement and Black entrepreneurship in the U.S.
Filmmaker Lagueria Davis writes, directs, and produces “Black Barbie,” with Aaliyah Williams co-producing. Netflix’s “Bridgerton” team Rhimes and Betsy Beers are executive producers, along with Camilla Hall, Jyoti Sarda, Milan Chakraborty, Grace Lay, and Sumalee Montano.
Through Mattel, Rhimes has her own Barbie doll in her likeness. That in part inspired her to help create the documentary, she told Variety.
“I think there’s something really powerful about it. I played with those dolls when I was a kid,” Rhimes said. “We also had just a very interesting opportunity to add to that documentary, and to provide a lot more content and context. We have added interviews; we’ve been inside Mattel.”
“Black Barbie” premieres June 19 on Netflix. Check out the trailer below.
Rhimes’ Shondaland production company has an overall deal at Netflix.
“I’m very happy there,” Rhimes said of the partnership. “We’re making the projects we want to make and getting the creative control that we wanted to have. As long as I’m happy there, I’m staying there.”
