Black Barbie: A Documentary
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Detailed docu shows dolls' broad and positive impact.
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Black Barbie: A Documentary
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What's the Story?
Filmmaker Lagueria Davis started this documentary about BLACK BARBIE more than a decade ago. She was inspired by her aunt, Beulah Mae Mitchell, who worked for decades at Mattel and was part of the inspiration behind the launch of a line of Black dolls. Still, it took almost two decades before a Black version of the popular Barbie doll hit markets. Mitchell and others, like doll designers Kitty Black Perkins and Stacey McBride-Irby, talk about their experiences at Mattel, revealing their roles in rising up other Black creatives and creating dolls that represented a variety of Black experiences. Other Black women, like Maxine Waters, Shonda Rhimes, Misty Copeland, and others, share their own perspectives on the significance of Black Barbie, both as pioneers in their own fields (and models for Barbie dolls) and as people who have faced discriminatory obstacles in their lives and careers.
Is It Any Good?
The number of high-profile interviewees alone makes this documentary a feat in production and editing, but its difficult subject matter makes it a necessary film as well. Black Barbie pulls together commentary from a wide range of sources, potentially broadening the film's interest out across a spectrum of professional fields. The fact that the commentaries become so personal, and in many cases quite emotional, raises the documentary up a level. Its use of a timeline and "chapters" gives it a didactic feel, and surely this film could be employed for educational purposes. For those same reasons, the content can feel a little overwhelming. Even if spectators only consume individual sections of the documentary at a time, which might be recommendable, they will walk away with a lot to think about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it was challenging, if not outright damaging, that Black Barbie took so long to come into existence. What was the impact on Black children of having few to no Black dolls to play with?
What did the interviewees have in common? How did they differ?
How have the women interviewed in the documentary shown perseverance ? What about teamwork?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: June 19, 2024
- Cast: Beulah Mae Mitchell , Kitty Black Perkins , Stacey McBride-Irby
- Director: Lagueria Davis
- Inclusion Information: Female directors
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism , Great Girl Role Models , History
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 25, 2024
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