The documentary Black Barbie (The Black Barbiein French) has been streaming on Netflix since last week. And since I LOVE Barbie, I listened to it as soon as it came out. It talks about the creation of the first black doll, identity, and the importance of being able to play with toys that look like us. No matter our skin color. Here’s what I learned!
A black woman suggested the creation of the black Barbie
The documentary is directed by Lagueria Davis, who lived for a long time with her aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell… And she loves dolls!
She was one of the first black employees at Mattel, the company that created Barbie. She even became friends with the doll’s “mom”, Ruth Handler. It was Beulah Mae Mitchell and her colleagues who asked him in 1960 and 1961 to create a black Barbie.
Black dolls were banned in some places
Like many women in her community, during her childhood, Beulah Mae Mitchell never saw black dolls. So she had to play with white-skinned dolls, or make her own, with what she found at home.
We also learned that in certain places in the United States, black dolls were banned.
Singer Diana Ross inspired the first black Barbie
Mattel has been creating black dolls since 1967. Their names are Francie and Christie, and they are friends of Barbie. But it took until 1980 to see the first real black Barbie!
“This doll allowed the little black girl to be the heroine of her story,” said Patricia A Turner, an American historian.
It was created by designer Kitty Black Perkins. She remembers very well what she wanted to create with this doll: “I wanted her to look like a black woman. I was inspired by the singer Diana Ross,” she reveals in the documentary.
There was no advertising for the black Barbie
Unfortunately, upon its release, Mattel did not advertise the Black Barbie at all. Neither in the newspapers nor on TV. Advertisements at the time only showed white dolls. Even several black women interviewed didn’t even know it existed!
Mattel funded a major toy company
I also learned that Mattel donated a lot of money to a toy company founded by black people called Shindana Toy Company. Their dolls were inspired by women in the community and one of them became the first black doll to be inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame!
I learned a lot from watching this documentary! And you, what is your favorite toy? Do you know his story?
Camille Lopez, The Aces of Info
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