The Netflix documentary Black Barbie chronicles Kitty Perkins’ journey to create the iconic black Barbie dolls. Produced by Shonda Rhimes, the documentary focuses on how Mattel received criticism for making dolls with fair skin tones, leading Perkins to launch the first Black Barbie doll in 1980. The documentary Black Barbie: A Documentary is available to stream on Netflix.
Mattel initially produced a couple of Black dolls in the late 1960s. However, they were considered sidekicks and didn’t accurately represent Black women and how they looked. According to People Magazine, in 1979, Mattel allowed Kitty Perkins to create a colored Barbie doll. After working on the designs, Mattel released Perkins’ doll a year later in their stores and instantly became successful.
When was the first Black Barbie released?
As mentioned earlier, the dolls created by Kitty Perkins made their debut in 1980. The packaging for Black Barbie read, “She’s Black! She’s beautiful! She’s dynamite!” Citing the documentary, People Magazine revealed that Kitty Perkins wanted the Barbie doll to be different than the original one. Moreover, she didn’t want her doll to wear shiny gowns and have flowing hair.
Instead, she collaborated with a designer and a sculptor to make a doll resembling a Black woman. She said, “I wanted her just to reflect the total look of a Black woman. I gave her bold colors, bold jewelry, short hair, and a wrap skirt that could actually show skin.”
Who made the first Black Barbie and why?
South Carolina native Kitty Perkins made the first Black Barbie doll in 1980. People Magazine reported that she had never owned a Barbie doll during her childhood. As she grew older, Perkins became interested in fashion and studied fashion design. Five years later, she gave an interview for a job at Mattel and impressed everyone by creating several outfits for the iconic doll. As a result, Mattel hired her, and she became the first Black designer for Barbie in 1976.
Before Kitty Perkins’ doll surfaced in stores, there was no other colored doll that depicted Black women with precision. So, Perkins thought of creating something young Black girls could resonate with. Citing Perkins’ statement, People Magazine noted, “When I designed this doll, there was a need for the little Black girl to really have something she could play with that looked like her.”
Kitty Perkins also revealed to People Magazine that she drew inspiration from the iconic musician Diana Ross when designing the dresses. According to the documentary, the first Black Barbie doll became a symbol of power and continues to be a beacon of hope for young Black girls.
Black Barbie: A Documentary is streaming on Netflix.
