The film is entirely about Mattel products. Other brands seen or mentioned include media outlets, Oprah Winfrey, Shindana, eBay, United Negro College Fund, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) such as Howard.
Violence & Scariness
a little
Besides the prevalent discussion of the harms of racism, discrimination, and poverty on children and society, the film contains images of the Watts race riots and mention of police brutality against Black people.
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The film is about the creation and significance of Black Barbie and the impacts of racial discrimination, particularly on children. Women reflect on their contributions to Barbie creator Mattel's diversification and evolution, as well as on the racism they experienced as kids. They describe being made fun of or called names for the way they looked, and the radical change that having Black dolls made in their lives. Children today still feel the effects of racism, as seen in interviews and a research project that is captured in the film. Black Barbies were designed with different hair textures, skin tones, and styles in order to represent the diversity of the Black experience.
Kids benefit emotionally and socially from playing with dolls that represent them and the people around them. Everyone in a society benefits when all members feel accepted and valued. Racial equality is an ongoing goal in the United States. Equality begins with access, inclusion, and positive representation.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Black women paved paths for other Black women to follow, becoming pioneers in their fields and companies at a time when racial segregation and discrimination were still legal. Black women show teamwork in lifting each other up. Interviewees include trailblazers like the first Black female Congresswoman, the first Black woman TV showrunner to hit multiple 100-episode hits, the first Black female billionaire, the first Black principal ballet dancer, the designer of the first Black Barbies, and more. Black women show perseverance in the face of racism and sexism, and the filmmaker shows perseverance herself in spending 13 years to make this movie.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the documentary Black Barbie details, through interviews with mostly Black women, the harm that racism and discrimination can cause, especially on children. The film also includes derogatory terms for Black people such as the "N" word and "chocolate bar," as well as swear words like "s--t" and "boss-ass bitch." Mattel products are on significant display as the film details the introduction and evolution of Black Barbie dolls and their importance to people. It also offers a timeline of key events in the history of Black Barbie and Black women in the United States. Some images of the Watts race riots and mention of police brutality against Black people. The documentary includes interviews with a range of Black women pioneers, highlighting their perseverance and teamwork. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Katherine R.Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
June 26, 2024
age 12+
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.
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?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
