Black Barbie gets the starring role in a documentary screening in Louisville

Barbie has had a big summer with the release of the blockbuster movie. Another doll’s story will be on the big screen this week in the documentary “Black Barbie.”
The documentary zooms in past the doll herself to explain how Black women working at Mattel successfully made Black Barbie a reality in 1980.

Director Lagueria Davis wasn’t a big fan of Barbies growing up.

“I didn't know that Black Barbie existed. And I didn't know that she had a story,” Davis said.

Mattel had created Black dolls before 1980, but they were all friends of Barbie. It wasn’t until the release of a doll with brown skin, an afro and a box that read “She’s black. She’s beautiful. She’s dynamite.” that a Black doll was named Barbie.