LOS ANGELES — As Juneteenth gains recognition as a day of celebration in the Black community, a new Netflix documentary released on Juneteenth sheds light on an unsuspectingly pivotal moment in history: the creation of the first Black Barbie.

Kitty Black Perkins didn’t have Black dolls growing up. Not only would she own some, she would also be the designer for the first Black Barbie released in 1980. 

“It was so different and it felt really, really good to be able to, just express myself through the doll,” Black Perkins said. 

Sitting at The Salt Eaters Bookshop in Inglewood, surrounded by cushions adorned with Barbies she designed, and a keepsake original Black Barbie, Black Perkins said she had no idea the momentous reception the doll would get. 

“At the time I felt it was going to be a success, but I had no idea of the magnitude that it was going to bring,” she said.

The impact of the Barbie, Black Perkins and her colleagues Beula-Mae Mitchell and Stacey McBride Irby is now cemented in a Netflix documentary, “Black Barbie.” 

The film was the brainchild of Lagueria Davis, the niece of Beula Mae Mitchell. Davis, who had always known her aunt worked for Mattel, delved into her aunt’s history and discovered it a story worth telling.

“Connecting those dots and the things that, sometimes generations can take for granted — the work that was done — just for us to have what we have in our life, and the work that we’re doing for future generations to have in their life,” Davis explained. 

Featuring influential figures like Shonda Rhimes and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, “Black Barbie” is described by Davis as “a love letter to Black women and Black girls.”

The film also explores the psychological importance of representation, highlighting how having dolls of color, or lack thereof, affected societal views and the self-esteem of Black children. 

Producer Aaliyah Williams was surprised to learn that Black Barbie didn’t exist until 1980. 

Williams grew up with Black dolls thanks to her parents’ awareness of a 19080s doll test, which revealed the negative effects on Black children who didn’t have dolls that looked like them. 

That same doll test had an influence on Brown v. Board of Education. The case that ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. 

“It was this doll test and understanding how there is damage done with kids who didn’t see themselves, and dolls that look like them, that made such a monumental piece of legislation happened. I just thought that was incredible,” Williams said. “I’m excited for little girls and little boys to see this and know that whatever it is that they want to make, they can.”

Kitty Black Perkins now fully understands the wide-reaching impact of her work. “I know talking with a lot of ladies and a lot of young people. They enjoy having Black dolls in their lives now,” she said.

“Black Barbie” is available to stream on Netflix now.