From Grey’s Anatomy to Bridgerton, it is a truth universally acknowledged that we will devour anything and everything that bears the good name of Shonda Rhimes. And so, when we learned that Netflix had secured the rights to a new Shondaland production, it quickly made it onto our must-watch list – especially when we learned it’s all about the first Black Barbie and the pivotal role three trailblazing women at Mattel had in creating a doll who looked like them.

Watch the trailer for Black Barbie below:

Don’t tell us you’re not already invested. Here’s what you need to know, then, about Black Barbie.

What is Black Barbie about?

When Ruth Handler created the first Barbie in 1959, her aim was simple: that, through the doll, a little girl could be anything she wanted to be.

You cannot be what you cannot see, though, which is why three Black women at Mattel – Beulah Mae Mitchell, Kitty Black Perkins, and Stacey McBride Irby – worked tirelessly to introduce the world to the very first Black Barbie in 1980.

“Through insider interviews and charismatic retellings of what went down at Mattel in the days leading up to Black Barbie’s debut, the documentary examines the importance of true representation – and how dolls are not just dolls, but childhood symbols that can be crucial to identity formation and imagination,” promises the official synopsis.

What are people saying about Black Barbie?

Executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, the documentary is directed by none other than Lagueria Davis, who just so happens to share a very close connection with one of the aforementioned trailblazers who brought Black Barbie into existence.

“Telling Black Barbie’s story has been such a personal journey and it warms my heart to celebrate the legacy of my aunt Beulah Mae Mitchell, Kitty Black Perkins and Stacey McBride Irby in our film,” says Davis.

“We couldn’t have asked for better collaborators than Shondaland and Netflix to bring this story to the world.”

When can we watch Black Barbie?

Netflix’s Black Barbie will become available for streaming from Wednesday 19 June. 

Will you be watching?

Images: Netflix