Aunt's surprising connection to Black Barbie spurs OU alum to create documentary

Lagueria Davis' 12-year journey of making "Black Barbie: A Documentary" started when she learned something new about her aunt, Beulah Mae Mitchell.

"I moved to Los Angeles and stayed with her for a few months. And she told me her story, which consisted of her working at Mattel for 45 years. And she was on that first Barbie line and was like, 'Why not make a Barbie that looks like me?' And I was struck. I was like, 'There's a story here,'" said Davis, the writer and director of "Black Barbie."

A University of Oklahoma alumnus, Davis is back in the Sooner State, where her "Black Barbie" has been selected as the opening-night film of the 23rd Annual deadCenter Film Festival, beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday in and around downtown Oklahoma City.

Along with chronicling her aunt's role as the person who first suggested Mattel make a Black Barbie, the documentary also explores the topic of Black female representation through the history of the first African American version of the iconic doll.

"Watching the documentary, you'll see how we center the story around Black Barbie and how that relates to just being a Black woman navigating this world. Sometimes, we as women are not centered, and our stories are not centered and valued. And so, we just celebrate and shine a light, saying, 'Hey, Black Barbie has a story,'" said Davis, whose Aunt Beulah Mae, now 85, worked at Mattel from 1955 to 1999.

"Barbie was released in '59, Black Barbie was released in 1980, (so it took) 21 years. That's a long time."

When is 'Black Barbie' showing at OKC's deadCenter Film Festival?

After premiering in Davis' native Texas at South By Southwest in Austin, "Black Barbie" will show at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, with an encore screening at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Harkins Bricktown 16, as part of deadCenter 2023.

"This is actually the third time that I've had something screening at deadCenter: When I was at the University of Oklahoma, one of my first short films — shot on black-and-white 16 millimeter — screened here. And that was lovely," Davis told The Oklahoman on Wednesday in an interview in the deadCenter press room.

"Then, in 2010, my first feature that I wrote and directed, '1 in 3,' screened at deadCenter 10. And now I'm back with a third film — second feature, first documentary — and it feels like a very kismet, synergetic, full-circle moment."

During Thursday's opening-night festivities, deadCenter officials announced that "Black Barbie" is the winner of this year’s Special Jury: Best Documentary Award.

Davis also spoke with The Oklahoman about the mixed feelings people have about Barbie, her documentary hitting the film festival circuit as Greta Gerwig's long-awaited "Barbie" movie is coming to theaters and more:

Q: How did being at OU and working in Oklahoma set the stage for you as a storyteller?

Davis: I cut my teeth in the film industry at the University of Oklahoma and in Oklahoma, working on films in various production roles, really just getting my foundation and learning the ropes. So, at the University of Oklahoma, with my bachelor's in fine arts, I learned an experimental way of filmmaking, which is great, because I'm able to incorporate that into my works that are less experimental and more scripted.

Then, after that, I was able to work on some films back in the day when they came through here, from "Bringing up Bobby," to "To the Wonder" and "The Cherokee Word for Water," working my way up through the production ranks.

Q: How has 'Black Barbie' been received so far?

Davis: We had a great premiere at South By Southwest, we sold out our screenings. ... I was just in Toronto for our international premiere (at the Hot Docs festival, with) the line wrapped around. The audience has been so great. I always say there's an "I" in filmmaking, but we know that it takes a team and a village — and now the audience is a part of that. And it's been great to welcome them into the world of "Black Barbie." ...

(We're going) to continue with the busy festival run, and I'm hoping to get a little bit of this "Barbie" love that's going out and about and is everywhere. If we can get a little of that "Barbie" love sprinkled onto "Black Barbie" and the enthusiasm and the excitement to get it in theaters and get some people out to see it, (they can) have a little fun with that movie and then come out and be like, "Oh, I didn't know Black Barbie had a story." I didn't know when I first started the project, so you can be in the know on all things not only "Barbie," but "Black Barbie," as well.

Q: What is it about Barbie that makes people love her so much?

Davis: Love her or hate her, you have a story. And that's the thing: I don't know if she's as beloved. I think people have mixed opinions and feelings, and I definitely have encountered those folks during the making of and now out with the film.

I just think that (in) popular culture, she fits right into all the things that are positive and negative and is a conversation starter. And I think she'll always be a conversation starter. And with 'Black Barbie,' we're wanting to be a part of that conversation.

deadCenter Film Festival

• When: Through June 11.

• Where: Multiple venues in and around downtown Oklahoma City.

• Tickets and information: https://deadcenterfilm.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU grad's 'Black Barbie' documentary opens OKC deadCenter Film Fest