Kenya Barris

Kenya Barris (born August 9, 1974) is an American film and television writer, producer, director, and actor. He is best known as the creator of the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022).

Early life and education Barris, the second-youngest among four siblings, was born to Tina, who worked as a real estate agent, and her former husband Patrick, who was a factory worker at General Motors. Barris grew up in Inglewood, California and later moved with his family to the Valley, settling in Pacoima, Los Angeles. He was named after the country of Kenya, which his father had visited. His parents divorced when he was a child.

He is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University.

Career Barris has created numerous television shows, including the critically acclaimed Black-ish. The award-winning series also has two spin-offs, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish, He was a writer for The Game, Girlfriends, and Soul Food. Barris co-created and produced America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks. He penned the film Girls Trip. He co-produced the 2019 film Little and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2019 theatrical release Shaft.

In 2020, Barris made his acting debut in #BlackAF, a series he developed for Netflix, co-starring Rashida Jones and Iman Benson. In October 2020, Barris announced that he would write, produce, and direct a biopic on comedian Richard Pryor for MGM.

Also in 2020, it was reported his production company, Khalabo Ink Society, was considering a deal with ViacomCBS. His company entered a multi-project development deal with Audible in 2021.

In 2021, it was reported that Barris was developing a potential television series, Brown-ish, with Eva Longoria.

In August 2022, it was announced that Barris would write and direct a modern remake of The Wizard of Oz. In January 2024, he confirmed that he finished penning the script for the film and announced that he is also in development on a modern remake of It's a Wonderful Life, with the intention to cast a person of color in the lead role of George Bailey.

In August 2025, Barris faced controversy over a planned CBS sitcom set in post-wildfire Altadena, California. Local residents and commentators argued that the premise risked trivializing the devastation of the Eaton Canyon Fire, which killed dozens and displaced thousands. Some community members described the project as being in "poor taste," while others suggested it could bring attention to Altadena’s recovery if handled sensitively. The debate highlighted broader concerns about how mainstream entertainment portrays communities affected by disaster.

Personal life Barris married anesthesiologist Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Edwards Barris in 2000. They have six children. His wife filed for divorce in 2014, and Barris filed for divorce in 2019: the couple reconciled and withdrew their divorce petitions both times. Barris filed for divorce a second time in 2022.

Filmography Films

Title Year Credited as Studio Notes Writer Director Producer Other Barbershop: The Next Cut 2016 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Bros. Pictures Co-producerCo-written with Tracy Oliver Girls Trip 2017 Universal Pictures Co-written with Tracy Oliver and Erica Rivinoja Little 2019 Shaft Warner Bros. Pictures / Netflix Co-written with Alex Barnow The Witches 2020 Warner Bros. Pictures Co-written with Robert Zemeckis and Guillermo del Toro Soul Pixar Animation Studios Special thanks Coming 2 America 2021 Amazon Studios / Paramount Pictures Co-written with Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield Cheaper by the Dozen 2022 Disney+ / Walt Disney Pictures / 20th Century Studios Co-written with Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry and Craig Titley You People 2023 Netflix Directing debutCo-written with Jonah Hill White Men Can't Jump 2023 Hulu / 20th Century Studios Co-written with Doug Hall The Underdoggs 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Michael 2026 Lionsgate / GK Films Additional off-screen literary material

Television series

Title Year Credited as Network Notes Actor Creator Director Writer Executiveproducer Girlfriends 2000–2008 UPN/The CW America's Next Top Model 2003–2018 UPN/The CW/VH1 Soul Food 2002–2004 Showtime Like Family 2004 The WB Listen Up 2004–2005 CBS The Game 2006–2014 The CW/BET Are We There Yet? 2011–2012 TBS I Hate My Teenage Daughter 2012–2013 Fox Black-ish 2014–2022 ABC Grown-ish 2018–2024 Freeform Mixed-ish 2019–2021 ABC Astronomy Club: The Sketch Show 2019 Netflix BlackAF 2020 Character: Kenya Barris We the People 2021 Entergalactic 2022 Television special The Vince Staples Show 2024–2025 Diarra from Detroit 2024–present BET+

Awards In 2019, Black-ish won several NAACP Image Awards. It was named best comedy series and Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson took acting honors. Black-ish was the winner of the Entertainment and Children's Peabody Award in 2016. Barris and Black-ish also won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. Barris was nominated for the same award in 2018. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021, and a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy for Black-ish in 2014. In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.

In 2018, he donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University, and was granted an honorary doctorate in humane letters.