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. Barris was born in Inglewood, California, the second of five children. He was named after Kenya due to his father visiting the country. Barris' parents divorced when he was five years old. 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, and a third potential spin-off "Old-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 will write, produce and direct a biopic on comedian Richard Pryor for MGM . His Khalabo Ink Society company is currently eyeing a deal with ViacomCBS. Barris has been working on a possible TV series "Brown-ish" with Eva Longoria. Personal life. Barris has been married to anesthesiologist Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Edwards Barris since 1999. They have six children. 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, a Gold Derby Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television Comedy in 2016, 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.