Kenya Barris (born August 9, 1973) 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).

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 and Pacoima, California.^[1] He was named after the country of Kenya, which his father had visited.^[2] His parents divorced when he was a child.^[3]

He is an alumnus of Clark Atlanta University where he started out studying medicine.^[4][5][6]

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,^[7] and a third potential spin-off Old-ish.^[8] He was a writer for The Game, Girlfriends, and Soul Food.^[7][5][9] Barris co-created and produced America's Next Top Model with Tyra Banks.^[10] He penned the film Girls Trip. He co-produced the 2019 film Little^[11] 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.^[12][13][14] In October 2020, Barris announced that he would write, produce, and direct a biopic on comedian Richard Pryor for MGM.^[15]

Also in 2020, it was reported his production company, Khalabo Ink Society, was considering a deal with ViacomCBS.^[16] His company entered a multi-project development deal with Audible in 2021.^[17]

In 2021, it was reported that Barris was developing a potential television series, Brown-ish, with Eva Longoria.^[18]

In August 2022, it was announced that Barris would write and direct a modern remake of The Wizard of Oz.^[19] 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.^[20]

Barris married anesthesiologist Dr. Rania "Rainbow" Edwards Barris in 2000. They have six children.^[21] 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.^{[22][23][24][25]}

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.^[28] Barris and Black-ish also won the 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.^[29] 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.^[30] In 2016, Barris won the Rod Serling Award for Advancing Social Justice Through Popular Media.^[31]

In 2018, he donated $1 million to Clark Atlanta University, and was granted an honorary doctorate in humane letters.^[32]