15 Cartoon Characters of Color Who Need Their Own Show

My friends and I have this joke, or perhaps you’d like to call it a theory, that all conversation always somehow leads back (or can easily lead back) to ’90s animated television. Animated TV shows were such a part of our lives as children — we all became completely engrossed in them.

Although only a few shows were truly diverse or centered on minority characters, there were always a few minority characters we all knew and loved. And if I’m honest, I have to say they were actually the best (and most important) characters on television.

Gerald from Hey Arnold!

Known as the comedian and friend to turn to when in need of a cunning idea, Gerald is the best friend a young boy could ask for, plus he’s incredibly street-smart and full of hidden talents — like cutting vegetables with keys.

Skeeter from Doug

Not explicitly acknowledged as a black character, but more or less accepted as one, Skeeter is that cool friend who was also your biggest role model as a kid. He not only teaches Doug how to dance, he introduces him to cool bands and shows him how to order from the hippest restaurant.

Uncle Tito from Rocket Power

As native Hawaiian, Uncle Tito is the man all the kids on the island turn to when they’re looking for advice, stories, the best surf spot, or a hot meal. He’s someone you can rely on, and he’s happy being a sort of beacon for all the baby dudes hanging around.

Susie Carmichael from Rugrats

Susie is an older kid, the same age as Angelica, but so much nicer than her. We love Susie because she disagrees with the antics Angelica seems to garner all of her happiness from and is always a caring and nurturing soul.

Miranda from As Told by Ginger

Although Miranda plays the mean girl and Courtney’s right-hand woman, it’s also clear that she’s a young girl struggling to navigate the difficult relationship with her strict parents, her major insecurities, and the fact that she has very few real friends. We feel for her.

Vince LaSalle from Recess

Whichever kid was the enemy of the school bully, constantly dripping with sarcasm and a killer baller, is the kid I’d want to be buds with. Luckily, he’s the sidekick (coulda been the mainkick) to T.J., so we got a lot of face time with him on Recess.

Carl Carlson from The Simpsons

A sensitive soul, Carl holds a master’s in nuclear physics, is a practicing Buddhist, and is probably gay!

Phoebe from Hey Arnold!

Phoebe does not care if her intelligence plays into the “Asians are smart” stereotype because she’s proud of her brains and the fact that she’s a loyal friend who often takes the fall for her BFF Helga, while managing to maintain her humility and grace.

Token Black from South Park

Known for being the only black kid in South Park, he’s amazing because from the start his name is social commentary on having a “token black guy” to make shows more politically correct. He brings diversity to the fourth-graders of South Park, which is desperately needed since the kids are all bigoted asses.

Tiffany Blum-Deckler from Daria

Although Tiffany is in the Fashion Club and thus a full-time Quinn lemming, she does seem to be the most independent of the quartet, a notion derived mainly from her DGAF attitude, which she manipulates on her idiot friends as cluelessness. Plus she taaaalllkkkssssss iiiinnncccreeeibbbllyy sssssssllllooooowwwlllyyy, intensifying all her other attributes in an utterly perfect way.

Lee Lee & Mee Mee from Dexter’s Laboratory

As Dee Dee’s best friends, these girls create the most PC group that was on television when we were children. They love everything Dee Dee does, which includes ballet, practicing their talents for Dee Dee’s brother Dexter (which routinely causes blissful havoc), and having completely color-blind attitudes, loving life and all the people in it.

Di Lung from Courage the Cowardly Dog

Often seen building amazing new inventions or driving his super dope Corvette, Di Lung is a character who often brings Courage out of his anxiety-ridden shell.

Tess & Vanessa James from Pepper Ann

These African-American twins bring lots of levity to the Hazelnut MS hallways of Pepper Ann, and although they’re known for being gossipy, they also are known for always knowing the details on situations, making them great resources for advice! Plus they have some of the best fashions on the show.