Black cartoon characters are not always the most popular, but they can make a big impact on viewers. They are great role models, especially for children, and can be an important way to talk about race and identity. There are many examples of these characters in popular cartoons, and you may want to watch some of them for a fun lesson in diversity.
Doc McStuffins
‘Doc McStuffins’ is the newest animated TV star on Disney Junior. In this series, a young African-American girl pretends to be a doctor. She helps toys and stuffed animals in need of repair.
Doc McStuffins is the first black female lead character to be featured on a major kids’ show. It debuted on Disney Junior in March 2013. According to ABC News, it was produced to fill an “untapped market” for Disney Channel.
Chris Nee, the creator of Doc McStuffins, is an Emmy Award-winning writer. Prior to creating this show, Nee worked in children’s television for over a decade. During that time, she experienced discrimination as a woman in a male-dominated field.
Little Bill
“Little Bill” is an animated television show based on a Bill Cosby book series. The show focuses on the adventures of a five-year-old boy named Little Bill. He has a fun-loving nature and is very imaginative.
Little Bill is a natural leader, but his friends have to teach him a thing or two. This includes how to forgive others for their mistakes.
When Little Bill is a little boy, he loves to go to the baseball field and watch the Blue Sox. He also loves his pet hamster named Elephant.
Foxxy Love
The character of Foxxy Love is a sharp-tongued parody of Valerie Brown from Josie and the Pussycats. She’s also a musician. As the name suggests, she’s a black woman.
In addition to her character, the show also features several other black cartoon characters. These include the mysterious Ling-Ling, who speaks a distorted version of Japanese and uses broken English. A wacky whatchamacallit named Wooldoor Sockbat is another character.
Foxxy Love, like all the other housemates, is a biological sibling. Her father is a human, while her mother is a fox. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that Foxxy’s father left her when she was just three.
Dr. Hibbert
“The Simpsons” has been an animated TV show for nearly three decades. During its first season, the series did not have a black character. Several years later, though, Hibbert was introduced as one of Springfield’s most skilled doctors. He and his wife, Bernice, have three children. They also live next door to Police Chief Wiggum.
In recent years, however, many animated shows have recast black characters with white actors. This includes Rick and Morty, which has an ongoing character named the President, who has been locked up or beaten by Homer.
Riley and Huey
If you love cartoons, then you might have heard of Riley and Huey, two black cartoon characters. These brothers are fictional characters and they are portrayed in the Cartoon Network series, Huey and Riley.
In the show, the two brothers are raised by their single grandfather, Robert Freeman. They are raised on the South Side of Chicago. Despite living in a primarily white suburb, the Freemans are politically active.
As children, the Freemans are surrounded by friends and family. Tom DuBois, an African-American lawyer, is a popular neighbor. His wife, Sara, is also a lawyer. The DuBois family includes their 10-year-old daughter, Jazmine.
Carl Carson Jr.
A brief scan of the 1940 U.S. census reveals a slew of interesting tidbits about Carl Carson Jr., including the aforementioned lucky number. However, it was his service in the US Army that garnered the honors as the most notable. Among the many highlights was his role in the most successful offensive line in the Army’s history. His time in the Army also brought him the pleasure of the best wife in the world, as well as two sons, one of whom he helped bring home the award in the military’s highest honor.
Miles Morales
In the comic world, Miles Morales is an African-American, half-Latino teenager who becomes Spider-Man. The character was introduced in 2011 and is considered a new hero, as opposed to Peter Parker, who has been Spider-Man since 1962.
The character has become a major part of the Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe, but he is also starting to make a name for himself as a stand-alone hero. He has been featured in numerous Marvel comics, including his own monthly adventures.
While he is a hero, Miles is not a representative for all races in the U.S., as some parents have said.
