By Sheyla Fairley
Back in the day, shows like A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sister, Sister, Living Single and Family Matters were a huge success with Black audiences. Viewers enjoyed watching characters who looked like them be at the forefront instead of just appearing in supporting roles. It also gave the broader audience a better chance at understanding African Americans.
It is also why shows with Black leads targeted towards a younger audience are crucial for children because it features Black characters in regular, relatable storylines that can even reflect the audience’s own experiences.
Black children deserve to see positive representations of themselves and their culture which can open the door for vital conversations and opportunities for learning between parent/guardian and child.
Watching shows like these can not only be beneficial to families, as it can reaffirm their identity in media, but to all children as they would get a kick out of the diverse characters showcased, unique takes on storytelling, and the designs and art styles presented.
Below is a list of children’s shows brought to your attention that you may find yourself enjoying and passing along to others to view.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022-)
Revival of the 2001-2005 series, the series follows “the adventures and misadventures of newly 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart.”[10]
Starring: Kyla Pratt, Jo Marie Payton, Paula Jai Parker, & Tommy Davidson
Where to Stream:
My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023- )
“An intergalactic bounty hunter takes dad duty to new extremes when his two kids accidentally hitch a ride with him to outer space and crash his mission.”[11]
Starring: Laz Alonso, Priah Ferguson, JeCobi Swain, & Yvonne Orji
Where to stream:
*Season 2 is to premiere on August 17, 2023.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023- )
13-year-old genius Lunella Lafayette and her T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur, work together to protect the Lower East Side of New York from danger.
Starring: Diamond White, Alfre Woodard, Sasheer Zamata, & Laurence Fishburne
Network: Disney
Where to stream:
Saturdays (2023- )
Paris Johnson and her best friends form the We-B-Girlz skate crew, “determined to show and prove they have the hottest skate routines on the planet” on the “cool parquet floor of Saturdays, a local skating rink in Chicago.”[12]
Starring: Danielle Jalade, Golden Brooks, Omar Gooding, & Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker
Network: Disney
Where to stream:
Craig of the Creek (2018- )
Following the adventures of a young boy, Craig Williams, and his two friends, Kelsey Pokoly and JP Mercer, as they explore “a world of untamed, kid-dominated wilderness in the creek.”[13]
Starring: Philip Solomon, Phil LaMarr, Terry Crews, & Kimberly Hébert Gregory
Network: Cartoon Network
Where to stream:
*Fifth and final season is set to premiere on July 10, 2023.
