I think we can all agree that when it comes to movies, many of the Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) aren't Oscar-worthy. But, they make us feel good! And when we were kids we thought they were the best movies around; they were full of drama, romance, action, and that special Disney charm. But, they weren't always full of black actors or actresses (or other minorities for that matter). So, I made a list of the most important and iconic DCOMs for young black girls and boys to enjoy. These movies may not have been the best but they matter because representation matters.

1. "The Color of Friendship"

Based on a true story, this movie is a good introduction to the realities of oppression and institutional prejudice; it displays the apartheid in South Africa during the late '70s through an unconventional point of view. The social disparities that reveal themselves between the Dellums, an American black congressman's family with outspoken views against apartheid, and a white South African foreign exchange student (whose father is a policeman) that the Dellums take in, are raw, deep, and relatable. When the foreign exchange student and the daughter of the American family try to become friends, they prove that getting over each other's differences is a learning curve and that point of view is incredibly important and incredibly skewed in society. This movie is a good learning tool for a younger population to get to know about the realities of the past and how it can resemble the future. Not only does this movie handle race relations with care, but it also depicts how things that work on a grand scheme can effect our personal lives more closely than we could ever think.

2. "Jett Jackson: The Movie"

The movie based on the hit Disney Channel television series staring the late Lee Thompson Young, was all the rage. Not only was Jett Jackson cute and a mega star, but he gets the life that every kid wants. To see a black actor portray a famous actor and a superhero is inspiring. For all of the kids who want to be actors or superheroes when they grow up, this movie is for them.

3. "The Cheetah Girls" (1 & 2)

Assuming that we're leaving out the horrible third installment of the series that doesn't include my favorite Cheetah Girl, Galleria, played by the infamous (and also iconic, in a positive way, at the time) Raven Symoné, this series is great. These two movies are all about coming together to make dreams come true, women appreciating other women, what it means to be a good friend, and what it looks like to not care about where someone comes from or what they look like, but how he/she is as a person. Cheesy, I know. But, the soundtracks are lit and my collegiate self still listens to them. There's nothing cooler than a song titled "Girl Power" except for maybe an entire movie that runs with these empowering themes.

4. "The Poof Point"

"The Poof Point" is incredibly fun and a part of the Mowry family dynasty that played an instrumental part of the essential black entertainment of the late '90s and '00s (i.e. "Smart Guy," "Sister, Sister," etc.). Centered around a black family with wacky inventors for parents, the movie comically displays the generational gap between the parents and their children. As the two parents have a malfunction with their time machine and their brains start to regress in age, their kids must come together to save their parents before they go "poof." Pretty cool.

5. "The Proud Family Movie"

"The Proud Family" television show is a staple in '90s/'00s black entertainment, so the movie was expected to be as great as the show was. Disney did not disappoint. It was, and maybe still is, unusual for Disney to air a show completely about a black family with comedy that sometimes only registered with the black audience (for example, how the Gross Sisters were blue because they were "ashy"). But Disney did it with an incredible amount of success and with some well known stars and guest stars. The Proud Family was incredibly funny, quotable, and smart in the way it related to the black community (with one of the best theme songs to ever exist written and performed by Destiny's Child and Solange Knowles). Everyone wants to be sensible like Penny and have a veterinarian mom that resembles Trudy, a best friend like Dijonay, and a grandmother like Suga Mama. The entire movie is a laughable adventure with some of our favorite characters in the animation world. The show and the movie pushed boundaries and pushed us to tears from laughing.

6. "Full-Court Miracle"

"Full-Court Miracle" is based on the true story of UVA basketball star Lamont Carr's experience coaching the Philadelphia Hebrew Academy team. When Carr (hopeful future 76er) blows out his knee, he finds himself coaching the struggling team at the Hebrew Academy. While forming a bond with a player named Alex who finds Carr to coach his team which he wants to succeed, Alex and Carr help each other navigate the difficulties they're experiencing in life. This is an interesting look at a movie about a black basketball coach as opposed to a player and it's set in Philadelphia which is extra cool.

7. "Twitches" (and "Twitches Too")

Starring Tia and Tamara Mowry (belonging to the Mowry entertainment dynasty that I mentioned before), this movie is really fashionable and flashy. I'm sure everyone has wondered what if they had a twin they've never met. Well, in this movie it comes to fruition when on their 21st birthday, Camryn and Alex, twins separated at birth, meet each other for the first time. Not only are they twins, but they also soon find out that they're witches as well. Hilarity and sentiment ensue as they look for their birth mother, and try to get used to having a twin. Although Camryn and Alex couldn't be more opposite (in financial status, personality, interests, and almost everything else), they must come together to save Coventry, their magical homeland, which is under attack. It's fun, it's cool, and I've always wanted to have magical powers but I'm used to seeing Sabrina and Hermoine, so it's nice to see good witches that look like me!

8. "Jump In!"

Double dutch was a staple of my childhood (even though I was never really good at it) and to have familiar black faces explore the world of boxing and double dutch was really interesting. The movie mostly centers around Corbin Bleu's character, Izzy, who is caught between his love of double-dutch and his father's love of boxing. Keke Palmer's character, Mary, pushes Izzy to be a better person and to be himself. It's a heart-warming story about doing what you love, no matter what that is, and living life for you instead of for someone else.

9. "Zapped"

Although this movie is pretty new age, it stars Zendaya, an incredible role model. As a star who is constantly fabulous and real, she has spoken out about feminism, her interracial family, and body image among many other social issues/aspects of our society. To see her take the starring role in her own DCOM is awesome and she rocks it.

10. "Up, Up, and Away"

I love this movie. It's not the best in terms of quality, but I always wanted to be a superhero and this movie, centered around a black family of superheroes, is just good for the soul. The movie centers around Scott Marshall who doesn't have superpowers (at least not yet) like the rest of his family and is trying to work out what it means for him and how he identifies as being a person without powers in a family of superheroes. Scott is constantly trying to prove himself to his family (and to himself), which is a struggle that anyone can relate to. With cute moments, like the heroes' kryptonite being aluminum foil, the movie is totally worth the watch.