There have been plenty of articles discussing exactly why and how media representation is important. Simply put, people would like a fair representation of their livelihood on television, in order to increase the scope of what they see people like them being able to do. But why have so many shows, knowing about diversity issue, missed the mark? Stereotypes.

It's clear the issue is not lack of representation, rather lack of in-debt, thought-out, multi-faced people of color. In a Media Ethics class that I took as an undergraduate, our professor asked us for solutions regarding diversity inclusion with exclusion of stereotypes. My answer was to hire screenwriters to create characters that don't necessarily break stereotypes, or perfectly assimilate, but rather to explore the journey of being a minority - showing how various aspects of culture can blend or conflict. Representation of this sort is important because it shows viewers that they're free to be their own person, and don't have to adhere to society’s labels. Here are examples of shows that do a good job telling those stories.

1.Master of None

Launching as a Netflix original series in 2015, Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, both formerly on "Parks and Recreation", have achieved a social commentary in disguise as a comedy. The show is about 30-something Dev Patel (Ansari) and his friends coming to terms with balancing love, work, family, and friends in New York City. However, what makes it different from other sitcoms is that it takes aspects like gender, race, immigration, sexuality, ageism and ableism into account, basing entire episodes are set around these storylines.

In fact, the most powerful storylines are the ones that focus on these, as opposed to the season's arc. Lena Waithe, another writer, made Emmy history for being the first black woman to win for Best Comedy Series Writing in 2017. Aziz Ansari, himself, made history the previous year after earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The premise of the episode that won Waithe her Emmy is a story that spanned 22 years, following her character's journey of coming out as a lesbian.

Another episode talks about the lesser seen side of New York. The episode follows none of the main or recurring characters, instead, we see into the lives of people whom we may normally overlook. Specifically, Edie (a doorman), Maya (a deaf bodega employee), and Samuel (a cab driver). We see the city through the intersected storylines though their eyes, lives and experiences. Other shows which portray fictionalized versions of New York City would typically have characters like this be seen but rarely heard.

2. Fresh Off The Boat

This show follows the lives of the Huang's in the mid-90's as they move from Washington D.C.'s Chinatown, to the suburbs of Orlando. Eddie Huang, the main character, is faced with the challenge of being the only Asian in his junior high, and while his interests include hip-hop and basketball, his different culture and home-life keep him from truly assimilating. Based off the book of the same name, Eddie has to overcome these challenges, but we still see various aspects of an Asian-American household be represented through the universal themes of adolescence, puberty, relationships, peer pressure and generally growing up. We particularly see the cultural differences when looking at how familial aspects of marriage, parenthood, and relationships with other family members are shown in comparison to what the 'norms' of the suburbs are.

This is done through the use of the different characters. Through this, we are able to see various parts of the culture being represented. The hardworking dad, the mom who pushes her kids and never relents, the grandmother who is always able to keep traditions alive, and the younger brothers who embrace their Chinese culture and upbringing, and confidently remain themselves. Yet, all of this is done by staying clear from broad cultural stereotypes; instead, it focuses on the experiences of this particular family.

3. Dear White People

The most controversial comedy on this list, another Netflix original, Dear White People, based off the movie of the same name, starts where the original left off. The first few episodes reconstruct a blackface party and the backlash brought about on campus. The show tackles storylines such as sexuality, politics, religion, what it means to be "properly" African American, and why people are judged differently for choosing to assimilate to their predominantly white institution. It also addresses the topics of being an ally versus an escalator, even if intentions are good. The satirical nature of the show presents the issues through the eyes of those who are victimized, targeted, and disenfranchised.

The controversy around the show was centered around people who felt targeted by the title and implications that they would be portrayed as only villainous. (Which, for the record, does not happen during the plot of the show so far.) Despite the controversy, the show was able to win the audience award at the SXSW Film Festival, and has been nominated multiple times and renewed by Netflix for a season 2.

We're already seeing a diversity trend in TV, from "Jane the Virgin", to "Black-ish," and "Modern Family," Asian-Americans feeling represented with “Master of None” and “Fresh off the Boat” joined the list. So why are these shows important? I've already addressed the matter of representation, but it goes beyond that. Shows like this, when viewed by a large audience, cause conversations to happen. I have gotten into lively, riveting conversations about the various themes that were embodied within episodes. I've gotten into these conversations with peers who have similar-but-different experiences, as well as peers who have learned something about a culture they previously knew little to nothing about, due to the lack of prior representation.