As a biracial individual, I really value realistic and plentiful racial representation in television shows. I myself do not identify as a POC (person of color), I use the term 'biracial' in reference to myself, but I have come to realize that I personally need there to be racially diverse casts in order to find enjoyment in the program's content. I don't see a lot of biracial representation in television, at least not of biracial individuals who aren't half Black and half White (the most common biracial identity in the United States). I don't see a lot of characters on TV who I can point at and say "that person looks like me," or, "that person's racial struggles are like mine." The characters that I often connect to the most are ones who are either racially ambiguous in appearance, and those who are of a non-dominant race (meaning non-white). Characters like Sam White in "Dear White People" or Elena Alvarez in "One Day At A Time (2017)" are the ones whose struggles and passions really speak to me. This piece is the start of a series, so here are my 4 favorite Black protagonists.
Disclaimer: These are just my personal favorite characters from shows that I have watched. I have not watched all television series featuring protagonists of color, and there are certain genres of shows that I am not particularly drawn to. All of the shows mentioned below are either comedies or dramas. I, by no means, claim to be an expert in media representation of any racial group. These opinions are all from my own leisurely viewing experience.
1. Elena Alvarez from "One Day At A Time" (2017)
*SPOILER ALERT*
"Can we agree that if there's a God, it's gender-neutral, not a he or a she?" - Elena Alvarez
Elena is one of my favorite television characters of all time. "One Day At A Time," the version that I am talking about, is a 2017 remake of the 1975 sit-com. The show features a Cuban family in California, Elena being the only daughter and the oldest of the two Alvarez kids. Elena's character is so valuable because her intersectional (Latinx and LGBTQ+) identities provide opportunities for the show to highlight innovative, progressive solutions to the struggles of being Latinx in the United States, and being a part of the LGBTQ+ community in a heteronormative society. The show as a whole teaches a lot about Cuban culture, and many important activist topics, but the most moving scene (in my humble opinion) was watching the coming out story of Elena to her ultra-Catholic Hispanic grandmother (and the show's Abuelita is quite typical - she and my own Abuela are so similar that it's almost suspicious). Elena's coming out story is revolutionary because it showed how someone of very strong Christian faith can use that faith to find acceptance for a loved one's sexual orientation. In so many other aspects, Elena is a boss of an activist and an amazing role model for young girls.
2. Cristela from "Cristela"
"Let me tell you something, I like the way I look - even if you don't." - Cristela
Cristela is an amazing character in this sitcom, as well as a hilarious comedian outside of it. Cris's character in the series combats so many micro-aggressions, as well as explicit discrimination, and she does an amazing job at not taking anybody's disrespect or incorrect assumptions about her due to stereotypes. Cristela is an empowered and professional woman of color who aims to smash gender and racial stereotypes. One thing that I love about this character is the body positive dialogue she feeds herself amidst size-related put-downs from her loved ones. Cristela serves as an amazing role model for young girls who aim to be confident in their identity, appearance, and big personality. She is also a great plus-sized role model in this role.
3. Jane Villanueva from "Jane The Virgin"
"I am not superhuman. I constantly work on not letting images push away the reminder that I am beautiful the way that I am." - Gina Rodriguez (who plays Jane Villanueva)
Jane is one of the United States's favorite Latinas, without a doubt. The show doesn't discuss racial issues as much as the above-mentioned ones, but I wanted to include Jane because I think that she is a resilient Latina who young girls are able to look up to. "Jane The Virgin" is the American adaptation of the Venezuelan telenovela "Juana La Virgen," so it definitely follows the structure of a telenovela to an extent - especially in the sense that there are some totally unbelievable aspects (such as spy conspiracies, parent-trap type twin stuff, and face-altering identity switches). The show provides a storyline on undocumented immigration, which was awesome (especially since it was filmed and released shortly before Donald Trump announced his candidacy and anti-Latinx stance). While this isn't the most activist of the shows, I've gotta give some love to my girl Jane because she sets a great example of how to be unapologetically authentic and confident as both a female and a POC, both in character and as her real-life self (Gina Rodriguez, who is definitely big in the activism department).
