17 Iconic Black Characters That Shaped Our Childhood

Where would we be without icons like Penny, Will, and Kel?

1. Will from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

NBC

There probably would've been a few less laughs if Will Smith hadn't graced our screens in the '90s. Will taught us all the best dance moves, the perfect ways to win anyone over, and how to deliver the best burns in the funniest way possible.

2. Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

NBC

Some may call Hilary the most shallow of the Banks siblings, but she was also the most inspirational. Apart from being a total fashion icon, she proved that even college dropouts can achieve their dreams. Goals.

3. Penny from The Proud Family.

Disney Channel

How could anyone not love Penny — she was cute, loud, and proud! We could all relate to Penny — from awkwardly navigating teen dating to surviving extreme parental embarrassment. She was realistic and entertaining.

4. Dijonay from The Proud Family.

Disney Channel

Dijonay was truly an underrated hero. She may not have been the most lovable, but she was confident, ambitious, and she always had the best comebacks. And on top of being the fiercest character, she taught us the importance of taking fashion risks — just look at that ponytail.

5. Michael from My Wife And Kids.

ABC

Michael was a pretty strict dad, but he balanced it out with his quirky jokes and witty comebacks. He always did the most accurate impressions and his famous "ah... nah" is one of the most quotable catchphrases ever.

6. Gerald from Hey! Arnold.

Nickelodeon

Look at that hi-top — can you get more iconic?! Apart from being really cool, Gerald was also the most loyal of Arnold's friends and his legendary stories kept us all on our toes.

7. Alex from Totally Spies!

TF1

Alex was a totally badass spy who was easily the most lovable of the trio. Okay, so she was kind of the Karen Smith of the group, but her ditziness just made her all the more relatable. Plus, her catsuit is proof that yellow was made for black girls.

8. Chris from Everybody Hates Chris.

UPN

There wasn't an episode of Everybody Hates Chris that we couldn't relate to. From the annoying siblings, to the crazy rules, to the endless chores — we were all Chris.

9. Julius from Everybody Hates Chris.

UPN

Julius taught us everything we needed to know about saving, spending, and saving some more. Some would call him cheap, but Julius was the perfect example of a thrifty and devoted dad. If you're on a tight budget, just think of Julius to get you through.

10. Numbuh 5 from Codename Kids Next Door.

Cartoon Network

Abby AKA Numbah 5 had it all. She was easily the smartest of the kids, and the most fashionable. Her loyalty, quick thinking, and clever wit made her the most deserving and iconic Supreme Leader.

11. Denise from The Cosby Show.

NBC

Denise is another fashionista and she was basically the Zoey Johnson of her time. Apart from serving look after look, Denise taught us that we should be free spirits who follow our dreams. Truly iconic.

12. Storm from X-Men.

Fox Kids

Storm is undeniably the most iconic of all the X-Men. Even though she was a supremely powerful goddess, she always kept her cool — what other mutant is this down-to-earth?

13. Raven from That's So Raven.

Disney Channel

Raven really had it all — the witty humour, what seemed like an unlimited fashion budget, AND the ability to see into future. She was the teen we all aspired to be.

14. Susie from Rugrats.

Nickelodeon

Susie was one of the few Rugrats that used her common sense, and she had the patience of a saint. We'll never understand why she was friends with Angelica, but she put up with all her nonsense like a boss.

15. Jodie from Daria.

MTV

Jodie was the blunt voice of reason in Daria. She was brutally honest and she said everything we were thinking. She commented on society in a funny and clever way, which is never an easy job.

16. Keenan from Keenan & Kel.

Nickelodeon

He may have been the lesser loved half of the iconic duo, but no one can deny that Kenan put up with a lot. He spent most of the time clearing up Kel's mess, and while he may not have had a famous catchphrase, he was truly a problem solving hero.

17. Kel from Kenan & Kel.

Paramount Pictures

Kel probably would've been a very frustrating person to have as a friend, but everything he did was comedy genius. His ridiculous mishaps and cheesy catchphrases had a lasting impact — every time you drink orange soda you probably think of Kel. Iconic.