Black 90s Cartoon Characters Who Helped Shape Our Vision Of The World

Long before social media became part of everyday life, television was one of the biggest windows children had into the world. The cartoons we rushed home to watch, woke up early on Saturday mornings for or caught before school weren’t just entertainment. Whether we realized it at the time or not, they introduced us to different people, places, problems and possibilities.

That representation could carry even more weight for Black children. There was something different about turning on the television and seeing a kid with brown skin, braids, a high-top fade or a family that reminded you of your own. Those characters didn’t have to announce that they were Black every episode. Sometimes simply getting to be the smart kid, the cool kid, the superhero or the voice of reason was powerful enough.

And the best characters went even further. They taught us to protect the environment, believe in ourselves, ask questions, navigate predominantly white spaces, stand up to bullies, and be comfortable with what made us different. Decades later, many of the lessons have stuck with the same generation that first learned them sitting in front of the TV. Here are some of the Black cartoon characters from the 1990s who helped shape the way we see ourselves — and the world around us.

Kwame — Captain Planet and the Planeteers

Kwame wasn’t simply another member of the Planeteers; he was frequently the group’s calm, grounded voice and unofficial leader. Hailing from Africa and wielding the power of Earth, he was introduced as someone deeply connected to conservation and protecting living things, while LeVar Burton’s unmistakable voice gave him even more presence. The series itself was built around teaching kids about pollution, deforestation and other environmental issues, meaning a Black character was helping lead a generation through some of its earliest lessons about taking care of the planet.