TV Shows with Black Leads

Last updated: June 11, 2025

It's important to expose kids to media that both reflects their own experiences and expands their perspectives. These fantastic shows featuring Black lead characters are a great place to start. Ranging from delightful preschool favorite Doc McStuffins to mature, award-winning comedies like Atlanta, this list has something for kids, teens, and everyone in between. If we're missing any shows that you'd like to see included, please drop us a line and request a review. And for more picks featuring Black characters, check out our list of Books with Characters of Color.

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Acoustic Rooster TV Show Poster: Rooster and the rest of his Barnyard Band

TV

Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams

age 2+

Fun musical shorts introduce jazz music to a young audience.

PBS Kids , PBS Kids. Online , YouTube Kids Musical TV (2025)

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Gabby's Dollhouse Poster Image

TV

Gabby's Dollhouse

age 3+

Imaginative kids show has positive messages and role models.

Netflix Kids' Animation (2021)

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Morphle and the Magic Pets TV: Mila, Morphle and Jordie hold hands and extend arms posing in front of their house with pets

TV

Morphle and the Magic Pets

age 3+

Solid spin-off offers new adventures, inspires creativity.

Disney Junior Kids' Animation (2024)

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Rhymes Through Times Poster Image

TV

Rhymes Through Times

age 3+

Catchy short lessons in Black history for little ones.

Noggin Kids' Animation (2021)

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RoboGobo TV: Dax, a Black young boy with a tech glove, slides in front of five pets in robot-suits of different colors in action pose. City in BG.

TV

RoboGobo

age 3+

Rescue-animal show thrives on empathy and diversity.

Disney Junior Kids' Animation (2025)

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Tab Time Poster Image

TV

Tab Time

age 3+

Engaging preschool show is both educational and sensitive.

YouTube Educational (2021)

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Doc McStuffins Poster Image

TV

Doc McStuffins

age 4+

Excellent preschool series has positive messages for kids.

Disney Junior Kids' Animation (2012)

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Motown Magic Poster Image

TV

Motown Magic

age 4+

Thoughtful musical series emphasizes self-confidence.

Netflix Kids Musical TV (2018)

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Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin TV Show Poster: Franklin, a Black boy cartoon character, stands smiling holding a suitcase

TV

Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin

age 4+

Charming Peanuts special about friendship and fitting in.

Apple TV Kids' Animation (2024)

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Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band TV show poster: the band plays jazz music.

TV

Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band

age 5+

Adorable book-based musical special introduces kids to jazz.

PBS Kids Kids' Animation (2025)

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Lyla in the Loop poster: Lyla stands in front of her apartment building next to Stu, wearing a yellow hoodie while smiling.

TV

Lyla in the Loop

age 5+

Funny, inventive animated show spotlights creative thinking.

PBS Kids Kids' Animation (2024)

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Puppy Place Poster Image

TV

Puppy Place

age 5+

Heartwarming family adventures in foster dog parenthood.

Apple TV Drama (2021)

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The Bravest Knight TV Poster Image

TV

The Bravest Knight

age 5+

Star power, stellar messages in charming animated series.

Hulu Kids' Animation (2019)

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Craig of the Creek Poster Image

TV

Craig of the Creek

age 6+

Adventure, affirming messages stand out in appealing series.

Cartoon Network Kids' Animation (2018)

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Fairly OddParents: A New Wish TV: A little girl with an afro is in front of a wand. A green and pink fairy float on the side.

TV

Fairly OddParents: A New Wish

age 6+

Fun spin-off has new family, familiar fairies and antics.

Nickelodeon Kids' Animation (2024)

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Craig Before the Creek poster: Craig reached for the wish maker with Kelsey and J.P. by his side, his enemies behind him. ne

TV

Craig Before the Creek

age 7+

Fun prequel highlights teamwork and imaginative adventures.

Max Kids' Animation (2023)

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Foodtastic Poster Image

TV

Foodtastic

age 7+

Competition has cool edible sculptures; lots of promotion.

Disney+ Game Shows (2021)

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The Proud Family Poster Image

TV

The Proud Family

age 7+

Relatable stories, good role models, zany comedy.

ABC Kids' Animation (2001)

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Family Matters Poster Image

TV

Family Matters

age 8+

Urkel and company still offer lots of family fun.

Freeform , Nickelodeon , Syndicated Comedy (1989)

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Iwájú TV poster: Tola and Kole, two Nigerian kids, stand with the lizard Otin

TV

Iwájú

age 8+

Africanfuturist adventure has some scares and violence.

Disney+ Kids' Animation (2024)

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