Black women understand all too well the pressure to be perfect in a world that does not respect them, and sometimes, there is nothing more cathartic than watching a Black female character be chaotic on screen and look good while doing it.
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From Lynn (Persia White) in “Girlfriends” to “Moesha” and beyond, there’s a safe and, at times, relatable space in the world of hilarious, adorable, and fierce Black female characters who are constantly finding themselves in some mess. Here are some of the ones we can’t help but love.
Lynn Ann Searcy: “Girlfriends”
Even with all of her degrees, Lynn Searcy, played by Persia White, could not keep a job, a house, or a man. Her messy way of living is definitely relatable to anyone who is still trying to figure themselves out, and for that reason, you can’t help but love Lynn because she was always unapologetically herself.
Issa Dee: “Insecure”
Issa Rae created a space for the awkward Black girl with HBO’s “Insecure.” Her mirror affirmations can serve as a steady reminder for us all that even though we might get into some mess, we can always bounce back.
Synclaire James-Jones: “Living Single”
Kim Coles brought the hilarious and quirky character of Synclaire James-Jones to life on “Living Single.” Always optimistic and upbeat with a side of adorable ditziness, Synclaire is a character to look up to for the big dreamers in the world who, at times, tend to live in their own cheery bubble.
Freddie Brooks: “A Different World”
Cree Summers played the artistic and free-spirited Freddie Brooks in “A Different World.” She always wore her heart on her sleeve, which at times led her to be a little naive, but made her a good friend and an adorable character that you couldn’t help but love.
Tashi Duncan: “Challengers”
Zendaya shocked everyone with her role as Tashi Duncan in “Challengers.” Tashi has been Zendaya’s most fierce character so far in her decorated 16-year career. Not only did she play tennis in “Challengers,” but she also played with the hearts of her two adorers, Art [Mike Faist] and Patrick [Josh O’Connor], and yet you could not help but cheer her on.
Harper Stern: “Industry”
In the back-stabbing, drug-infused, and lustful world of HBO’s “Industry,” Myha’la Herrold plays Harper Stern, a recent university graduate who will cross anyone to make it in the world of finance. Though Harper definitely does some chaotic things to advance her career, seeing a Black woman excel in a predominantly white male industry is enough to get you on her side.
Tracey: “Chewing Gum”
In “Chewing Gum,” Michaela Coel was undoubtedly hilarious in the role of Tracey. Having not ventured far from her London estate block, Tracey was a sheltered young woman trying to understand the world around her, and always found herself in the weirdest situations.
Toni Childs: “Girlfriends”
No matter how toxic a friend Toni Childs [Jill Marie Jones] could be at times, you could not help but love her. Always hilarious, stylish, and real, Toni Childs was not one to play with. She was business-savvy and confident and that’s why she remains iconic.
Hilary Banks: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
The only thing Hilary Banks [Karyn Parsons] knew how to do was spend her daddy’s checks, but she did it well because her fits always ate. A true princess, Hilary Banks’ only ambition in life was to enjoy herself, and don’t we all wish we could live the same way?
Josie: “Bottoms”
In the high school comedy “Bottoms,” Josie [Ayo Edebiri] creates a female fight club along with her best friend just so that she can have an excuse to speak to her crush, Isabela [Havana Rose Liu]. Josie is another character who would feel relatable to the awkward Black girl.
Moesha Mitchell: “Moesha”
Doing as teenagers do, Moesha [Brandy Norwood] always found a way to get herself into some teenage trouble, but could you really blame her? She was just a young girl trying to have some fun, and her diary entries were always hilarious and at times relatable.
Raven Baxter: “That’s So Raven”
Raven-Symoné might just have been the queen of Disney Channel when she played teen psychic Raven Baxter. As the theme song said, she would try to fix a situation and somehow always made it worse, but at least she did it in style and humor.
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