12 Movies and Shows Featuring Strong Women and Girls of Color

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Women’s History Month comes at the heels of Black History Month and, as a Black woman, I always enter March feeling like I need to keep celebrating. As a mother to two Black mixed-race children, including a little girl, I’m conscious all year of surrounding her with reflections of her identity and affirming experiences that teach her that being a Black girl is a gift. It’s also important for me to show my little boy that women and little girls can lead in many different ways.

One major part of that is the media they consume. As a kid, I had three television stations to choose from, with minimal programming for kids. Now, there are more shows and movies that celebrate what it means to be a Girl of Color (though not nearly enough). So, for Women’s History Month, I’ve put together our favorite shows and movies with girls of color in the lead. Enjoy!

Streaming on Disney+

Everyone — and I mean everyone — has seen “Encanto.” Its bilingual music is catchy and delightful. Its characters are multi-dimensional, challenging our views on who gets to be the hero and what a villain really means. The lead character is Mirabel, a bespectacled young Colombian girl with a complicated gift and an equally entangled relationship with her family. Here’s the part I love the most, though. Each member of the Madrigal family looks different. Each person has a different skin tone and hair texture. For so many mixed-race families, this is our reality. In the past, I can’t tell you how many people asked if I was my kid’s nanny because of our differing skin tones and hair textures. To see a hit kids movie reflecting the reality of our family is so affirming. Not only were the variations of identities refreshing, the care and artistic excellence that went into the animation of the hair textures was not lost on so many of us. 

Streaming on Netflix

The visual splendor that is this adventurous kids movie made it one that us adults were gripped by, just as much as the kids. Driven by memories of her deceased mother, little Fei Fei, her brother, and her little friends go on a quest to find the moon goddess that the adults insist isn’t real. Along the way, she discovers the power of family while learning that letting go doesn’t always mean forgetting. Set in China, this story is one that will warm your heart while leaving you in awe of the beauty of it all. 

Streaming on Netflix

Who didn’t fall in love with little Gabi as she explores the culture and music of Cuba through her relative, Andrés, who dies suddenly, missing the chance to reunite with the love of his life to play music with her one last time? As Gabi fights to help Vivo, Andrés’s kinkajou, she is taken on wild adventures that lead to her deepening her love for music and realizing that maybe leaning on others while being true to yourself can happen with the right friends and family. 

Streaming on PBS Kids

This quirky, live-action series about an office of kids who work on solving weird problems stars Ms. O, a pint-sized Black boss lady who rules with a stiff fist and a juice box always by her side. She runs her office with a clear mind and demands respect from her staff of agents. Seeing a Black girl in charge will never get old for me. It’s not just important for Black girls to see themselves reflected in positions of authority, it’s also critically important that kids of all backgrounds see that Black girls can be in charge and are capable of doing so with clarity and purpose. 

Streaming on PBS Kids

My 2-year-old loves this series about an Alaska native, her dog, friends, and family. The series follows Molly on her adventures in Alaska as she shares information about her surroundings. She helps her parents run the Denali Trading Post, a central point in her community where she is a path to information for so many that pass through the store. Her approach to sharing information is so seamless that your kids won’t even realize how much they’re learning while following her adventures. 

Streaming on Disney+

Showing children examples of Black excellence in children and adults is key to showing them what they can accomplish. Little Doc McStuffins, a Black girl who provides healthcare for her make-believe patients, is also kind and caring to her friends, while taking good care of their health. For kids who may be nervous about doctor visits, this is an added bonus.

Streaming on Netflix

We hesitated a bit on letting our 7-year-old watch Carmen Sandiego because of the violence (and she is a thief!), so we sat and watched it with him. I have to say it’s delightful to see a Latina doing her thing, with her skilled team by her side. She’s bold and adventurous (not to mention stylish) and is a natural born leader. 

Streaming on Netflix

We fell in love with the Ada Twist books and were delighted to see them made into a show. Ada Twist is a shining example of a Black kid scientist excelling and just being herself. She’s inquisitive and adventurous, always thinking outside the box for solutions to her scientific problems. Added plus? Her afro puffs! Yesss to seeing a little Black girl on a popular show wearing her natural hair with pride and joy.

Streaming on YouTube

Starring everyone’s favorite foodie, Tabitha Brown, this kids show perfectly blends food, family, good friends and a good old time as it teaches kids valuable lessons for life. Tabitha, an iconic Black mother, cook, and actress, infuses her infectious personality in each episode, delighting kids and adults alike. 

Streaming on Netflix

Starring a middle-schooler named Karma, this exuberant animated series addresses issues facing many young Black girls head on. From learning to love one’s name to finding hair love, Karma tackles challenges through rapping, with a flow that’s effortless. Her stylish Black hair, full and voluminous, is a match for her effervescent personality. 

Streaming on PBS Kids

Alma’s Way is a beautiful story of a little Puerto Rican girl living in the Bronx, New York with her family. The cast of animated friends include people from a range of backgrounds, from Muslim women to kids with dreadlocks. With a focus on social and emotional growth, Alma learns about her friends and her community through experiences full of heart and passion. 

Streaming on Disney+

Solving mysteries in the India-inspired land of Jalpur, Mira, the South Asian protagonist, uses her brilliant mind and inquisitive spirit to help the kingdom. Appointed as a Royal Detective, she and her merry band of friends seek out adventure and assist those around them any way they can. 

Even though there are more shows starring girls and women of color than when I was a kid, I would love to see a media landscape that integrates us into all programming, not just a segment of it. Until then, my kids and I are falling in love with these every time we watch them.