10 essential comedies about families of color you can stream right now

As the television library grows apace, there are still embarrassingly few American TV shows devoted entirely to people of color. The good news is that’s changing rapidly, and there have never been more heartfelt, layered shows about families of color than there are now.

So if coronavirus-related social distancing measures have you turning to your list of television shows to watch, bump up these titles and relish some brilliant, nuanced storytelling that happens to have POC at its center. 

Note: Even though these are shows about families, not all of them are kid-friendly. ABC’s sitcoms might be a better choice for the whole family than, say, Ramy, but everyone of course has different standards.

black-ish

When black-ish debuted in 2014, not since the early days of Modern Family had there been such joy in watching a nuclear unit stumble through the ins and outs of daily life. The Johnsons are wealthy, attractive, and stylish, but dad Andre lives in perpetual fear of his kids disconnecting from their blackness, and him by extension. It manifests in small life choices he sees them make as much as in massive cultural moments like the 2016 election and an episode devoted entirely to police brutality against black people. 

Where to watch: Hulu

Fresh Off the Boat

It might not explicitly follow the Eddie Huang memoir on which it’s based, but Fresh Off the Boat has so many gifts to offer, not least of which is that it was a mainstream network comedy about a Chinese family. Every family member is a singular delight, none more than Constance Wu’s Jessica — dry and witty but willing to fight or befriend anyone to protect and help her family.

Where to watch: Hulu

Jane the Virgin

If you want to spend time with a truly modern and model American family, look no further than Jane the Virgin‘s central trio of women and the love they spread everywhere. The Villanuevas are a family, but that word extends to include Jane’s husband, her unplanned child by artificial insemination, the baby’s father, and the baby’s father’s ex wife. It includes grandmother Alba’s beau Jorge and Jane’s estranged father, international telenovela star Rogelio de la Vega. And if you watch even one episode of the show, it includes you as you embark on a wild, wonderful ride with these unique characters.

Where to watch: Netflix

Ramy

Ramy is as much about the title character’s nuclear family as it is about his own misadventures in his 20s. The Egyptian-American family’s interactions and community will look familiar to many people from immigrant families, including controversial yet comical conversations about school and relationships (sometimes featuring a racist uncle). Ramy’s mother and sister even get spotlight episodes, both of which are breathtaking in entirely unique ways as they navigate the additional complication of being Muslim women. 

Where to watch: Hulu

One Day at a Time

With its laugh track and multicam setup, plus the fact that it’s literally a reboot of a 45-year-old show, One Day at a Time feels in some ways like a throwback. But the familiar format feels comforting, not stale, and the premise — three generations of a Cuban-American working-class family live together in LA’s rapidly gentrifying Echo Park neighborhood — couldn’t feel more modern. Combining big laughs, deep emotion, and Rita Frickin’ Moreno, One Day at a Time is a balm for the soul. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor 

Where to watch: Netflix

Kim’s Convenience

Much like fellow Canadian darling, Schitt’s Creek, Kim’s Convenience operates in a small world with a family of four as they try to live their lives without driving each other crazy. Janet just wants to get through art school without her parents completely snapping, but she’s careful after their estrangement from her brother Jung. The convenieRance store ties the story together, brings some … eclectic characters into their lives, and operates like any sitcom living room — it’s an entry point into the inner lives of this family.

Where to watch: Netflix

Brown Nation

A married couple is a family unit unto itself, as evidenced by Hasmukh and Dimple on this hidden Netflix gem. Their lives are full enough with Dimple’s burgeoning acting career, Hasmukh’s startup, and the looming presence of Dimple’s father over every move they make. There isn’t even a forced Bollywood number (though there is a truly fabulous rap video). 

Where to watch: Netflix

Survivor’s Remorse

Don’t let the grim title fool you: Survivor’s Remorse is a breezy watch for grownups, chronicling the ups and downs of a hot young basketball star and his lovable extended family. (Think Entourage but less annoying, and with even less basketball than Entourage had acting.) Even when it delves into weightier topics like class, colorism, and abuse, it never loses its cheeky sense of humor, or its warm, affectionate vibe. — A.H. 

Where to watch: Amazon Prime 

Gentefied

Netflix’s latest (based on a Sundance miniseries) is the story of three Los Angeles cousins banding together to fight for love, family, and land — the American Dream. Those are some heavy hills to fight and die on, but the series tackles them skillfully and enjoyably.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Carmichael Show

The Carmichael Show may be old-school, but there’s nothing fusty about it. Jerrod Carmichael’s sitcom is audacious and ambitious, daring to tackle heavy topics head-on and find humor in unexpected places — though it’s not afraid to get serious from time to time, either. With a fantastic cast that includes Tiffany Haddish, Lil Rel Howery, and Loretta Devine, The Carmichael Show is the one you turn to for easy laughs and difficult conversations. — A.H. 

Where to watch: Hulu

Bonus: Pose

You don’t have to be blood to be family, and the fantastic mothers and children of Pose reinforce that with every episode. Set in the 1980s ballroom scene in New York City, amid the HIV/AIDs crisis and rampant transphobia, Pose brings together the queer and trans community, who stick up for each other when no one else will.

Where to watch: Netflix