The Token Character In South Park And That 70's Show

Race has always been a hot button issue in today's society. With a focus on political correctness and diversity, popular TV shows always try to include at least one character of color, also know as the 'token' character. A token is defined as "a small part representing a whole" or "a member of a group (such as a minority) that is included within a larger group" (Token, 2017). These token characters ease the conscious of the majority by making them feel like everyone is included. However, the role of the token character is usually less than every other character's role, and they are typically singled out and the butt of the jokes. The 'token character' is still incorporated into modern television shows. However, shows like South Park

South Park and That 70's Show are popular sitcoms which both ran during the early 2000's, but South Park has persevered into today's television schedule; while That 70's Show ended in 2006. South Park is about a group of middle school aged children who get into trouble and cause mischief for their little town in Colorado. The main group of characters (Stan, Kyle, Eric, and Kenny) are all white characters, and the only notable character of color is an African American classmate whose name is Token. The show is known for is edgy humor and its political commentary on everything wrong with American society. With a rating of 8.7/10 on IMBd and over 3 millions viewers (South Park, 2017), it is one of the most popular adult cartoons. On the other hand, That 70's Show, follows the lives of six teenagers (Donna, Eric, Hyde, Jackie, Fez, and Michael) and their adventures in the suburbs of Wisconsin. The main characters are all white, except Fez, who is one of the only foreigners in the whole show. The show is not as political as South Park and most of the humor revolves around normal mischiefs of teenagers, like drugs, alcohol, and relationships. Both characters,