7 Things "Hey Arnold" Taught Us About Diversity

Celebrate the 18th anniversay of Hey Arnold and all its lessons of diversity

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Today marks the 18th anniversary of the introduction to some of our favorite '90s cartoon characters: everyone's favorite football head, Arnold, and the world’s hardest fronter, Helga. As we sat in front of our television sets binge-watching Nickelodeon we never realized just all the gems the creators of Hey Arnold dropped for us. Instead of a cookie-cutter storyline, creator Craig Bartlett introduced us to a diverse cast with a colorful palette of children. Race and religion was a non-factor for the kids of P.S. 118. Here are 7 things Hey Arnold taught us about diversity. 

For Once, the Blonde Kid Did Not Have Everything

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Not All Black Children Come from Broken Homes

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Every Two-Parent Home Is Not Created Equal

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Asians Aren't Always Just "Naturally" Smart

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Friendships Withstand Religious Customs

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That One Biracial Character Who Didn't Have Much of a Storyline

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Foreigners Have a Story That Deserves to Be Told, Too

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