Susie Carmichael: The Rugrats Black Icon

It's February 2025. It's also Black History Month 2025. This year's National Theme for the month is "African Americans and Labor".

The theme is a powerful reflection on the pivotal role that the hard work of African Americans has played in shaping America's history.

The hard work of many African Americans have played a significant role in shaping the history of the world at large as well.

Rugrats alumni, Susie Carmichael, is no different. Despite only being a fictional animated character, this beautiful brown skinned maiden has made her mark on the world in a positive way. Her contribution should not go unnoticed.

THE STORY

Susanna Yvonne Carmichael entered into the public eye as a supporting character and Angelica's best friend from the Rugrats (9 seasons) franchise. Nicknamed, "Susie", is a black American born girl who lives across the street from the Pickles' residence in the series. She is a polar opposite to Tommy Pickles' cousin Angelica, and as such, she is always willing to support Tommy and his friends in their adventures, often taking a stand against Angelica.

The creators of Rugrats named the character Susie as an homage to Leonard Cohen's song "Suzanne", despite differences in spelling, since her mom Lucy Carmichael (1991) has the same initials as Canadian singer Leonard Cohen.

Susie's unofficial debut appearance was actually in the Rugrats 3-D board game called "Rugrats Turn The House Upside Down". It was released in 1992, and the Rugrats episode "Meet the Carmichaels" was aired January 10, 1993 as episode 18 of season 2.

Later in the show's run, there was consideration to give Susie her own spin-off entitled, The Carmichaels, which was slated to have her move to Atlanta, Georgia. However, due to subsequent continuity issues that were raised by the green-lighting of two other spin-offs, it was eventually cancelled.

The series premiered on August 11, 1991, as the second of the original three Nickelodeon animated series known as "Nicktoons", after Doug and before The Ren & Stimpy Show. The Rugrats became a global phenomenon. Tie-in media for the series include video games, comics, toys, and various other merchandise were in homes worldwide.

As a result of its popularity, a series of theatrical films were released over the next five years: The Rugrats Movie, which introduced Tommy's younger brother Dil, was released in 1998, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, which introduced Chuckie's stepmother Kira, his stepsister Kimi, and a poodle named Fifi, was released in 2000, and Rugrats Go Wild, a crossover film with another Klasky Csupo series, The Wild Thornberrys, was released in 2003.

The final episode aired on August 1, 2004, bringing the series to a total of 172 episodes over nine seasons. The show ended it's 13-year run as one of the longest-running American animated television series, one of Nickelodeon's longest-running animated series, and one of the longest-running animated series of all time. Rugrats gained over 20 awards during its 13-year run, including four Daytime Emmy Awards and six Kids' Choice Awards.

Two direct-to-video specials were released in 2005 and 2006 under the title Rugrats: Tales from the Crib. Susie stars in the titular princess role of the first special, "Snow White" released in September 2005. It aired on TV in November 2005. It was directed by Ron Noble, Primetime Emmy Award nominated Michael Dædalus Kenny
& Andrei Svislotski and written by Jill Gorey & Barbara Herndon. The movie features the voice talents of Emmy winner Kenan Thompson and Amanda Bynes.

Prior to the series ending, in July 2001, Nickelodeon broadcast the TV special All Growed Up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series. The special was a backdoor pilot for the Rugrats sequel series All Grown Up!, which started airing in 2003 and lasted for 5 seasons until 2008.

Susie along with Angelica and Charlotte Pickles are the only characters to appear in every incarnation of the franchise: the 1991 series, All Grown Up!, Rugrats Pre-School Daze (4 episodes in 2008), the film trilogy, and the 2021 reboot series.

Susie was one of three Rugrats to be introduced after the series premiered (the only one not to be introduced via a film) as well as being the only Rugrat of African-American decent.

Susie has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a member of the Rugrats collective.
They received the star on June 28, 2001, in commemoration of their tenth anniversary, making it Nickelodeon's first series (and only Nickelodeon show as of 2025) to receive a star. It was placed at 6600 W. Hollywood Blvd.

IMPACT

Susie Carmichael, a character from the animated series Rugrats, played a significant role in representing Black culture and experience in children's media. Introduced in the show's later seasons, Susie's character was notable for several reasons that positively impacted the Black community and beyond:

1. Representation: Susie was one of the few Black characters in a prominent children's show during the 1990s. Her presence provided visibility for Black children, allowing them to see themselves reflected in popular media. This representation helped foster a sense of belonging and identity among young viewers.

2. Role Model: Susie was portrayed as intelligent, kind, and confident. She often showcased leadership qualities and a caring nature, serving as a positive role model for children. Her character demonstrated the importance of friendship, problem-solving, and resilience, which resonated with audiences.

3. Cultural Impact: The inclusion of Susie highlighted the importance of diversity in children's programming. It opened doors for more inclusive storytelling and characters in animated series, encouraging creators to explore different cultures and backgrounds. This shift has had a lasting influence on how animated shows are developed today.

4. Empowerment: For many Black children, seeing a character like Susie provided empowerment. It challenged stereotypes and offered a more nuanced portrayal of Black youth, contributing to broader discussions about race and representation in media.

5. Community Engagement: The popularity of Rugrats, along with Susie's character, spurred conversations about diversity in entertainment, encouraging the industry to consider more inclusive casting and storytelling. This awareness has contributed to increased representation of Black characters in various animated series and films since then.

 

CONCLUSION 

Overall, Susie Carmichael not only enriched Rugrats as a character but also played a pivotal role in influencing how Black characters are represented in children's media, promoting inclusivity and paving the way for future generations.

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