A Look Back At ‘The Proud Family’ And Everything We Loved About The Show
Disney Channel had an iconic moment during the 1990s and early 2000s. The channel gave use Disney Original Movies that we still remember to this day. Not to mention, the network was pumping out some of the best TV shows animated and live-action. One of those shows that will always be in our mind is “The Proud Family.”
Let’s start with singing along to one of the most iconic theme songs of TV history.
Brought to you by none other than Solange and Destiny’s Child, “The Proud Family” theme song is something you will never forget. Be honest. As soon as this song started playing, all of the words have come flooding back to you and you’re singing along.
This show brought Black culture to the Disney audience like never before.
There is a reason that people are so connected to the show. It was fun, authentic, and delivered by the best cast imaginable.
Of course, so many of us clung to the Afro-Latino Boulevardez family.
LaCienega Boulevardez was one of Penny’s closest friends and her neighbor. Her parents, Felix and Sunset Boulevardez, along with her abuelo Papi, were always involved with the shenanigans with the Proud family one way or the other. It was a moment in time when we were able to see an Afro-Latino family represented like every other family but with two cultures instead of one.
And it wasn’t until we were older that we got the joke about their names.
La Cienega and Sunset boulevards are major roads in Los Angeles and La Cienega deadends into Sunset in West Hollywood. That’s right. The daughter and mother from the Boulevardez family are named after two major LA roads.
Alisa Reyes gave her voice to LaCienega Boulevardez.
The “All That” cast member is the woman behind the iconic Disney cartoon character. Since the show, Reyes has continued acting and has become a musician. If you want to check out her music, you can check out her video for her single “Sexy Hot” here.
Sunset Boulevardez was voiced by Maria Canals-Barrera.
Before “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” Canals-Barrera was Sunset Boulevardez. Honestly, one of the most iconic Disney moms ever.
Who else knew that Carlos Mencia was the voice behind Felix Boulevardez.
Now that I listen to it, I can definitely hear it. It wasn’t long after the start of “The Proud Family” that Mencia’s career really took off.
LaCienega Boulevardez holds a very important place in television history, even if she had big feet.
It was one of the first times young Afro-Latina viewers could see themselves finally represented on television. The character existing on a children’s cartoon show makes it even more impactful. It is a storyline and identity so rarely seen on television at the time.
The show included Afro-Latino celebrities into the story with well-placed cameos.
Who could possibly forget Mariah Carey playing Mariah Carey? Her pet monkey François was sick and, fortunately, Dr. Trudy Proud was able to help Carey’s pet get better.
In the time of reboots and revivals, it is nice to go back and revisit some of your faves exactly as they were. All these years later, “The Proud Family” continues to be one of those shows we all love and remember.
Who else remembers watching “The Proud Family” when they were younger?
