This animated show I'd say was not the average one by the time. One could find parallels between this and other cartoons like Hey Arnold, but I see them as completely different animals.
C Bear and Jamal was an effort of a sort of educational (what kids cartoon is not, at certain level) yet 'edgy' TV show, in the sense it didn't take itself too seriously.
I don't know that much about American culture, but I think this was aimed towards an African American sort of 'ghetto' public. The kids from the show are not stupid, they're ambitious, smart and practical, the skills they need to survive in a harsh environment. C Bear is a kind of 'uncle' guide giving a few good advices.
The whole show plays more like aimed to show the public some example, instead of sticking with actual characters having a story. Kind of giving a 'warning' to kids already mature enough to understand it, with very few fantasy elements on it. It's just the way the characters were actors on a set for an E/I schoolplay. Or a funky educational sketch to prevent of drugs or something.
It's certainly a Funky approach to transmit lessons. But it also made the cartoon less engaging than one with clear narrative limits. Also, show would be dated for now, for sure, in the slang and stuff.
I give it a 7 for trying a different approach, but it's not a "Great" show.
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