Token Minority is a character designed to get more minority groups into the plot. This serves several purposes: * Allows the producers of the show to broaden the appeal of the show by giving more viewers protagonists they can identify with. * Is useful for bringing in discussions of racial issues, gender issues or homophobia into the plot. * Helps the producers feel a little better about using a Scary Minority Suspect in every other case. * Allows the producers to make race jokes related to minority without any shame. * Allows the producers to avoid criticism from minority groups. * Fulfills the executives' desire for the show to be more ethnically respectful. * Depending on the setting, it can merely be an accurate representation of demographics in that region or