NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Guests and Sesame Street characters Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby attend HBO Premiere of Sesame Street's The Magical Wand Chase at the Metrograph on November 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for HBO)
“Sesame Street” is making it clear they see color and it’s definitely something the show is celebrating. The longstanding popular children’s program has introduced two new Black characters to help explain racial differences to children.
Sesame Street is tackling racial disparities head-on in its “Coming Together” initiative, including “The ABCs of Racial Literacy,” which openly discusses the kinds of things saying “I don’t see color” avoids, CNN reports.
The show’s two new Muppet characters, Wesley Walker and his father, Elijah, have been added to answer questions about what racial difference means. The muppets are Black and have Black features.
In their first episode, Elmo learns what makes a Black person a Black person. When Elmo asks Wesley and his dad why their skin is brown, Wesley enthusiastically replies: “I know why, Elmo. My mom and dad told me it’s because of melanin. Right, dad?”
Elijah proceeds to break down how melanin determines skin color as well as the hue of a person’s eyes and hair.
“The color of one’s skin,” Elijah says, “is an important part of who we are, but we should all know that it’s OK that we all look different in so very many ways.”
You can watch the sweet conversation below:
Sesame Street is known for its groundbreaking ways of addressing a variety of issues for the purpose of educating children as well as being inclusive.
Wesley and Elijah will not only help children understand racial differences but help start those conversations in the home for parents who may not be as equipped to discuss them.
We’re definitely here for it and look forward to seeing more of Wesley and Elijah!
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