This February, parents, educators and entertainers have celebrated Black History Month with lessons about hidden figures, original pieces of art and other powerful tributes.
“Sesame Street” honored black history by unearthing some old clips from its archive. The show shared three vintage clips featuring black icons like Maya Angelou, Ray Charles and Erykah Badu on YouTube.
A spokesperson for the show told The Huffington Post that representation is a very important part of “Sesame Street,” which has featured a diverse cast and stories about appreciating differences and similarities throughout its 47-year history.
“Celebrating diversity and inclusion is in our DNA,” she said. “Studies show that kids engage and learn more fully when they see themselves reflected onscreen, and ‘Sesame Street’ is for ALL children around the world.”
The spokesperson added that they’re always looking for more ways to be inclusive and recently launched a fellowship program to bring more diverse voices into the writers’ room.
“We know the power our characters have to reach and teach children – and influence their behavior,” she told HuffPost. “Beyond ABCs and 123s, our program delivers lessons including inclusivity, mutual respect and understanding – which are critical lessons for developing kindness, empathy, and compassion.”
