The world’s beloved puppet show, Sesame Street introduces its first Asian American Muppet – Ji-Young, a seven-year-old Korean American character.
It’s the first time in 52 years that Sesame Street has introduced an Asian American lineup into its characters, breaking the walls of racial discrimination.
As part of the organization’s ongoing racial justice initiative, the show announced a special season, the ‘See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special,’ which will be aired in time of Thanksgiving Day on November 25.
“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Today, we uphold that mission by empowering children and families of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to value their unique identities,” Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s executive vice president of creative and production said in a statement.
The Sesame Street website described Ji-Young’s character as “a spunky seven-year-old” who “is extremely close with her family and is proud of her Korean heritage. She loves playing music with her grandma and cooking her favorite food — tteokboki. Her family eats dinner together at the kitchen table every night, chatting in both Korean and English.”
Kathleen Kim, a Sesame Workshop puppeteer who has been with the crew since 2014, will be the one to bring Ji-Young to life.
Furthermore, in the Philippines, Sesame Street has become part of every Filipino childhood since its debut. Throughout their upbringing, the Sesame Street series taught Filipino kids how to accept diversity and inclusiveness. It’s also one of the first places where Filipino kids can learn English simply by listening to it.
Sesame Workshop is the non-profit media and educational company behind Sesame Street, the groundbreaking children’s television show that has been broadcasting since 1969. Sesame Workshop is now a transformative force for good, with a mission to help children all across the world become brighter, stronger, and kinder. Visit www.sesameworkshop.org for additional details.
Source: https://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-room/press-releases/sesame-workshop-introduces-new-sesame-street-muppet-and-announces-special
Photo Credit: www.instagram.com/sesameworkshop/
