“Sesame Street” Unveils New Muppets

Sesame Workshop has introduced two new muppets as part of an effort to help educate young kids about race and racial identity (photo courtesy AP News).

Two new muppets are coming to “Sesame Street.” Wes and Elijah, the show’s first two Black muppets, are being introduced as a way to help children understand race. In a survey conducted by Sesame Workshop – the nonprofit behind the beloved children’s show – it was reported that racism “was top of mind for nearly half the children surveyed.” The majority of the parents asked said that they would like for their children to learn about race and racism, but only 23% knew of resources to use.

“Children are not colorblind – not only do they first notice differences in race in infancy, but they also start forming their own sense of identity at a very young age…we can help I children build a positive sense of identity and value the identities of others,” said Dr. Jeanette Betancourt, Senior Vice President of Sesame Workshop.

The organization is also releasing a new series called “Coming Together,” which will provide parents with additional resources to teach their kids about race and racial identity.