The Cultural Origins of Sesame Street

Feb. 29, 2024 – 01:38 – This year for Black History Month, theGrio is honoring Black Pioneers in America who have impacted science, entertainment, fashion, sports, food, and more. In Keeping Black History Alive, we’re going to uncover the undeniable Black origins of Sesame Street, the longest running series in TV history. The show with universal appeal initially delared its target audience the “four-year-old inner-city black youngster”, according to a 1979 New York Times Article. The show was developed with a “hidden curriculum” to build up the self-worth of black children through the presentation of positive black images and education. The show has addressed sociological and culturally pressing subject matters, such as discrimination, gender, and anti-violence. The show premiered in 1969. By the mid-1970s, Sesame Street grew to be very popular. The cast and crew expanded during this time, with emphasis on the hiring of women crew members and the addition of minorities to the cast. Throughout the show’s long-running history, it has employed a number of Black actors. One of its first central characters, Gordon, was played by Matt Robinson, the father of beloved actress Holly Robinson Peete. Young James Earl Jones, Jackie Robinson, Shirley Chisholm, Nina Simone, Michelle Obama, Lupita Nyong, and Patti Labelle. #KeepingBlackHistoryAlive