Written by: Ava Espiritu

This Thanksgiving, November 25, 2021, Sesame Street released a special episode titled “See Us Coming Together” that celebrated the diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The episode featured Alan Muraoka, who has worked on Sesame Street as an actor, director, and choreographer for over 20 years. The special includes guest appearances by Asian American celebrities like actress Anna Cathcart, comic book artist Jim Lee, model and author Padma Lakshmi, chef Melissa King, actor Simu Liu, and tennis player Naomi Osaka. Sesame Street also debuted the first Asian American Muppet on the show—a 7-year-old girl named Ji-Young.

The episode begins with Ji-Young and Alan Muraoka and the other Muppets preparing for a “Neighbor Day” celebration, a huge Sesame Street festival where Ji-Young plans on performing by playing her electric guitar. But in the midst of the preparations, Ji-Young reveals to Alan and actress Anna Cathcart that somebody told her to “go back home” when she was walking down the street. The episode addresses serious issues like racial discrimination and effectively breaks them down into simpler terms to explain to the show’s younger audience why it is wrong to treat someone disrespectfully because of their race.

Alan and Ji-Young go on to visit the other guest stars who each speak about their own experiences as Asian Americans in their particular field. Jim Lee speaks about growing up finding comfort in comic books because he could relate to the superheroes who were unique and different from everyone around them. Padma Lakshmi talks about how she loves teaching others about Indian culture and learning about other cultures through their foods. Similarly, chef Melissa King tells the story of how she learned how to cook from her grandmother and how she embraces her Chinese heritage through food. Melissa also highlights the fact that, although there are many similarities between different Asian cultures, each is diverse and unique in their own way. It is important to acknowledge the differences of all of them instead of diminishing the diversity of Asian cultures by categorizing them all under one stereotype. Simu Liu talks about what it is like being an Asian American actor, and how he grew up without seeing representation of people who looked like him in film.

But why is this episode so special if it’s just a kids’ show? What makes an Asian American Muppet so significant? While the special can seem cheesy or oversimplified at times, it’s still a huge step in the right direction. The diversity and representation—not only of Asian Americans in general, but also the individuality of Asian cultures—is a mark of progress in the representation of AAPI in media and film. Like Simu Liu says in the episode, many Asian American people grow up without prominent Asian characters in films and television, which can send the message that Asians can only be one thing—background characters rather than leaders. Sesame Street spreads positivity with this episode, bringing light to many overlooked issues in the discrimination and misrepresentation of Asian Americans. This episode is important, not only because it teaches kids how to respect others, but also because it inspires young Asian American children to be whatever they want to be. It tells the stories of AAPI people who are prominent leaders in their fields, teaching kids that they don’t have to be boxed in by stereotypes. Sesame Street uses its popularity and its influence to spread positivity and fight against racial injustice in a way that is easy for kids to understand without downplaying the significance and gravity of the heavy topics at hand.

Citations:

Sesame Workshop. (2021). See Us Coming Together: Sesame Workshop. See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.sesameworkshop.org/what-we-do/racial-justice/see-us-coming-together

Sesame Street. (2021, November 25). Sesame Street: See Us Coming Together Special. Retrieved December 11, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcPXYRDFr-8