“Sesame Street” Announces First Asian American Muppet

Ava Stuzin, Multimedia Photo Editor

A new muppet — known as Ji-Young — will make history as the first Asian American puppet starring in the cast of the famous children’s television show “Sesame Street.”

Set as a spirited character, Ji-Young’s character has two passions: playing guitar and skateboarding. She is also described to be close with her family and proud of her Korean heritage.

The show is a result of two years of escalated violence towards the Asian and Pacific Island community, following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked conversations and activism surrounding anti-Asian hate.

In the muppet’s debut episode, the storyline centers on a “Neighbor Day,” where everyone shares  food, music and dances from their culture. During an offscreen incident, another child tells Ji-Young to “go home,” an insult commonly said to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Afterward, she reaches out to friends and family who help her understand she is “exactly where she belongs.”

This moment serves as an entryway for discussions surrounding racism, as the episode provides helpful resources to conduct those actions.

While Ji-Young will be heavily present throughout the season, she will not just be used for recordings related to racial inequality. Instead, she will be shown in various digital programs which will both be live-action and animated.

More information is located at: sesame.org/seeus to begin the conversation between adults and children about some of the issues raised in the special show.

Set to debut on Nov. 25, “See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special,” can be found on numerous streaming services including HBO Max, PBS Kids, and Sesame Street’s Youtube, Facebook and Instagram accounts.