UPDATE: I wrote this last week, before the internet exploded with discussions of racial identity fueled by a white woman passing for black, before our hearts were broken by Charleston’s violent reminder of one real possible consequence of being born black in America. In light of all that, my post seems both prescient and naive. We are not as far along the road of compassion [feeling WITH] as I had hoped.
When I posted the above on my Facebook page, it received an enormous number of likes. I don’t know where it originated, but it’s a popular picture for sure. When I first saw it I was immediately reminded of this Sesame Street video, from back when my kids were little:
I’ve always admired the way Sesame Street “does” race. It reminds me of Star Trek (the original series, not that preachy TNG). Both show a positive vision–people of all colors working side by side, respecting one another, playing together. No one talks about it much; it’s just accepted. As in the Vulcan ideal of IDIC – infinite diversity in infinite combinations, people don’t fear differences; rather they rejoice in them.
It has to be clear to anyone with eyes that our society is still deeply divided along racial lines, that many if not most of us still harbor prejudices, sometimes even despite ourselves. Yet the fact that so many people “Like” the sweet picture above gives me hope. We aspire to acceptance and love of all races even if we aren’t quite there yet. We acknowledge the beauty of our many different colors, and that’s a start.
I have posted this on the #1000Speak for Compassion linkup, and you can (and should) read the other posts HERE.
Linking this up today with #worthrevisit, which gives Catholic bloggers a welcome chance to recycle some posts! Check out the rest of the collection by clicking below. Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb are hosting; take some time to check out their blogs too!
Let's Hear It for Skin
I agree that Sesame Street handles diversity very well! It also covers “big issues” (sharing, bullying, self-esteem, etc.) in a deeper way than most kids’ shows do. Others touch the surface but ultimately gloss over a lot.
And yet other shows can be so preachy, which Sesame Street is not–or at least it wasn’t back when I was a regular viewed!
It’s a beautiful picture, and an excellent point.
Love it, and I wish the world could be more like Sesame Street. You should join this into 1000Speak this weekend, Leslie 🙂
OK, Lizzi, I took your advice and linked it up! Thanks as always for your kind and thoughtful comment.
BRILLIANT! I’m so pleased 😀
What a beautiful picture and post regarding race. The largest deficit in society is the feeling of entitlement and seperateness and it is great to see tv shows sending a different message out there to children and people in general. Thanks for posting this! I really enjoyed reading it.
This is so timely. I love that picture. The country needs racial sensitivity now more than ever!
Love this post. It saddens me that we still allow something as insignificant as skin color to divide us.
Nice post! And I TOTALLY remember that Sesame Street segment!
Great post and reminder, Leslie. I love the picture and Sesame Street clip is perfect and one of my all time favorite shows.
Excellent post Leslie. I think some of our problem is that so many say they are not racial, but when they are confronted with a racial situation, you find that deed down they are still racial. I like how Michele calls for racial sensitivity, that is well said.
Kathleen
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Beautiful picture and great post, Leslie. I remember that from Sesame
Street . I have always been a fan of that show and still till this day I watch it with my son. It covers so many issues that other kid shows don’t. Thank you for sharing!
I have been saying for over a week now, I must have hope – hope that individuals will choose what is “right.” If we don’t have hope, then I think we are already heading down the wrong path.
And, I have found I love Sesame Street, because of the lessons, now that I am an adult – more so than I ever appreciated as a kid. But, I think by the time I was introduced to Sesame Street (my mom says it wasn’t yet available in Germany when I was a toddler and preschooler), I was a little too old.