Airdate: See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special

See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special, celebrating the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander communities will screen on ABC Kids, as part of Sesame Workhop’s ongoing racial justice initiative.

The special follows the Sesame Street friends through a “Neighbour Day” celebration with new friend Ji-Young—a seven-year-old Korean American character performed by puppeteer Kathleen Kim.

Celebrity guests include television personality Padma Lakshmi, athlete Naomi Osaka, actors Simu Liu and Anna Cathcart, comic book artist Jim Lee, and chef Melissa King. The celebrations include a new original song, “See Us Coming Together,” and a reimagined version of Sesame Street classic, “The People in Your Neighbourhood.”

“Sesame Workshop’s mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Today, we uphold that mission by empowering children and families of all races, ethnicities, and cultures to value their unique identities,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative and Production. “See Us Coming Together continues Sesame Street’s proud legacy of representation with an engaging story that encourages empathy and acceptance and uplifts Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and we’re excited to be bringing this special to Australian audiences for the first time.”

“It’s a powerful thing when kids see people like themselves represented on screen and in stories—it supports them as they figure out who they are and who they want to be,” said Alan Muraoka, longtime cast member and co-director. “We can’t wait for Australian families to get to know Ji-Young—in this special and in future seasons of Sesame Street—and celebrate some of the Asian and Pacific Islander people in our neighbourhood!”

As part of Sesame Workshop’s “Coming Together” initiative—created to support families of all backgrounds through ongoing conversations about race—the special also includes an opportunity for talking about anti-Asian racism. (In an offscreen incident, another child tells Ji-Young to “go home.” This is an example of one kind of discrimination Asian and Pacific Islander people face in western countries where they’re often perceived as “perpetual foreigners.” After the incident, Ji-Young seeks out trusted grown-ups and friends who unite to help her know that she’s exactly where she belongs.) To help guide those conversations, a viewing guide and accompanying activities for adults and children to complete together are also available at sesame.org/seeus

Additional videos and articles for adults cover the building blocks of what racial justice can mean for young children. For more information—including more viewing guides and activities to complete together—please visit sesame.org/seeus.

Monday 21st March at 9.30am on ABC Kids.