Sesame Workshop announced today that Sesame Street will celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities with a special debuting on Thanksgiving as part of the organization’s ongoing racial justice initiative. New Muppet Ji-Young — a 7-year-old Korean American character performed by Sesame Workshop puppeteer Kathleen Kim — will make her debut in the See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special.
The special will follow the Sesame Street friends in a “Neighbor Day” celebration, featuring Ji-Young and celebrity guests like Padma Lakshmi, Naomi Osaka, Simu Liu, Anna Cathcart, comic book artist Jim Lee, and chef Melissa King. The “Neighbor Day” celebration will feature a new, original song led by Ji-Young and performed by the full cast, also entitled “See Us Coming Together.” Fans can also sing along to a reimagined version of Sesame Street classic, “The People in Your Neighborhood,” reinforcing that kids of all backgrounds can be anything they want to be.
Sesame Workshop’s “Coming Together” initiative was created to support families of all backgrounds through ongoing conversations about race and this special offers parents an opportunity to talk about anti-Asian racism. In an offscreen incident, a kid tells Ji-Young to “go home,” but trusted grown-ups and friends unite to help Ji-Young know that she’s exactly where she belongs. A viewing guide and accompanying activities for adults and kids to complete together will be available at sesame.org/seeus the week of the special to help guide conversations about race and racism.
See Us Coming Together is made possible with support from The Asian American Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and P&G/Pampers. The episode will launch on Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 25, available to watch on Cartoonito on HBO Max, PBS KIDS, and Sesame Street’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels.
