Sesame Street recently spoke about a ethnical issue most people of color face, course hair. For centuries little girls of color have had some kind of issue with the texture of their hair because it is has tight curls which make it quite difficult to make it straight. Every little girl wants long straight hair that they can swing around like Barbie. This episode allows African American girls the opportunity to themselves and hair in the media.
You may ask how did Sesame Street think of such a controversial topic? I'm here to tell you that the head writer Joey Mazzarino and wife adopted a little girl from Ethiopia. Recently they faced issues in reference to their skin tone and hair texture. Joey noticed that his daughter would put wigs long blonde wigs so that she can be just like her mother and Barbie. Joey noticed that actor and executive producer Chris Rock released a film called Good Hair and realized that this issue of hair is bigger than his daughter, it is an issue that the race also has within themselves. As the head writer of Sesame Street, Joey did something that his daughter and the other billions of African American little girls and women would appreciate. He contacted and spoke with Kevin Clash,voice of Elmo, to put together the idea and write a song about hair for the African American population. They decided to hire Chantylia "Chauncey" Johnson, as the voice of our newest friend to Sesame Street. Chantylia played Nala on the Broadway play "The Lion King"
Kevin Clash & Elmo
The character based on his daughter sings, "whether in a clip or bow...or let it sit in a afro. My hair looks good in a cornrow..I love my hair!" The puppet also is shown in different styles like dreadlocks, barrettes, cornrows and a cute curly afro." I love the message Sesame Street has made for girls like me and the other billion little girls who once wished their hair was as long and straight like Barbie.
Signing off blogettes!
Check out "I Love My Hair" below!
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