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Speaker 0 00:00:00 Have you heard about the new kid on the block? She's seven years old, loves skateboarding and treading on the electric guitar. Her name is Cheong she's Korean American and she's the newest Muppet joining Susskind street.
Speaker 0 00:00:24 She young will be the first Asian American Muppet on the long running children's TV show. When she debuts next week, Sesame workshop, the non-profit behind Sesame street says Cheong was created as part of its racial justice initiative called coming together to show hopes Cheong will play a key role, encountering Asian hate and response to a surge of violence and racism against the PETA community. During the pandemic, the character will be introduced during the show's Thanksgiving special called seeing us coming together in the episode, residents of Sesame street, celebrate neighbor day, a community event with food, music, and games. However, in the episode, someone off screen tells Cheong to go back home, a racist insult, commonly flung at Asian-Americans. She young is initially upset, but the residents of Sesame street come together and comfort their new friend with the help of guest stars like actor, see to you and tennis star, Naomi Osaka, they all assured she young that she belongs here. As much as that,
Speaker 2 00:01:25 I think there is a great psychological effect of not seeing yourself and your communities on mainstream platforms.
Speaker 0 00:01:32 That's Rinka Shimizu, she's a current senior, and one of the club heads for Asian Pacific American coalition, a student group on Northwestern's campus.
Speaker 2 00:01:40 We basically create a safe space for, um, people identifying as a PETA to talk about any issues related to our identity, but also just encompassing the college experience, being Asian American on a predominantly white campus,
Speaker 0 00:01:55 Shimizu immigrated to the U S when she was six and didn't grow up watching Sesame street. Nevertheless, she sees Chung's arrival to Sesame street as a victory for Asian-Americans in their fight for representation in the media
Speaker 2 00:02:08 Entertainment as kids. It's one of the ways that we learn about the world. You know, we can't travel everywhere. We don't know much yet. TV media is our way into knowing what the world looks like. And that's sort of where we form our world.
Speaker 0 00:02:23 When it comes to Sesame street, Asian Americans are nothing new Japanese American actor. Alan Moorooka has been on the show for the past 20 years playing Allen. The current owner of Hoover store get Chung's arrival to the show is special. It's another way for young Asian American viewers to see themselves for the representative.
Speaker 2 00:02:42 I think in the past year, especially with the rise of anti-Asian racism. Um, I think we, as a country have realized that such experiences are very common for Asian American children to be told, to go back home or things like that. We are part of the community in America. It's amazing that they have named it as a problem as something that deserves to be recognized and as something that people, not just Asian Americans, but any child watching it should be aware of almond to know how that makes, um, Asian-American children feel.
Speaker 0 00:03:17 She Youngs inclusion as a character, allow Sesame street to tackle stories and lessons about the Asian American experience that they otherwise couldn't tell with Chung's Young's official arrival to Sesame street. There's only one question left to ask what will kids think of? Cheong when they meet her for the first time for that insight, I knew the perfect source to turn to.
Speaker 3 00:03:40 We're going to forget it is you have to do it on the computer. We're going to be all military five
Speaker 0 00:03:45 Minutes. That's my younger brother, Tucker.
Speaker 3 00:03:47 My name is Tucker song and I am seven.
Speaker 0 00:03:50 He loves playing baseball, learning about dinosaurs and like Cheong is Korean American. What
Speaker 4 00:03:57 Do you think of Sesame street?
Speaker 3 00:03:58 Um, it's okay. But I really liked it as like a two year old as a
Speaker 4 00:04:04 Two year old, I think maybe last
Speaker 3 00:04:05 Year. Yeah, last year. I don't remember when I watched it, but I like it.
Speaker 4 00:04:11 Yeah. So did you know that there's an Asian American Muppet joining Sesame street now, what do you think about that?
Speaker 3 00:04:20 I think it's public goods. Yeah. I think I need to watch it again. So not now that there's, that, that my whole entire life for that. So what's that waiting my whole entire life.
Speaker 4 00:04:35 You've been waiting your entire life. Yes. All right. Thanks so much. Talk.
Speaker 3 00:04:40 Thank you. Bye
Speaker 4 00:04:43 Bye.
Speaker 0 00:04:44 Sesame. Street's first episode with Cheong is set to air on Thanksgiving day. Families can watch the episode on PBS kids, HBO, max, and Sesame. Street's YouTube, Facebook or Instagram for WMUR news. I'm Nick song.
