Here are resources to help guide conversations with your child about racism and coming together through one small word: we.
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The Power of We: Watch and Play Together
The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special centers on four friends: Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Gabrielle, and Gabrielle's cousin Tamir. With other Sesame Street neighbors and celebrity guests, the friends explore their own identities and skin colors and come to understand what it means to be "color-proud"—to have pride in your own culture and race. In age-appropriate ways, the friends learn what each of us can do to stand up to racism, for ourselves and one another.
Why talk about racism?
Unfortunately, most of us can show bias or racial prejudice sometimes, but racism is more than that. It is a system of advantages and privilege based on race. Racism is learned. Talking about racism helps to answer children’s often hard questions about race and unfair treatment of people based on the color of their skin. It can also help us all learn what we can do to make our diverse world equitable and fair for all. The Power of We celebrates every child’s unique identity and sense of belonging to a caring community and inclusive world.
Talk Together
Here’s a list of questions your child may ask while watching The Power of We. Follow your child’s curiosities as you answer. You may want to continue the conversation over a meal or other everyday activity.
What’s racism?
Racism is treating people unfairly just because of the color of their skin. That’s wrong and unfair.
Why talk about our feelings?
Our words are powerful. Talking helps us use our words to share how we feel and what is happening. Sharing can help us feel better.
What’s an upstander?
An upstander is someone who uses their kind words and actions to help themselves and their friends.
What color are we?
There are many different skin colors. All skin colors are beautiful. In our family, we call our skin color ________________, and like other colors ours is beautiful!
Sing Together
Teach your child the words and gestures to the song, “Listen, Act, Unite!” Then sing and dance along with your Sesame Street friends.
Listen, Act, Unite
You plus me makes the power of we.
Build a better world for you and me.
Let’s stand up for up for what is right.
Listen (place hand over heart)
Act (superhero pose)
Unite (both hands clasped)
