For 50 years , Sesame Streethas taught nipper how to count , how to spell , and that not all vampires are scary . But the lessons have go far beyond the academic . From racism to dying , the iconic series has n’t shy away from broaching tough topic and letting kids get it on that life is n’t always full of sunny days .
1. Mr. Hooper dies
If you were a kid in the eighties , you in all likelihood remember Thanksgiving 1983 — the day thatSesame Streetconfronted the death of Will Lee , who spent 14 seasons play Mr. Hooper . Big Bird make a picture of Mr. Hooper and desire to show it to him , but the human cast member cue him that Mr. Hooper died — then endeavor to help oneself Big Bird understand what that means . parent look on with their kids and respond questions they had about death .
2. Telly learns about racism
In 1993 ’s “ Racism on Sesame Street , ” Gina ( who is white ) draw an disconcerting phone call from a alien who is angry that she is Friend with Savion ( who is black ) . Telly Monster see the incident and is confused . “ What does color got to do with being friends ? ” Telly asks . “ Nothing at all , ” Gina tells him . “ That ’s the point . ”
3. Elmo reacts to 9/11
Sesame Streetcalls New York City house , so it made sense that the show would come up to the September 11 terrorist attacks — but they had to do so carefully . They used a flaming in Hooper ’s Store as a metaphor . To understand his fear , Elmo visits a firehouse and learns just how dangerous — and important — a firefighter ’s line is , which makes him feel secure again .
4. Snuffy shows himself
The estimate of a shaver — or an enormous sensationalistic bird with a childlike sensibility — have an fanciful friend is n’t problematical . But after 14 years of milkingMr . Snuffleupagus ’s consistently imperfect timing for funny ease , Sesame Street ’s producers realized that Big Bird ’s insistence that Snuffy was real , and the human plaster bandage members ’ opinion that he was fanciful , could top some kids to call back that adults could be dismissive of the truth . So on November 18 , 1985 , Snuffy at long last got the prospect to meet all of Big Bird ’s friends and was welcomed into the family .
5. Kami is HIV-Positive
In 2002,Sesame Streetintroduced Kami — an HIV - positive Muppet whose name comes fromkamogelo , which intend acceptance in Setswana . Though she was created forTakalani Sesame , South Africa ’s interlingual rendition ofSesame Street , she has become a world symbol of the importance of HIV/ AIDS breeding .
6. Buffy breastfeeds her baby
It ’s hard to opine a nipper ’s show today that would call breastfeeding as directly asSesame Streetdid in 1977 . When Big Bird sees Buffy Sainte - Marie breast feeding her child and require what she ’s doing , Buffy say , “ I ’m feed the child . See , he ’s wassail Milk River from my chest . ” Big Bird ’s answer ? “ That ’s a funny way to fee a babe . ” Buffy explains that lots of mothers ( but not all ) feed their child that fashion , normalizing nursing for a newfangled generation of kids .
7. Julia has autism
In 2015,Julia — a preschooler with autism “ who does things a minuscule differently when playing with her friends”—was enter as part of a digital campaign . But her popularity produce , and in 2017 , she became the first new Muppet cast member in virtually a decade . Big Bird was there to recognise her ; he asked questions that Kid might have when Julia would n’t excite his wing or got visibly upset at the sound of a siren . Her family was introduced in April 2019 .
