Image from the New York Times

Three wonderful women honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

Will you still have the right to vote in 2012?

Sesame Street takes on childhood hunger.

Ten years later: the war in Afghanistan.

One way to tell if Washington is listening to Occupy Wall Street.

Today’s post is brought to you by the letter H … and H stands for HAIR!

Thanks to the good folks at Sesame Street a generation of children around the world have learned their numbers and alphabet from singing puppets. Now the educational program has tackled a more hairy issue.  They have released a video depicting a brown, Sesame Street puppet singing a song about loving her hair. Throughout the video, she sports an afro, cornrows, twists.

The video has gone viral and many, as mirrored in Grady’s Treehugger article, are happy to finally see depictions of black girls accepting and embracing their hair in the mainstream media. She notes the harmful effects of the harsh chemicals typically used in black hair care as reason enough to move towards an embrace of “natural hair”.

The documentary by comedian Chris Rock Good Hair addresses problems for blacks who embrace the natural hair look. In the current cultural climate natural hair still isn’t seen as professional, causing a barrier in job interviews and the like.

Many are happy to see an infectious song promoting this positive message. However, some questions have been raised.

Some viewers seemed upset that this message had to be delivered by a puppet rather than other popular mainstream black idols.

Clearly it will take time for acceptance of “natural hair” both in the black community and the wider American culture.  Though some may have some criticism of the video, we think if the film gets kids and adults discussing the issue… it can’t be a bad thing.

What do you think?

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? Courtesy of The Muppet NewFlash

Who doesn’t love a furry puppet who is smart and can tell you how to count and say the alphabet??? ( kinda sounds like our editor at USDemocrazy without the “smart” bit…)

Our favorite gang of Muppets, who are lovable puppets that live on Sesame Street, are celebrating their 40th Anniversary! (Can you count to 40?… let’s do it together…!)

Don’t bother asking how to get there- no one will answer your question even if you sing it to the world EVERY DAY! Although there are many shows that may currently surpass Sesame Street in popularity- its longevity is unmatched.

The Children’s Television Workshop, a non profit production company, gave the world its first glimpse of Sesame Street in 1969. Some of us from the newer generations may be surprised to know that the aims of this iconic show weren’t just to entertain but instead

to present enjoyable and beguiling preschool education to poor children who did not have access to decent preschools while bringing diversity to children’s programming.”

Fighting cultural norms of racism and problems of inequality ? Not what you first think of when you imagine  a cuddly puppet named Big Bird or Elmo!

Still times have changed, and television as a learning tool isn’t looked on so kindly these days. Some think youngsters like two-year old toddlers should not be in front of the tv in the first place. Experts agree that both physically and developmentally, television (even Sesame Street) is harmful at young ages.

Despite this, we at USDemocrazy must applaud Sesame Street- and NOT because President Obama gave his seal of approval in his introduction of Sesame Street’s 40th season. Instead we cheer because under the fur and fabric efforts toward social change remain at the Street’s core.

Cookie Monster Eating Some Fruits and Veggies with those Cookies

This show has presented an integrated neighborhood during a time of racial turmoil.

It made a certain monster who is fond of cookies and sweets, add some veggies to his diet in a time where obesity runs rampant in America.

Sesame Street has made strides globally by introducing the first HIV positive muppet to Sesame Street South Africa.

So next time you are flipping through the channels and pass that familiar green and white sign, pause and take a closer look.