On October 9, PBS will give kids and parents a special to discuss one of the most important issues facing the country.
Maybe, just maybe, there is hope for the future.
“I have a lot of different friends,” explains Destiny, a beautiful, bright-eyed young girl, as she talks to her attentive mom (who is Caucasian) and dad, (who is African American). “Some of them have different skin colors than me. I don’t say, ‘Eww, you have such and such skin color. That’s gross!’ I don’t say that. I tell them, ‘You are beautiful and you are who you’re supposed to be.’”
Destiny’s words – and her parents’ sweet response – are among the most poignant and impactful moments in the trailer for PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism, a special that will premiere on Friday, October 9 as part of PBS KIDS Family Night on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and will also be available on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), and streaming on pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video app and on PBS KIDS’ Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Race and Racism is hosted by 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, a writer, and activist who also holds the distinction of being America’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. In addition to Gorman sharing her personal perspective on the subject matter, the special will feature several other children interacting with their parents, as well as relevant content from such PBS Kids programs as Arthur, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. It’s all meant to help children, in an age-appropriate way, wrap their minds around and discuss an issue that’s sadly as relevant now – and perhaps more so – than ever.
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“PBS KIDS believes kids are capable of understanding and talking through tough, but important issues with the adults in their lives – something that has been core to our mission for the last 50 years,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Through the PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism special, our goal is to support parents in talking with their children about race, anti-Black racism in our country, and how to be actively anti-racist. Parents have increasingly asked us for these resources, and we hope that this special will provide a helpful starting point in whatever way they choose to have these conversations with their children.”
Check your local PBS Kids times for when PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism airs on October 9, 2020.
