To: Jeffrey Davis, V.P. Operations Sesame Place and Donald W. Mills, C.O.O. of Sesame Place
Sesame Place Appears to Practice Racial Discrimination
I'm starting a petition because I want all departments at Sesame Place to reflect the cultural diversity of their clientele. Restaurant and maintenance workers appear to be mostly Afro-American while ticket booth workers, Welcome Center employees and parade members appear to be 99.999% white.
Why is this important?
From its inception, Sesame Street has mirrored the cultural diversity of its viewers. Consequently, its young viewers can find reflections of their own faces and families on the show. This inclusion helps the children feel valued and included.
Over the past 3 years, I’ve observed that the customers at Sesame Place seem to come from similarly diverse backgrounds. However the workers at the park’s restaurants and maintenance departments appear to be mostly black. Conversely, ticket booth and Welcome Center workers and parade members appear to be 99.999% white.
Children learn their sense of identity not only from their families, but also from society. They need to see people of all colors working at all types of jobs so that they can understand that their own potential has no limits. Children learn from Sesame Street. Unfortunately, it appears the park is teaching the wrong message.
Over the past 3 years, I’ve observed that the customers at Sesame Place seem to come from similarly diverse backgrounds. However the workers at the park’s restaurants and maintenance departments appear to be mostly black. Conversely, ticket booth and Welcome Center workers and parade members appear to be 99.999% white.
Children learn their sense of identity not only from their families, but also from society. They need to see people of all colors working at all types of jobs so that they can understand that their own potential has no limits. Children learn from Sesame Street. Unfortunately, it appears the park is teaching the wrong message.