5 Things / the gifts of art
Sesame Street is introducing two new muppets, a Black father and son, who will, for the first time in the show's history, talk about their experiences with racism. Of course, they'll talk about other things, too. While the show has always addressed serious topics, it's never discussed racism head-on.
The Muppets Wesley and Elijah are just part of PBS's new Coming Together initiative called “The ABCs of Racial Literacy” that are “designed to help all families celebrate their own unique identities, while also providing age-appropriate language and strategies to answer sometimes-tough questions around race and racism.”
This matters because these conversations don't always happen at home, or in school, and illustrating them can help build empathy towards the lived experiences of others. I've found so often that the most well-meaning people simply don't know what to say when it comes to diversity, and so they don't say much at all. I've been there myself. But one of the great gifts of art (and yes, Sesame Street is art!) is that it can start meaningful conversations.
Here are some other good vibes I found this week:
New Zealand approved paid leave for people who experience miscarriages. The new "bereavement allowance" requires employers to offer up to three days of paid time off separate from sick leave. India has a similar law. This matters because a miscarriage is a significant loss, not an illness, experienced by about 25% of NZ women.
For the first time, a transgender person has been confirmed as a federal official by the U.S. Senate. Dr. Rachel Levine is an accomplished physician who is the new assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services. This matters because she's bravely breaking barriers and setting precedents that others can follow.
Mastercard is the latest large company to tie executive bonuses to environmental and social goals, including gender pay parity. This matters because these leaders have vast influence, and will now be held accountable for goals that make the world better for everyone.
This week I learned that Tommy Hilfiger has been leading the way in adaptive fashion for years, and now will be releasing an additional line per year. This matters because luxury fashion should be inclusive for all bodies, yet not many labels reflect that philosophy.
Image: Jisha Joseph / Upworthy