AddThis
What's She Sayin'?
What You're Sayin'?
She's Feelin' Da Luv
Blog Archive
Labels
About Me
(93)
Adoption
(5)
Adventures in Kindergarten
(11)
Award
(5)
Back To School
(10)
Blog
(19)
Blog Fun
(21)
Blog Reviews
(11)
Blog Safari
(1)
BlogFriends
(24)
Breast Cancer Awareness
(3)
Breastfeeding
(15)
Co-sleeping
(2)
Contest
(41)
Crafting
(2)
Friday Funnies
(3)
Frugal
(23)
FYI
(22)
Green
(82)
Holidays
(2)
Kids Say the Darndest Things
(19)
Lessons from a Child
(18)
Lessons in Motherhood
(68)
Life
(94)
Lil Man
(117)
Lil One
(94)
Mother's Day
(4)
Multiracial/Multicultural
(14)
my
(1)
My husband
(33)
natural living
(26)
Our Family
(53)
Our Multiracial Family
(24)
Our Nation
(33)
Parenting
(13)
Poem
(4)
Pregnancy
(32)
Randomness
(21)
Recipe Exchange
(12)
Shadou
(1)
Sites For Kids
(8)
Sunday Inspiration
(13)
This Mama on Issues
(70)
Throwback Thursday
(2)
Winners
(10)
Wordless Wednesday
(30)
Working at Home
(10)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A Father's Tribute to His Transracially Adopted Daughter
Did you know that November is Adoption month? No? Yes, my lovely readers, it is. In light of that, this month I will showcase various tidbits from around the web that speak on adoption. I'm sure many of you have seen the Sesame Street video below - it's gone viral since its release. Who can blame it for becoming an instant sensation? The video's adorable character and catchy tune are simply irresistible. Beyond that, the message it conveys certainly is one that will resonates loudly with girls of color, since many of them struggle with the image of their hair.
While I find the video adorable in all it's bouncy, bubbly glory, I thirsted to know what prompted Sesame Street to create a video such as this - and now. Was it for viewership and to grapple at a broader audience? I'll admit the producers of Sesame Street have done a decent job at incorporating diversity in a good portion of their programming. However, even they have missed opportunities at times to be more inclusive of diversity. Therefore, I wondered if the timing of this video was intentional.
As it would happen, my investigation lead me to discover some information I hadn't expected to find. The creator of this video, Joey Mazzarino, is the head writer at Sesame Street. He and his wife, a Caucasian couple, adopted a beautiful Ethiopian girl.
In his own words, Mazzarino describes what inspired him to write the song. "She (his daughter) wanted to have long blond hair and straight hair, and she wanted to be able to bounce it around,"
Mazzarino began to worry that his daughter might be battling with the dynamics of being in a transracial adoption. However, he soon discovered that hair challenges & pressures are very deeply rooted in black community. In my opinion, I think Mazzarino should be commended for his work. However, I realize that controversy abounded as a result of this video. It appears that some people in the black community were offended that the Muppet's hair changed texture and had length in some of the scenes, thereby not resembling black hair in their opinion. They feel the message is conflicting in that it encourages black girls to love their hair, yet the Muppet sports hairstyles that would require them to straighten or purchase synthetic hair in order to have those styles.
While I find the video adorable in all it's bouncy, bubbly glory, I thirsted to know what prompted Sesame Street to create a video such as this - and now. Was it for viewership and to grapple at a broader audience? I'll admit the producers of Sesame Street have done a decent job at incorporating diversity in a good portion of their programming. However, even they have missed opportunities at times to be more inclusive of diversity. Therefore, I wondered if the timing of this video was intentional.
As it would happen, my investigation lead me to discover some information I hadn't expected to find. The creator of this video, Joey Mazzarino, is the head writer at Sesame Street. He and his wife, a Caucasian couple, adopted a beautiful Ethiopian girl.
In his own words, Mazzarino describes what inspired him to write the song. "She (his daughter) wanted to have long blond hair and straight hair, and she wanted to be able to bounce it around,"
Mazzarino began to worry that his daughter might be battling with the dynamics of being in a transracial adoption. However, he soon discovered that hair challenges & pressures are very deeply rooted in black community. In my opinion, I think Mazzarino should be commended for his work. However, I realize that controversy abounded as a result of this video. It appears that some people in the black community were offended that the Muppet's hair changed texture and had length in some of the scenes, thereby not resembling black hair in their opinion. They feel the message is conflicting in that it encourages black girls to love their hair, yet the Muppet sports hairstyles that would require them to straighten or purchase synthetic hair in order to have those styles.
What say you, my lovelies? What are your thoughts? Thumps up or Thumps Down?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
i think it's awesome! i think he was trying to show that our hair comes in all different types. Also, showing that we can do so many different things with our hair. I think people get worked up on so many silly things. I think it is a great message and am really happy that someone found it to be something that needed to be discussed. I hope that many take the positive message and run with it. It is about time we realize just how beautiful and versatile our hair really is.
I agree with Faith. I think the video is great.
I love it! To me the video shows our little girls the various styles they can wear.
My 3yo daughter is biracial she recently said "I want regular hair" I felt my blood pressure go up! I didn't over react, I just asked her "What's regular hair?" She said "black hair like yours" Thank God she didn't say straight hair like yours!
The beauty standard is alive and real.
I have to also agree that it was a thoughtful idea. Everything someone does has the potential to be criticized. Changing her hair is not a bad thing--it's actually reflective of what we do as black women: sometimes fro, sometimes braids, weave, wig, straight. We are very versatile. :)
I love it. I think people are just looking for a reason not to love it.
Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany
I watched the video again. And I can't find any fault with it. The Puppet did wear 'her' hair in different lenght and style but didn't portray it in a way that denies the beauty of Black natural hair. Mazzarino did a great work and I glad his daughter has him for father.
I agree 100% with Faith and like her "I hope that many take the positive message and run with it. It is about time we realize just how beautiful and versatile our hair really is."
Thumbs up for sure! As Amanda stated, the beauty standard is very real, and it's up to us to create opportunities for our girls and boys to celebrate all aspects of themselves. It starts with us being comfortable in our own skin first, then being insistent that our children (adopted or biological) follow suit.
Hope your Thanksgiving was awesome!!
Always loved this video but did not know about the controversy and think it is silly. Black girls have a whole variety of curls and coils with various lengths. I think the puppet was meant to represent that.