Cartoon Network is getting praised for its beyond woke PSA about antiracism, white privilege, and white supremacy. “Ask yourself as you’re learning history: Who’s telling the story?”
Cartoon Network went viral on Wednesday after releasing its PSA featuring “Pearl” from “Steven Universe.” In the clip, Pearl highlights the effects of systemic racism in the education system. She starts off teaching the class about Lewis Latimer, who is overshadowed by Thomas Edison, for inventing cost-efficient filament to use in light bulbs. Peal questions why the nation has taught us about Edison while completely dismissing Latimer.
“These textbooks are incomplete,” she says. “There were Black Roman warriors, Black medieval knights, Black classical musicians, Black cowboys, Black fighter pilots… Where are they?” She goes on: “I worry about you humans,” she continues. “You rely on these stories to know your own history. Thanks to systemic racism, most of your storytellers prioritized white accomplishments, which leaves you with an incomplete picture.”
The clip was posted online a week ago by the network with a caption that read: Black inventors, heroes, and leaders are often left out of history. Ask yourself as you’re learning…who is the focus? Why? Question the story. The Crystal Gems say BE ANTI-RACIST.”
The video eventually cycled around, going viral with many people praising the network for its advanced and moral way of thinking. “Cartoon Network absolutely doesn’t have to do this. There’s nothing forcing them to. It’s not Black history month, and there’s no national outrage that they’re capitalizing on. They do it cause it matters. THIS is the right way to tackle anti-racism. Bravo CN,” one person wrote.
