Benjamin Ola. Akande: Lessons from the street at 50

A few years ago, I had the good fortune to visit the studios of “Sesame Street,” which has been a treasured part of children’s lives for nearly half a century. It is certainly entertaining, and more than a bit humbling, to meet face-to-face with those iconic puppets and realize they represent the best of what we all strive to be.

It flooded me with memories of watching the show back in my native Nigeria with my grandpa, who was a huge fan of the talking bird — Big Bird. And so as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Sesame Street,” I want to take some time to tip my hat to all those Jim Henson characters, who starred originally on “Sesame Street” as Muppets and who have made life more meaningful for millions of children, including this adult who grew up in Nigeria.

Kermit the Frog teaches us the value of friendship and originality. He challenges us to stay unique in a world that can seem to encourage conformity. Big Bird teaches us that we are all “birds of a different feather” and that life is not about how different we are, but about the difference we can make. The Count introduces us to the intrinsic value of money, but warns against the tendency to put too much value on material things. Even Oscar the Grouch consistently demonstrates the value of respect and tolerance for different ideas and different people.

“Sesame Street” shows us that the best way we can bring authenticity to ourselves is simply by being ourselves. Big Bird and his friends teach us to embrace the feelings of others and to celebrate the diversity of people and ideas that have made our country such a special place.

These days, it may often seem as if the lessons of “Sesame Street” we learned as children have been forgotten, or at least set aside for more expedient means. But these are exactly the times when we need to reconnect with our true values and with the Big Bird and Kermit within all of us. At times like these, we need to recognize that our great country was built on principles that have made us, as President Ronald Reagan so aptly and poetically put it, “that shining city on a hill.”

It is ironic that America has become a nation where immigrant families are being separated at our southern border.

Regardless of one’s politics or concerns about border security, we all cherish the values that have made our country special. As former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts once said, “America needs to be a place where all of us can feel a part of the American Dream. But this will not happen … if Americans are asked to accept what is immoral and wrong. America must put differences aside.”

Our country has always been anchored in goodness, good faith and the willingness to do whatever is required to lift each other, and ourselves, up. For five decades, “Sesame Street” has served as a mirror of the society we are striving to be. These beloved characters demonstrate our values, celebrate our strengths, and remind us that we can live together harmoniously.

Perhaps it’s time to change the channel and tune in once again to those lovable Muppets and monsters that show us how to be the best we can be. I found racial and ethnic harmony in the most unexpected place — “Sesame Street.” On this street lives a world of respectful puppets and kind friends where everyone is welcome. America as a nation continues to grapple with the power of and a reluctant appreciation for the greatest competitive advantage we possess — diversity. “Sesame Street” is an authentically colorblind community, where diversity is valued and inclusion is a natural part of daily living. It reflects the very best of America because it reveals our follies, showcases our strengths and reminds us that we all belong on the same street called humanity.

Benjamin Ola. Akande, Ph.D., is the assistant vice chancellor of International Programs-Africa at Washington University.

Connect the Dots: A Scrambled Life

Life lessons come to us from many different sources – including nursery rhymes.

Such rhymes (some made up by my parents, most derived from the usual sources, like Mother Goose) nurtured me as child. And one rhyme in particular has stayed with me all my life, a story of risk and failure – a lesson in how to respond when the worst happens, when things go to pieces and little or no hope remains in sight.

I’m talking about the story of Humpty Dumpty, the anthropomorphic egg that tried to defy the odds and met with tragic results: “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,/Humpty Dumpty had a great fall./All the king’s horses and all the king’s men/Couldn’t put Humpty together again.”

On the surface, this might seem a story about dismal failure. I disagree. The key word, to me, occurs last: again. To me, anyway, it positions Humpty as a risk-taker – bold, fearless, unrelenting.

Humpty, I think, believed in setting stretch goals and knew well the potential for failure, but he refused to let it define him. Because of that, I see Humpty as the epitome of courage. Perched atop that wall, he almost surely had to deal with fear, knowing the stakes of his position to be high indeed – that he might fall. But this egg never let the fear of turning into an omelet define him.

How does Humpty’s tale (which dates from 1797 or before) relate to today’s world? Well, Humpty’s wall can serve as a simple metaphor for all the lofty aspirations we have – in life, marriage, business and other pursuits. Occupying a wall like Humpty’s involves vulnerability and much humility – because at any time, gravity might scramble everything.

Unfortunately, none of us is perfect. At times, we misjudge and overreach. Sometimes, in fact, overconfidence untempered with humility leads us to the brink of disaster.

Now, we’ve all faced great challenges, whether the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the diagnosis of an incurable ailment or some other calamity – leading to an unfortunate “fall” and accompanying fear, hopelessness and helplessness.

At such times, I believe it helpful to turn to Humpty’s story. Yes, you may have fallen and, like Humpty, your life may appear to be shattered. But unlike Humpty, you can persevere when all hope seems lost. You can accept the reality that when you fall, the fall itself becomes part of the process of finding courage.

In that regard, it seems integral to cultivate a support group better than Humpty’s “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men” – family and friends to help when everything seems scrambled. We’ve all occupied high walls and fallen many times, but if it weren’t for our own “king’s horses” and “king’s men,” righting our lives would have been improbable if not impossible. Family and friends give us the confidence and endurance to keep on keeping on.

When you fall from your own wall, strive to overcome such a turn and seek a new way forward. Find the resolve to put yourself back together again, unlike Humpty, and someday, just maybe, someone will write a rhyme about you.

Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande is assistant chancellor of International Programs-Africa, director of Africa Initiative and associate director of the Global Health Center at Washington University in St. Louis. He is a former president of Westminster College and served as dean at the Walker School of Business & Technology at Webster University. He has a Ph.D. in economics.