CLEVELAND, Ohio — She played Maria on “Sesame Street” for 44 years, breaking ground as one of the first Hispanic characters on television.
- She helped entertain and educate children for more than 4 decades and now she’s talking about the importance of diversity
- She was the guest speaker at Case Western Reserve University’s lecture series “The Power of Diversity”
- She says she took the job at “Sesame Street” to help children grow and learn
And now, Sonia Manzano is talking about diversity.
“We are living in very harsh times now in America. We are struggling to find the American identity, and I think it has to do with inclusivity, so the more I can spread that word, the happier I am,” said Manzano.
The actress and author was the guest speaker at Case Western Reserve University’s lecture series “The Power of Diversity.”
“If you wanna solve problems, the more diverse the group solving the problem, the better your solutions will be,” said Manzano.
People who grew up watching Manzano on Sesame Street attended the lecture because of her influence in their lives.
“I really wanted to be a part of it, especially to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, so this will give me an opportunity to see her in person and to be able to make that connection, because I know when I was a child, I really enjoyed Sesame Street and this will give me the opportunity to see someone I admired as a kid,” said Charesha Barrett, Cleveland.
“Every time I look at her face, I see me and my people, so she is a mentor and an example of what’s possible in any culture,” said Nilda Baker, Cleveland.
The actress is an award-winning writer and has written several books, including children’s books.
Manzano says she took the job at “Sesame Street” to help children.
“I remember my childhood very very well and I remember having a lot of questions and not having anyone answer them,” said Manzano. “I want to relieve children who might be feeling the same.”
