TV Episodes Banned after Backlash: Mississippi Ban

[JamesG]

Sesame Street's Ban in Mississippi


Though it's now one of the most universally loved and longest-running television programs ever, "Sesame Street" has radical roots. In the 1960s, little effort was put into children's programming, apart from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood".

While advertisement-laden cartoons aired on weekends, weekdays offered little in the way of thoughtful entertainment. When "Sesame Street" premiered in 1969, it aimed to fill this gap, and its creators wanted to particularly target children from low-income families.



The show's commitment to diversity wasn't met with universal praise. In May 1970, Mississippi's State Commission for Educational Television decided not to air "Sesame Street" on the state's television network.

A member of the commission told The New York Times that "some of the members of the commission were very much opposed to showing the series because it uses a highly integrated cast of children." When Shreveport's KTAL took "Sesame Street" out of the rotation in its second season, some viewers suspected the real reason for its removal also fell along racial lines.



Mississippi's ban didn't last for long. Its ETV station was inundated with letters from TV viewers who disagreed with the ban. In Laurel, Mississippi, the local station condemned the ban and claimed it would air "Sesame Street" itself if the decision wasn't reversed.

The commission quickly caved under pressure, agreeing to lift the ban later in May and officially airing episodes in June of that year.

https://www.tvline.com/2024168/tv-ep...fter-backlash/