We, too, sing America: Preparing a new generation of active citizens

Abstract

For nearly 50 years, SchoolHouse Rocks! has been a staple in the education of millions of children in the United States. There were seven seasons of the hit television show, with Season 3, titled America Rock!, focusing on U.S. history and civics. The show’s catchy and folksy tunes have been used by social studies educators to teach young people basic civic knowledge, with episodes on the American Revolution, the Constitution, women’s suffrage, westward expansion, the three branches of government, the Electoral College, and immigration and assimilation. The common thread throughout the season promotes a narrative of the past that centers the greatness of white men as the founders and purveyors of American Democracy. This version of history and civics centers white middle class culture and norms while positioning people of Color as the “Other”—different and inferior and not seen as part of America’s national identity (Takaki, 2008). Given that SchoolHouse Rocks! is a relic from a different historical era, we cannot expect the young people of today to connect with the whitewashed version of history and civics presented in these videos. That was until We The People pulled up to the scene in July of 2021. We The People is an animated streaming series on Netflix that serves as an update to the original SchoolHouse Rocks! America Rock season. The series consists of 10 four-minute episodes with stunning animation and visuals that cover topics such as active citizenship, federalism, the courts, taxes, and immigration. Each episode features original songs written and performed by modern day artists like Janelle Monae, H.E.R, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brandi Carlile, Cordae, Andra Day, Adam Lambert, and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. The series was developed by some heavy hitters in the entertainment industry: Chris Nee, who created the lovable Doc McStuffins children’s television show; Kenya Barris, the creator of the widely popular ABC primetime show Black-ish; along with the ultimate power couple, former President and forever First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.