6-Year-Old Boy Wants To Be A Neurosurgeon When He Grows Up To ‘Operate On Racist Brains & Change Them’
On Saturday morning (June 6), CNN hosted a joint town hall for kids and families to meet and speak with their favorite ‘Sesame Street‘ characters. During the special, ‘Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism,’ a 6-year-old black boy said he wants to be a neurosurgeon when he grows up so that he can “operate on racist brains to change them.”
Hosting the event were the network’s hosts Van Jones and Erica Hill, and also featured Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the minority health, equity and inclusion chair at the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, who took on questions about how to combat racism and make a change.
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Throughout the special, many children and their parents took turns asking questions with various ‘Sesame Street‘ characters. like “Abby Cadabby” who says one fan has a question. The frame cuts to 6-year-old Kyle from Glen Oaks, New York who says, “I want to be a neurosurgeon when I grow up. Can I operate on racist brains to change them?”
Dr. Heard-Garris, who’s elated that he wants to join the field, says, “You operate and care for everyone. No matter their attitudes. But, with that being said — we are working really, really, really hard to change people’s hearts and minds, and policy so that later on you don’t have to operate on racist people’s brains. You can operate knowing that everyone is behind you and rooting for you.”
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