Naomi Moland
Terrorism, Big Bird, and the Paradox of Multicultural Education


Can Sesame Street’s Big Bird help fight terrorism? And what does a children’s television show tell us about the challenges and paradoxes of multicultural education?

My guest today is Naomi Moland, Professorial Lecturer at the American University in Washington D.C. In her new book, entitled Can Big Bird Fight Terrorism?, Naomi explores a children’s television show in conflict-affected Nigeria that “is designed to teach ethnic and religious tolerance and to build national unity.”  Naomi uncovers lessons for multicultural education in general, which she speaks about in relation to the current pandemic and the protests against racism and colonialism that have recently spread to many countries worldwide.

Citation: Moland, Naomi, interview with Will Brehm, FreshEd, 206, podcast audio, July 13, 2020. https://freshedpodcast.com/moland/

This will close in 10 seconds