Cocoabsent? Representations of Race and Boyhood in Infant and Toddler Media

Abstract

The hit streaming series Cocomelon has become a household name for many families with infants, toddlers, and kids at heart. Cocomelon introduces our youngest population(s) to a Western world that privileges flawed and utopian post-racial perspectives. I contend that the show presents a perspective on race and identity that glorifies color-blindness and ignores racial differences that would educate children about the complexity and beauty of diversity. This commentary imagines a Black infant and toddler boyhood in children’s media that prioritizes race, culture, and identity and recommends other children’s programs that invest in culturally diverse representations of childhood.