How ‘Gracie’s Corner’ Brought Black Rhythms to Preschool Content, With Help From Snoop Dogg and Big Freedia

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As I delve deeper into the vibrant world of Gracie’s Corner, I am truly captivated by the remarkable journey of this young, talented artist and her family. The resilience and creativity they have shown, especially Graceyn, is nothing short of inspiring. It’s heartwarming to see a platform that not only entertains but also educates, instilling core values and habits in children, such as facing fears, positive self-talk, and affirmations.

The animated educational series “Gracie’s Corner” surpasses what many children’s shows aspire to achieve. With a YouTube channel boasting 4 million subscribers and over 100 million monthly views, along with more than 2.1 billion lifetime views, it may seem successful based on ratings alone. However, the creators, Javoris “Jay” Hollingsworth and Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth (recently added to this year’s Kids Entertainment Power List), argue that focusing solely on these numbers underestimates its true worth. While these figures are impressive, they pale in comparison to those of “Cocomelon-Nursery Rhymes,” which dominates all kid-themed YouTube channels with a whopping 172 million subscribers worldwide, as per Statista.com. What sets “Gracie’s Corner” apart is the unique need it addresses, as the Hollingworths found out when raising their own three children.

During the pandemic, a couple living in Houston noticed that children’s programming lacked diversity as they filled their days at home. To their dismay, they found that there were very few shows starring black children or characters of color. Apart from a few standouts like Netflix’s Motown Magic and the Tanzanian show Akili and Me, they struggled to find programs that taught kids numbers, spelling, or basic kindness with diverse characters. These shows rarely incorporated Black music rhythms or relied on cultural cues unique to black communities.

Reflecting on the situation, Arlene, a licensed clinical psychologist, recalls that they were unaware of how significant the challenge would be, particularly when it came to creating engaging educational content suitable for children aged six and under, including toddlers and preschoolers. When Jay, who was a college chemistry professor at the time, suggested they start their own YouTube channel filled with diverse and entertaining educational content, Arlene eagerly agreed.

Four years on, “Gracie’s Corner” is flourishing, featuring its lead character based on and voiced by the family’s eldest daughter, Graceyn. This year, the show bagged the NAACP Image Award for exceptional children’s programming, triumphing over heavyweights like Netflix’s “Ada Twist, Scientist” and PBS Kids’ “Alma’s Way”. Jay considers this accolade as incredibly significant because it validates that our efforts are making a positive impact and striking a chord within our community.

In Gracie’s Corner, as with many children’s programs focused on coding, music plays a significant role. Unlike other kids’ shows centered around music, the creator of Gracie’s Corner, named Jay, who has a history of playing music in church and composing the show’s songs, emphasizes a unique approach to incorporating music into the program.

“Often, people associate children’s music with traditional tunes,” he notes. “However, the kids we’re aiming for find a rhythm they can groove to because our music is similar to what they might listen to in the car with their parents.”

The familiarity of various styles of music like the go-go music in the remix to “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” the Afrobeat remix to “Twinkle Little Star,” and the reggae-infused “Colors” grabs more than the kids. “When the parents hear it, they actually enjoy it,” he says. “When they enjoy it, now they’re dancing and singing along with their kids.”

With their grandchildren, similar to how rapper Snoop Dogg collaborated with Gracie’s Corner last year on the popular and empowering song “Girl Power,” which amassed 13 million views. This intergenerational collaboration isn’t exclusive to Snoop and his family; it’s a recurring theme in Gracie’s Corner. In many videos, both parents and grandparents are prominently featured, such as Big Freedia‘s lively remix of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” (37 million views). Additionally, numerous videos showcase an adorable baby sister imitating Graceyn.

Gracie’s Corner seeks to tackle crucial childhood matters and foster fundamental values and behaviors. “There are many essential abilities that should be taught to children at an early age, like learning to conquer fears, practicing positive self-speech, and using affirmations,” explains Arlene.

One of Gracie’s Corner’s initial successes, the empowering and affirmative “I Love My Hair,” was born from a troubling recollection. “I was being teased at school due to my unique hairstyle,” shares Graceyn (now 11 years old). “My parents believed it would be beneficial to create a song that encourages self-love for your hair as it naturally is.”

Expressing herself, Graceyn declared, “Creating ‘I Love My Hair’ was a significant milestone for me personally. It provided the confidence I needed to compose additional tracks and perform them authentically.”

In my gaming world, I am Gracie, a vibrant brown girl with afro puffs, large expressive eyes, a cute button nose, and a dazzling smile that shines bright. You’ll find me dressing up in all sorts of outfits, from an elegant ancient Egyptian sheath dress in the “Phonics Song” to the full regalia of an HBCU marching band member in “Count to 100”.

The animation often matches the rhythm of the music. Last year’s “Happy Dance Song” featured Gracie leading her friend through a variety of dance moves, such as the cha-cha-cha, raising their hands above their heads, and even dancing alongside Philly rapper 2Rare in the latest “Veggie Dance Remix.”

As a dedicated fan, I can confidently say that the unique style behind my favorite animated series, “Gracie’s Corner,” is the brilliant work of Victor Emerenini, an exceptional animator I discovered through a freelancing platform. The remarkable success of this show has propelled Victor from a solo artist to the head of a flourishing studio in Abuja, Nigeria, where he leads a dedicated team solely focused on continuing the magic of “Gracie’s Corner.”

Similar to Jay, Emerenini shares the conviction that “Gracie’s Corner” has global charm. He expresses, “Seeing a Black protagonist in an animated tune is a point of pride especially among Nigerians. The sound resonates deeply and the themes in each song align perfectly with the values promoted in Nigeria.”

Over the summer, the family maintains a similar rhythm to their school year schedule, with weekly recordings. However, this doesn’t stop them from planning unexpected events, such as joint ventures with popular music artists. At present, themed party favors, backpacks, hoodies, t-shirts, pillows, blankets, and other merchandise are accessible for purchase through Walmart, Amazon, and their website GraciesCornerTV.com.

While the target audience of Gracie’s Corner is children, perhaps the most important lesson is directed at fellow creators: “You don’t have to be a large multibillion-dollar production company to make a lasting impact,” says Jay. 

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2024-08-16 20:55