Disney Junior Teams up With The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought on New Series "Rise Up, Sing Out"

Disney Junior has announced a new animated short series focusing on race, racism, and social justice, featuring music from The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought.

Photo credit for Black Thought and Questlove: @iamsuede

What’s Happening:

Disney Junior announced Rise Up, Sing Out a new short series that will present concepts around race, racism, and social justice, sending the message to celebrate differences and provide a framework for conversation for younger viewers.
The shorts will feature music by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of The Roots.
Questlove and Black Thought will also be executive producers for the series along with Latoya Raveneau (The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder).
Rise Up, Sing Out will premiere across all Disney Junior platforms later this year.

Series Synopsis:

“Disney Junior’s Rise Up, Sing Out presents important concepts around race, racism and social justice for the youngest viewers. The series consists of music-based shorts that are designed to provide an inspiring and empowering message about noticing and celebrating differences and providing a framework for conversation.”

What They’re Saying:

Joe D’Ambrosia, SVP, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior: “We recognize that many kids are experiencing a multitude of feelings around what’s happening in our world today and know that many families are struggling with how to discuss sensitive issues around race. Our goal with these shorts is to open up the conversation and provide families with the tools and knowledge to address these important topics with their preschoolers in an age-appropriate manner through music and relatable kid experiences.”
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter: “It is an honor to work with the Disney Junior team to help create a series of shorts that will empower and uplift the future generations in the way we know best, through music. We hope these shorts will encourage the young audience to recognize and celebrate our differences as human beings while learning the tools to navigate real-world issues of racial injustice.”