The animated educational series Gracie's corner is racking up numbers that many children's shows would envy. The YouTube channel has four million subscribers, with more than 100 million monthly views and more than 2.1 billion lifetime views. But judging its success based on ratings alone is missing the point, say its creators, husband-and-wife team Javoris “Jay” Hollingsworth and Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth (new additions to this year Power List for Children's Entertainment). After all, even those impressive statistics are barely a blip compared to Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes, which leads all children's-themed YouTube channels with 172 million subscribers worldwide, according to Statista.com. But where Gracie's corner What is striking is the need it meets, as the Hollingworths themselves discovered with their own three children.
When the Houston-based couple turned to children’s programming to help them get through the pandemic, the lack of diversity alarmed them. They found that the landscape had relatively few shows led by Black children or other children of color. With rare exceptions like Netflix’s Motown magic and the Tanzanian show Akili and I, There simply weren't enough programs teaching kids how to count, spell, or just be nice, with characters that had different faces. And they rarely used the rhythms of black music or those unique cultural cues.
“We didn’t realize it was that bad, especially with the content for kids under six, toddlers and preschoolers,” recalls Arlene, who is a licensed clinical psychologist. When Jay, then a chemistry professor, suggested they start their own YouTube channel with entertaining, diverse educational content, Arlene was all ears.
Four years later, Gracie's cornerwith the lead character modeled after — and voiced by — their eldest daughter, Graceyn, flourishes. Earlier this year, the show won the NAACP Image Adepartment for excellent children's programand defeated such a loyal following as Netflix- Ada Twist, scientist And Alma's Way from PBS Kids. That recognition, Jay says, “is such a priceless award because it validates that we are doing work that is positively impacting and resonating with our community.”
As with most children's programs, music is a big part of Gracie's corner. Jay, who grew up playing music in church and Gracie's cornerbelieves there is a striking difference between their approach and other music-oriented children's programs.
“When people think of children’s music, they often think of traditional music,” he says. “The kids we’re really trying to reach can really vibe to it when they hear it, because it’s similar to what they hear in the car when they’re driving with mom or dad.”
The familiarity of different music styles such as go-go music in the remix “Mary had a little lamb,” the Afrobeat remix for “Twinkle Little Star”,” and the reggae-infused “To colour” grabs more than the kids. “When the parents hear it, they really enjoy it,” he says. “When they enjoy it, they now dance and sing along with their kids.”
Or with their grandchildren, as a rapper Snoop Dog did before he and his own kid-friendly Doggyland YouTube channel teamed up with Gracie's corner last year for the catchy and powerful song “Girl power,” that generated 13 million views. That intergenerational touch isn't unique to Snoop and his family. It's a theme that runs throughout Gracie's cornerBoth parents and grandparents take center stage in the energetic Bounce Queen Big Freedia “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” remix (37 million views). And many of the videos also feature an adorable little sister who bears a resemblance to Graceyn.
Gracie's corner aims to address important childhood issues and teach core values and habits. “There are many skills that are very important to teach children very early on [such as] how to face your fears, positive self talk, [and] “affirmations,” says Arlene.
One of Gracie's corner's early hits, the powerful and affirming “I love my hair”, was inspired by a painful memory. “I was bullied at school because of the way my hair looked,” says Graceyn, now 11, “and my parents thought it would be nice to make a song about loving your hair the way it is.”
Making “I Love My Hair,” Graceyn says, was also a personal turning point. “It gave me the courage to make more songs and just be myself while making those songs.”
Gracie's corner Gracie is depicted as a radiant brunette with a puffy afro, big eyes, a button nose, and a bright white smile. She also changes outfits frequently, wearing everything from an ancient Egyptian cloak to “Phonic song”(164 million views) to a full HBCU marching band uniform in “Count to 100.”
The animation is usually as bouncy as the music. In last year's “Happy Dance Song,” Gracie leads her friend in various moves, from doing the cha-cha-cha to waving their hands above their heads, or dancing alongside Philly rapper 2Rare in the recent “Veggie Dance remix.”
The man responsible for that signature style is Victor Emerenini, a Nigerian-based animator who discovered Jay through a freelance website. Gracie's corner's success has helped him expand from a one-man business to a full-fledged studio in Abuja with a team dedicated to Gracie's corner.
Like Jay, Emerenini believes in Gracie's Corner'S global appeal. “A black lead in an animated song is a feature that is most celebrated by Nigerians,” he says. “The sound is definitely recognizable and the messages in each song are also the same as what is encouraged in Nigeria.”
During the summer, the family tries to keep up the same pace as during the school year, taping only once a week. That doesn’t mean they don’t have surprises up their sleeve, including “multiple collaborations with iconic artists.” Themed birthday gifts, backpacks, hoodies, t-shirts, pillows, blankets and other merchandise are currently available for purchase at Walmart and Amazon, as well as on their website, GraciesCornerTV.com.
While Gracie's Corner's target audience is children, perhaps its most important lesson is aimed at other creators: “You don't have to be a huge, billion-dollar production company to make a lasting impact,” Jay says.