Television
February 5, 2021
“Drawn to Making it Happen” Featuring Sidney Keys III, 15-Year-Old Founder of African American Literature Book Club and Mentor Program, "Books n Bros" Premieres Saturday, Feb. 6
Cartoon Network Celebrates Black History Month with New Installment of the Drawn To series Championing Black Storytelling, Representation and Inclusion for Kids
Keys added, "Black History Month is important to me because it gives the opportunity to reflect and see people who look like me in an impactful light. It also gives permission to have a sense of pride to celebrate our African American history and culture. I am honored to be a part of this Drawn To project as a young Black boy in America during such an exciting time in history! The legendary and unsung heroes of social justice who aren’t here today would be proud."
By highlighting what inspired Keys to start "Books n Bros" at age 10, Drawn to Making it Happen motivates Craig and Jessica Williams (voiced by Philip Solomon and Lucia Cunningham) from the Emmy, GLAAD and NAACP Image Award-nominated Cartoon Network series "Craig of the Creek," to grab a book.
“Drawn to Making it Happen” was created in collaboration with Black-owned, Chicago-based multicultural marketing agency, Burrell, with opening graphics designed by St. Louis-based Black art director and illustrator, Marco Cheatham. All “Drawn To” episodes are available on CN, the CN App, and across the network’s social platforms.
An avid reader, Keys' list of book recommendations in honor of Black History Month include:
- "Danny Dollar Millionaire Extraordinaire" by Ty Allan Jackson
- "Scraps of Time" Series by Patricia C. McKissack
- "Shuri: A Black Panther Novel" by Nic Stone
- "We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" by Kadir Nelson
- "What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld
Last month, Cartoon Network announced the expansion of its content series “Drawn To” with new installments of monthly vignettes to be launched throughout the year featuring inspirational stories from real-life kids having fun and sharing common interests such as spending time with family and helping out in their communities. The series seeks to elevate these voices, highlight diverse cultures and provide a meaningful glimpse at the passions that bring kids together to celebrate unity and connectivity in a sometimes uncertain world. Each “Drawn To” is produced in partnership with local artists to cultivate authentic connections with the topics being discussed.
Additionally, “Drawn to Change” which premiered last month on Cartoon Network featuring Martin Luther King Jr.'s granddaughter, 12-year-old Yolanda Renee King, will continue to air throughout February.
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About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a division of WarnerMedia and the #1 global animated series network, offering the best in original content for kids and families with such hits as “Ben 10,” “Craig of the Creek,” “DC Super Hero Girls,” “Steven Universe,” “The Amazing World of Gumball,” “Teen Titans Go!,” “Victor and Valentino,” and more. Seen in more than 185 countries, over 450 million homes and in 33 languages, Cartoon Network inspires the next generation of creators and innovators by engaging its audience at the intersection of creativity and technology. Its award-winning pro-social initiatives, Stop Bullying: Speak Up and CN Buddy Network are acknowledged and often used resources for kids and adults looking for tools that can assist in dealing with the ongoing issue of bullying.
Press Contacts:
Kim Shane
Cartoon Network
kim.shane@warnermedia.com
Jennifer Price
Lippin Group
jprice@lippingroup.com