I remembered my own childhood growing up in New York — I had never been to Puerto Rico and I had never seen anyone who looked like me on television," recalls Manzano, who grew up in the Bronx.

The iconic children's show is turning 50! And while you likely watched it as a child or with your own kids, this is what you didn't get to see.

This week, it was “Sesame Street ... who joined the show in its first season, and Sonia Manzano and Emilio Delgado, who were cast as Maria and Emilio in 1971 — were fundamental to helping ...