CNN Presents: Black In America
July 22, 2008 – 7:30 amTomorrow is the first night of a new CNN documentary called Black In America. The special report focuses on the time from the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. until now; addressing such questions as: How far have we come? How can we make it better? What are some of the biggest issues, challenges, and misconceptions black men, women and families face?
I haven’t seen the piece, so I can’t offer any feedback yet, but I think this is something important for everyone to watch so we can continue to work toward gaining understanding for each other. In addition to airing the show, CNN has put together all kinds of resources and discussion materials on their website to inspire more conversations and learning about this important topic.
Don’t forget to tune in Wednesday and Thursday at 6pm Pacific and we can discuss it here later in the week.
-JH
6 Responses to “CNN Presents: Black In America”
How about running a “Special Report” called “White in America”? Do you think whites have it so easy? Get real! This is America. Each and every race has had it’s share of problems - the italians, irish, etc. during the 20s. But we hear nothing of that! I’m certain that wouldn’t be welcomed so vividly. This whole crusade all amidst Barrak Obama’s candidacy is too much. This report in my view is antagonistic!
By treborjant1975 on Jul 22, 2008
Well, I kind of agree, but I think you could be less emotional and perhaps people would listen. Barrak Obama has opened the door for further discussion of this issue that has been constantly in the headlines for as long as I can remember. What I don’t understand about this approach is why anyone thinks this is the way to make things better? It is an agenda fostered by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and clearly was successful for both of them in their day. But, continuously pointing out the differences between black Americans and every other kind of American will only continue to solidify black Americans’ separation from everyone else. We’re ALL from somewhere else unless we’re Native American. Most of us can probably trace their roots back to a group that was suppressed and abused. Why does black America insist on making race an issue? If you continue to identify it as an issue, it will always be an issue. I was born and raised in a time and place where I had to learn about racism and slavery in social studies because it didn’t exist on my playground or in my household. I never thought about it until someone stood at the front of the class and suggested that there might be a reason for me to think about my black, Hispanic or Asian classmate as being different from me just because of how they looked. That was a sad day for me. I don’t understand how the cause of black Americans is improved by the incessant emotive “the man got me down, but I overcame” messaging. Every other group appears to have gotten over it and moved on even though I’m sure they could all identify situations in which their differences played a role in mis-treatment or unjust assumptions about them. I’m sure that I could as a woman. But, if you focus on the negative and focus on the past, how do you ever make positive progress? Food for thought. In the meantime, I won’t be watching this. Not because I am not sympathetic, but because I can’t watch Soledad O’Brien.
By FourForProgress on Jul 22, 2008
I have a better idea - what about Latinos in America. We are the second largest group in this country and we’ve accomplished alot more than blacks. Now when you consider the language barrier that’s impressive. I grew up in inner New York city around nothing but blacks, many where my friends. So what I’m about to say is first hand. Now this doesn’t apply to all blacks but many or most confuse the term respect for fear. Many blacks want to be feared by other races, they may say they want respect but that’s not the case. Blacks I’ve known do not know how to conduct themselves respectfully, classy, intelligently and when things do not go there way, they turn to violence. This is what its like being black in america. If you ask me I would say without a doubt that black people are the most racist in the world. They dislike everyone and they play the race card even when it’s not appropriate and I admit that it is in some cases. When I think black I think: violent, terrible language, terrible culture, easily angered, foul mouthed, very disrespectful, drugs, jail, inability to follow rules (law), lack of education, and poor child bearing skills.
By ocamo on Jul 23, 2008
This was supposed to be about “The Black Woman and Family in America” but they started off with Dyson’s brother who is in prison for murder, spent most of the time highlighting a white man who rescued the poor black woman who couldnt find a black man even though she was already dating Middle eastern and non-black men most of her life, called black people “salty” and basically said that black women should just date white men. This was another attempt by a racist system, media and country whose underlying agenda is to wipe out the black community for good.
Once again, they showed black men in prison but didn’t site the disparities between black judicial sentencing and white judicial sentencing for the same crimes. When ever they wanted to highlight (to white folks) that Harlem was a bad area-they just “cut to” and EXTERIOR shot of young black men. They didn’t even discuss the fact that developers and Mayor Bloomberg of NYC have driven out about 60& of the black population in Harlem to make way for “white only” condos. This is why I knew that CNN and Soledad did this mess for white folks. This was so much of Hitler Nazi propaganda that it wasn’t even funny. The same exact reports that Europe used to put out about the Jews-in these subtle underlying terms was the exact same thing that CNN put out about black males.
The over all feel of this first program was that blacks should just mix their blood and date whites. The media has been an instigator in the break down of the black family and has been on a constant mission to drive a wage between black men and black women. I guess tomorrow, will be the nail in the coffin when they spend all night demonizing black men with a few clips of some black men who are deemed “good” to add a little flavor and make this report look unbiased.
I will be emailing Maxine Waters-who used to run my district and making sure she isn’t going to feed into this tripe on those exit interviews which CNN just threw in at the last minute. Black leaders better wake up to propaganda.
By BlkManUp on Jul 23, 2008
Hey everyone, we really appreciate the comments on this important issue. I posted my thoughts on the series in my Fridays With Joe segment if you want to check them out.
-JH
By hunich on Jul 27, 2008