I was a little disappointed in the special. They seemed like they were throwing too many things together without explaining the other. It should have been 4 parts.

I did like the end piece with Michael Dyson and his brother though. Good try, but I don’t think it will help enlighten America on what it’s like to be black.

I liked it.

I also doubt that many of the people that need to watch the special, actually saw it. But for those of us who did, it should awake something in your conscious to do something in the community! It should make you want to mentor youth in the inner city so that they won’t become the many statistics that appeared on the “Black In America” special. Things may not change in our community overnight, but imagine if only a 5% of the 2 million people watching did something, just imagine the change that would come.

I thought it was boring, they talked about things that black people should already know. They only talked about the black people in the city and not the country. The black people that live in the city have more of an advantage then the ones that live in the country. There are more opportunities for black people in the city, they just dont use them.

I grew up in the country so i know how hard it is. It wasn’t hard from me because i come from a college educated family. As for my peers they seem to have a hard time. It wasnt just black people though it was the whole community. Only a few people actually make anything out of themselves.

She is right, its kinda depressing though but she is right

I Liked but I already knew alot of this stuff being a black male and like tv girl said alot of the people who needed to see it didnt see it……..

i aw it and i like it alot i do wish there was a wider variety in the blsck men shown though and i agree w/ time’s up the should have been for parts and the other two about how black children feel about this and the last about how we can prevent this
from happening in the future.i also have a question what was the name of the black guy that found talent they were talking about how it was to be black in corpated america?he was like skin and during his segment they showed him with John Legend & KanYe West

I said the same thing earlier!!! The ones that need to watch it, won’t!!! I am truly fed up with my people. Blacks won’t help themselves. We won’t go to school, we won’t get a job to get healthcare, we won’t stop having children we cannot afford by men that aren’t going to help us, we won’t take responsibility for our own actions, we won’t love and raise our children, we won’t push them the right direction. We make too many excuses! Black people, we have got to help ourselves. There is no reason blacks cannot succeed in America. True, there are obstacles, but ultimately, you determine your fate. I was just reading an article in the local paper dealing with the string of homicides in the last month, and the majority of them were young black males! I read the comments (re:article) left by racist whites, but hell, I had to agree with some! It’s these fools in denial, and the ones depicted on the show that need to see it and get it together! GET IT TOGETHER BLACK PEOPLE, YA’LL ARE PISSING ME OFF!

I also said to my friend, the people who need to be watching this aren’t. I agree with Karen Hunter (the writer of the article) that shows like this miss it’s intended audience. However the series was likeable.

I don’t think it lived up to the hype. I enjoyed the pre-programs, like the one about Dr. King’s murder, and the panel discussion from the Essence festival. All in all, I thought that tonight’s part more than I enjoyed the Women and Family segment, which is sad because I am a young Black woman! All that being said, I applaud Soledad O’Brien, the concept was there, and it was on, and she did the work!

I liked the special although I would have liked for it to be longer.I loved the segment with DL and spike.

I think we’re making assumptions that we should be ready to take responsibility for. A program like Black in America is not supposed to “save” us from our various struggles in society. Karen Hunter asks, who’s watching. I would ask, Who does CNN intend to really watch? How many times as we found ourselves saying, “white ppl just don’t get it” - well, here’s a stab at reaching them. I’m not saying the program was perfect, nor am I saying that CNN should make programs like these for white people. But, if we’re being real with ourselves, let’s not place the responsibility of helping, “Shaniqua” or “T-Bone” in the hands of a CNN two-part special investigation/program/documentary. Most of you are right, I didn’t hear anything I didn’t know - but I bet you Nathan, white man in Nebraska probably heard something he didn’t know or learned a knew angle to something he had limited knowledge of. Let’s be clear about where each of our responsibilities lie.

The first part where they showed black women dating, I saw a lot of myself.Especialy when they showed the woman who said she’d choose he happiness and career over marriage.I identified with the single women.

First thanks for posting this Angel, Now I did watch the second part of it like i said before the people that needed to watch this didn’t. I think this was geared more towards white america that has no insight into the black community, all i got from it was alot of problems and questions but no solution. I sincerely think black people are our own worst enemy. We are the first to complain, and critize each other. There wasn’t anything in the program that i think any brother or sister didn’t already experience or know about. Its sad to say it but in order for us to build we have to destroy first.

I agree with #12.Idon’t believe that there wasn’t much we as african americans didn’t know. But hopefully someone will be enlightened by the information given in the special.Even if it’s just one person.

I have to agree with you angel. I thought I was the only one who felt that the first episode was pretty dissapointing, it didn’t shed light on anything I already know. Mabey it’s because Im black and I read and already know the issues we face on a day to day basis. But it was boring, I was like “um ok, already know that…next”. I’m sure other races learned a lot from it

However the second episode was much more enlightening and interesting. I was still familiar with the topics that were discussed.

Overall the documentary wasn’t really thought provoking or shocking to me. There were some stories that did however move me.

I missed it - is there anyway i can watch it on the web somewhere

I watched Part 1 today and DVR Part 2 which i will watch tomorrow. I don’t know. I think it really sparked something inside of me and made me re-think a lot of things. i also agree with a lot of you all. The ones that really need to see the segment unfortunately they won’t.

Good one. I think that it was a good special it could have been a week or a month or even a year long. They addressed a lot of issues like family, aids,jobs,education and hip hop that need light shead on it, but we also needed more disscusion on how to improve our situation and alot can start with self and breaking the cycle of negitive activity like making family,education a top priority to us again. We have a greater chance to reach the “american dream” than any other generation of black people since the reconstruction era and we are letting it slip away from us by aspiring and reaching for the worng things. I want us to take our pirde of self back the love for family back the love our our woman back and the love of community back. In stepping off the soap box I have one, well two things to put out. Register to vote and VOTE!!! To many black people gave there life so you can do so. And beware that if we do get the pleasure to see Senator Obama hold the office of president that we will have to help him by working harder because there will be a strong movement in this country to derail him and make it difficult for the next black person to reach that office.

———I have mixed emotions and feel moreso exploited.

I did tune in to watch this special and so far its alright everything they spoke about has been said repeatedly by other black activist so nothing here is new. I do agree with the rest of the commenter’s that it was lacking in a way and it wont really inspire “blacks” to act right. I do cry for my people because they always tend to point the finger instead of take blame of their actions an yes it can be true that prejudice and racism play a part but not all the damn time.
Especially black aint nobody say to be acting “ghetto” in the streets and living the thug style is cute…you cant blame nobody but ya damn self …well to rap things up I will never have to classify myself as those kind of “blacks” to where i have to go on national television and talk about my race in america just to give my self a good name if Hispanics and asians and white arnt doing it why should the blacks. Let the past be the past and move forth.

I think the special was bound for this type of response. In my opinion it didn’t change anyone’s beliefs much. If anything I think it helped perpetuate the stereotype that all Black men end up in jail, since most of the people they interviewed were in prison, had been in prison, or had someone close to them in prison. I don’t know about you but i doubt that changed anyone’s minds about black people. I did like however that they showed a more human side to the “criminals” the media portrays, and I also liked that they discussed the ravages of crack on our race.

In the end I think this special could have been better, maybe if it was longer it would have helped. But truthfully, I think that no matter how many CNN specials they put on t.v. people who are not black will never fully comprehend and understand the trials and tribulations we have faced and will face. The struggle is one thing that we all share and identify with. My hope is that we can find a way to finally take back and rebuild our dreams, not through proving ourselves to the white man because he knows how great we are. Thats why they oppress us so much, but if we can prove our greatness to ourselves, we will finally have a fighting chance.

#12 took the words right out of my mouth. Altho I felt the series could have been longer and went into further detail…. THIS PROGRAM WAS NOT JUST FOR BLACK VIEWERS! So stop saying how they talked about issues we already know. Its like “DUH!” since we’re the topic lol. I think CNN wanted to give outsiders a glimpse into our world and I think they did a pretty good job. They gave opinions about different challenges we face and instead of giving an excuse, they tried to unmask the root that many whites (even ourselves) don’t look for. Kudos to CNN for this program and I hope other networks will follow in their footstep (:coughs: “BET”) to broadcast quality programming on real issues. Not just issues in ethnic groups but in society as well. I really feel this generation is more about SES vs. ethnicity.

I also think that Part 2 was better than Part 1. It would have been nice if they separated the women’s segment out of the family’s. It just seemed like they skimmed over the women’s topics.

I was really disappointed. They didn’t black women fairly well and I hated the black men special. Other then telling us things we’ve heard a million times, the special:

- Neglected to speak about the AIDS epidemic among black men
- Not much gray area among black men. Black men were either drugged up, adn impoverished or very affluent. But uber religious either (for the most part), I wish they at least discussed the black middle class among many other types of black men.
- Why were the affluent black families lighted skinned and the strugglers dark skinned?? They put too much subliminal emphasis on skin complexion.

It just left way too much to be desire and didn’t really push the envelope.

I enjoyed the special. I believe it gives a glimpse into the lives of blacks not only for other races, but for blacks themselves. It was powerful because it gave a real, unbiased view on what’s its like being “black in America.” It wasn’t exploitative or sugar-coated, it presented a 360 view. While there are many blacks who live in horrendous conditions, that is not the end of the black experience. But at the end of the day, what I learned is, it boils down to your choices. While racism is alive and well, in 2008 it can no longer be an excuse. As blacks in America NOW, we have grown leaps and bounds from the America of the 1940s or any other time period for that matter. I honestly believe its important to take what we have been given and use it to our FULLEST advantage every single day! Prime example: Micheal Eric Dyson and his brother Everett. Grew up in the same house, same time period, now 1 is a best-selling author and the other a convicted murder. Why? Because they made a series of different CHOICES. So after seeing that, I don’t want to hear any more reasons why. While the system may be flawed, stereotypes prevalent, like grandma said: if you’re not part of the solution…..

I think this docu-series is a crock of crap. Why, as Black people, do we need some white newsroom to conduct a social experiment on US and then run it back to the whole country/world as if we are some sort of sub-culture? We’re just as American as any other ethnic group but you don’t see THEM filming documentaries on anyone else. This is nonsense! How date they take hours and hours of time to highlight our short-falls and cultural differences. Is this a reminder, during a presidential year, that we are still Black and still considered a sub-set of American society. IMO this is rather embarassing and unnecessary. They’re not doing us a favor by point us out and spotlighing us as if we are any different from the rest of American society.
Everyone, take a step back and realize what’s going on. They’re trying to play us a fools…and we need to stand up for ourselves and our people.
Boycott mainstream news media!!! It’s a big game they’re playing and we have to play smarter than them.

After all the hype, I was quite disappointed. I also believe it fell short. Kudos to Soledad for her reporting, but as previously stated by other posters, I didn’t learn anything I already didn’t know, and the people that should’ve been watching, probably weren’t. I don’t believe it delved into the reasons behind the issues we face, i.e., why is HIV/AIDS a huge problem in the black community (just an example). Well we know about practicing “safe sex,” however, how did these women contract HIV/AIDS, i.e. DL men, drug use, disparity in education, health care, etc. I’m not saying that we have to make excuses for our behavior, but some things stem from deeper issues, and that’s what I believe should’ve been discussed as well. Also it’s high time we stop worrying about what white people think as well. Also, it would’ve been nice to see a lot more positive, i.e., black business owners and other successes, not just “down on our luck” stories. It appears we are always struggling. To sum it up, we must take action to change OUR future and not depend on anyone else, and it’s time to stop with the excuses.

@8 Lola AM>>>Bingo!

I agree @ blacklove, It was exploitive and discouraging. It was a glimpse into different black people lives, but it didnt include any solutions, so that leads me to believe it was geared towards whites to improve their impression of us. SMMFH !!!!

Although an interesting documentary, I did not feel educated or enlightened as i expected too. They broadcasted everything your average black person already knows about being ‘Black in America’ and was primarily for the white folks to tune in and get educated on the struggles black america faces on a day to day basis. Did they tune in? I’m sure they didn’t….All-in-all the documentary could’ve been alot better and more cohesive. They could’ve shown many different facets of black life. It seems as if they showed the poor, ghettos that drop out of high school and the upper upper middle class who can afford to send all 5 of their children through college, when’s there so much more in between. The plight of a single mother runs deeper than what they depicted. And there are so many other different POVs they could’ve recieved from the Black community. In addition they could’ve touched on some more of the things that the black community use to tear each other apart with. It is truly not an easy thing being black in america, and i’m not sure if that documentary fully displayed that.

I totally agree with #26 - what the hell are we monkey’s in a zoo to be ogled at as other races watch us throw feces at one another by showing the most negative images and plights of our people?… This was embarassing! Most black sare well aware of the negatives that plague our communites - as many have already mentioned, those who need to watch, probably, most likely are not. Wake up people, like 26 said - “the media is doing us no favors”. I could of received this better coming from BET. It was sterotypcical, step & fetch it, help us master please production. Yes, we as a people and our communities have lots of work to do and need to rise up - but this is a BARACK OBAMA year my people - moving on!

@ #17
If you read Angel’s post to the end or give it a cursory glance like I did, you will notice that she answers your question,
“CNN is re-airing the special on Saturday, July 26 at 8 pm EST. But of course both episodes are available online via DIMEWARS.COM.”

I was speechless, and so many other things. I really wish, my people wake up and get their ish together. This ish, is real and peolple walking around like shit don’t even exist. It’s one thing, to rap and speak on the problems in the black neighboorhood. But what are the plans to better the future, for the future generation. Blacks, need to stop blaming everybody for their problems, and take a hard and long look in the mirror, and ask the question. What can I do today, that will affect my tomorrow?

Watching this did nothing for me it did not change the way I think about my race or the problems facing the African American community. I just feel like all they did was give us somebody else’s opinions on what its like to be “black” or African American. I wish that they would have reached out to people I can relate…like that the guy you see standing out on the corner hustlin to feed his younger siblings because he cant get a real job due to the numerous reason thats out there…or the single mother working full-time going to school and taking care of her baby. But before we blame CNN for not making blacks look bad we got to take some responsibility. Just like # 8 said we need to go to high school and college (and actually graduate) so that we can get real jobs that wont keep you in poverty. We need raise our children the morals and values and push them in the right direction so that they can make the most out of life. We need to rise up as a people and stop acting so damn ghetto then putting that garbage on youtube for the world to see. I just want Black people to get it together so the next time CNN does feature on us they will be focusing on the positive things that African American have done with their lives despite the set backs that we all face in America!

another problem was that they didnt show the middle ground of any of these situations, such as the single mother, middle class family and how she came up on her own to make it with her family, the child from the poor neighborhood who made it to college w/o children/AIDS/ criminal record. It really wasnt anything we dont know, only cause the people watching know all of these things, the ones who werent watching are the ones that needed the help and to have their eyes opened

I’m glad that the education crisis was bought up. i think that there is a need for a two part series on this issue alone. I’m from rural MS and my old high school was recently taken over taken over by the state due to low test scores. Get this, ALL (except for .05%) of the black kids in my town attend/or attended that school. We all graduated from that school poorly prepared for life and college. Many graduated with every intention to go to college and make something out of themselves only to be tackled with the harsh reality that they are worlds behind and it’s going to take a miracle to catch up.its a sad reality for a lot of blacks. Where did all the white kids that lived in teh same town attend school? they all attended a private academy. Is that a coincidence? I think not.

I liked it. A lot. I liked the first part much better though. When I heard of the documentary my attitude was very much “I’m black. I don’t need to watch a special on being black.” However, it was very enlightening to people who aren’t don’t live in the inner city and may not be aware of issues that don’t affect them but affect many many other black people in this country. It really wasn’t “everything every black person in America already knows.” The people who feel like that totally missed the point. Imagine how white middle class people who watched may have felt! They learned a hell of a lot! I imagine how a middle class black person with health care and and education and resources felt watching and learning about what it’s like for so many others. Imagine the drug dealer or high school drop out or teenage mother who watched and now wants to better themselves so as not to become one of the statistics they saw on T.V.
Also it was produced beautifully produced and directed centering on one black family and branching out from there and then from one High school and the students and relatives of students that attended.

I liked the piece very much. I thought that it touched on a few of the main struggles that face blacks in America. Now did it present anything new to me? No, but I’m not upset about it because I feel that the point of the piece was to show everyone else what we go through. If you look at what channel it was on and the target audience of that channel, that’s basis for my point. I do hope that it opens up minds about a lot of things that shouldn’t go on in America that does and in the end I hope there can be more of these type of shows to continue to bring awareness.

I think this was supposed to be aimed at “the rest of America” but all that tuned in were black people. Of course we were going to watch it because we wanted to know what CNN was going to say was going on with being Black in America. But for the white, spanish and every other bit of the population, I think they just … Refused it because they don’t want to know that other people know that theyre the bad guy.

I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY SO FAR..I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS TOWARDS THE SHOW..MAYBE SOME PPL HAD GOOD INTENTIONS ABOUT BROADCASTING THE SHOW BUT I STILL FELT AS THOUGH THEY JUST SHOWED THE SMALL ISSUES IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BUT DIDNT PROVIDE A PANEL OR A PROPER DISCUSSION IN SOLVING THEM..SO WHAT’S THE POINT IN SHOWING IT ON CNN?? AND WHY NOW?? BECAUSE WE HAVE A BI-RACIAL CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?? THATS A D*MN JOKE..CNN IS JUST THE SAME AS FOX OR ANY OTHER MEDIA..THEY MAKE FOOLS OF US AND KEEP TRYING TO BROADCAST OUR LIVES AND OUR STRUGGLES AND SH*T..

I understand that these segment was unappealing to some people. but u guys have got to understand that the main point that was being put out there was for everyone of us to put together and do something for each other. We have to help, and if all of us blacks can stay together, we can cut down on the crimes and deaths of our young black people.

To #4, just because you live in the city doesn’t always necessarily mean you have the resources needed to get ahead in life. You’re seeing things from one point of view, the surroundings in which you live. I happen to live in a huge city (Detroit for that matter) and it’s sad to see that in such a big town, we still have people in poverty.

I don’t think this special was for black people at all. I think it was supposed to give white people a glimpse into the different dynamics of black life.

I agree that a lot of the topics covered and facts thrown out in the special weren’t new, and maybe a lot of the people who saw it didnt see it in regards to black people, but i also think that a special like this is a sign of a more conscious America. Although a lot of black people may have missed out i hope a lot of whites and the people who continie to marginalize and stigmitize blacks learned something from the broadcasting of Black in America and i think CNN was an almost perfect network to project this special. It showed a lot of the struggles Blacks in America face but it also showed how some blacks are helping to try and change and diminish some of the depressing statistics and realities in the black communitty.
All in all, i liked the show, i know it reached A LOT of people, and i know some people gained some sort of understanding and knowledge about, roughly, what it is like to be Black in America.

I am a 22 year old black woman in america. I have been to college and received an associates degree and am 1 year shy of my Bachelors in English. I want to participate in the Teach for America program when I graduate from college because I feel so much pain for the kids in inner-city schools who want to learn and are suffering from all the hardships in their daily lives. I live in a poor black community. I was raised by a single mother who worked hard to see me and my brother succeed financially. YES, I know how to read (I love it with all my heart and sometimes more than I love my own life)and speak Kings’ English. YES, I had a father who forced himself into my life against my wishes (thank you justice system). He abused me verbally and physically and NO, I do not look to boys or wannabe men to fill the VOID in my life. NO, she was not there to teach me every single life lesson. NO, I do not have any children and NO, I do not have HIV or AIDS. I am in a healthy adult relationship with a young black man my own age and he is from a middle-class neighborhood. We have goals and aspirations. I want to be successful and able to support myself. I want to be a homeowner and I also want to be able to depend on my boyfriend (hopefully, future husband) because men and women need each other to survive. That is why they both exist and they fit together and together they create new life and the cycle continues. I can say that I will be married because I do not have a stick up my ass and know what it takes to be a damn good wife. I have priorities, morals and values. I respect myself. I know exactly what I want out of life. I do not play games. I know I am NOT alone, other people like me exist so why did I not see them? Stop with the stereotypes and show the real people like me next time.

I can see where alot of you guys are coming from..and I do agree with some comments. There wasn’t anything that was said that I already didn’t know..but I did enjoy the hip-hop segment. With me being a fan of music..I feel like the things that Lupe Fiasco said..hit it right on point!

I do think this show was for other people besides our own race. But I do think Soledad did a great job! I don’t think we should try to pin CNN with the responsibility to find solutions. If any healing is to be done…it should start at home!!! We are only and can only be responsible for ourselves!!

As I read comments I really do not understand how many of us will do the same thing that has been perpetuated from other races about US. I watched part 1 and 2 and to me I think it served no purpose but to make us look exactly the way they think we are. Remember the phrase made famous shortly after Jim crow laws” I don’t hate negroes hell there are some good working negroes” many don’t and that all that this show expressed to us while there are a few doing OK but, most of us are still suffering look how they ended the show with the brother getting locked up. To me that was a hell of a indictment at eh end of the episode about the brothers which they could have ended speaking about M.E.Dyson one of the knowledgeable people on this planet they choose the negative and many sit back and turn your nose up saying wake up. I’m in the community speaking to the youth; I see and study about many who are trying to do for us. However, many of you who are shaking your head and turning up your nose have and will not done anything for the community and by the way purchasing an Obama 08 t-shirt have nothing to do with the community.

OVERALL CNN DID A GOOD JOB ON THEY’RE DOCUMENTARY BUT BEING BLACK IN AMERICA SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS WE AS BLACK PEOPLE CREATED OURSELF. I’AM FROM A MIDDLE CLASS COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA. 90% OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY ARE SUCCESSFUL BLACK AMERICANS SUCH AS DOCTOR, POLICE OFFICERS, LAWYERS, TEACHERS, NURSE & ETC… GREAT CHURCHS, A & B GRADED SCHOOLS , AND GOOD BUSINESS ARE ALL BLACK & BLACK OWNED.THE MAYOR IS A BLACK FEMALE AND CHIEF OF POLICE IS A BLACK MALE.THIS COMMUNITY IS A GOOD & POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF BLACK IN AMERICA. NOW MY POINT IS WHY CNN COULDN’T INCLUDE A CITY LIKE THIS AND MANY OTHERS LIKE THE SAME IN THEY’RE DOCUMENTARY. THESE WHITE FOLKS ALREADY KNOW THE NEGATIVE STRIKES THEY PLACED AGAINSTS US.(WHY REMIND US ALL?!)

HEY! SPEAK UR MIND!!

I’m looking at everybody’s different responses and I’m a little upset at everyone who was being negative. I truly believe that Ms. Soledad O’Brien did a wonderful job. I did however think that they should have showed more footage. Its just saddening to me that the people who need to watch it WON’T watch it and will make every excuse not to watch it. But then are going to be pissed when they’re kids follow the same path. The bible says “God’s people are completely ruined for lack of understanding!” Now…with shows like this that put out all kinds of statistics and show different views yall can’t say that you didn’t know what was going on. I’m sorry but some people need a slap in the face because they’re acting like they have no common sense. My whole family sat and watched the series and we invited friends as well. We had so many different conversations that branched off of the issues in the series…but I guess the same people who have a problem with this show also had a problem with Obama’s speech at the church where he called out deadbeat fathers…if you’re offended by what’s being said maybe you need to check yourself…

I’ve not seen the show since I live in Italy, but I thought the show was geared toward other Americans (especially white Americans). I believe every in America has a proclivity for judging African-Americans, even us. What we all need to understand is out circumstances were and are completely different from any other American story. We were forced to come here under brutal conditions. We were separated from out bloodlines, our homes in Africa, our families, our roots, our language, our entire sense of what humans use to define themselves. We were forced to work harder than any human should ever have to. And we received freedom from the immediate damage not even 200 hundred years ago.

Now, I don’t think African-Americans need a free pass because I know we have the power to overcome, I’ve seen us do it countless times. What I want to see is a change in the way the plight of African-Americans is addressed. If you had a person who was taken from there home at a young age, lost all contact with previous knowledge, was forced to work all day and night, molested, told everyday that they were ‘less than’, and then kick out into a world where everyone seems to believe they are ‘less than’ it could take that person the rest of their life to recoop with the proper help.

And since the killings of Dr. King and Malcolm X, I think the African-American community has been searching for a leader to guide them. We can make it, but we need to address the root of the sickness, not the symptoms. We need to uplift each other and build our sense of self worth.

Alicia Keys said it best when she said not only did we build the wonders of the world, WE ARE THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

I liked the parts that I did catch. It was interesting.

I think Soledad O’brien did a horrible job. I mean, if her special was targeting white audiences, then it was pretty good. But what was the point of Black people watching that watered-down special. Black people already know what it’s like to be Black in a America. As a black woman, I didn’t learn anything. All those people whom she profiled in her piece, especially the Black Male Part 2, are all in my local grocery store.

Also, I know this may sound a little ignorant—but have you noticed a lot of folks are complaining about why CNN chose SOLEDAD out of all the Black reporters at the station to narrate and write the series. The first thing my boyfriend asked was: “Couldn’t they’ve picked someone blacker?>” So, then he went upstairs, and didn’t watch it. My bf is from the hood, and lot of black folks from the hood can not relate to Soledad’s ultra-European features and voice. I mean, CNN should have had Anchor TJ Holmes do the special.

So, with that said, it was a huge disappointment and a big waste of time.

I think Soledad O’brien did a horrible job. I mean, if her special was targeting white audiences, then it was pretty good. But what was the point of Black people watching that watered-down special. Black people already know what it’s like to be Black in a America. As a black woman, I didn’t learn anything. All those people whom she profiled in her piece, especially the Black Male Part 2, are all in my local grocery store.

Also, I know this may sound a little ignorant—but have you noticed a lot of folks are complaining about why CNN chose SOLEDAD out of all the Black reporters at the station to narrate and write the series. The first thing my boyfriend asked was: “Couldn’t they’ve picked someone blacker?” So, then he went upstairs, and didn’t watch it. My bf is from the hood, and lot of black folks from the hood can not relate to Soledad’s ultra-European features and voice. I mean, CNN should have had Anchor TJ Holmes do the special.

So, with that said, it was a huge disappointment and a big waste of time.

I watched the CNN special… a few notes…

1) School Vouchers - at this point, I am for whatever works. (Off topic - but PBS/News Hour with Jim Lauer’s show just talked about how a New Orleans school was opened specifically for older students who were 4-5 years behind in school. One of the students, who was 16 in the 8th grade…dropped out of the program). So, at this point, whatever works. One size Answer does not fit all black people.

2) Washington D.C….1 in 20 is too high. And 2/3 of new HIV cases are diagnosed in Black Women is ridiculous and both statistics are preventable.

3) It is all about pulling up the boot straps.

4) Of course, I didn’t not agree that Single Black women should go running to white men b/c they can not “get” a black man. I disagree with this on many levels regardless what Chris Rock says. However, it should have been noted that b/c of the situation of black sistas, the black population will decline dramatically.

5) I felt bad for the NY father with the 2 kids. Those kids are so lucky to have a father that has their back and is there for them. I felt bad that the little boy had attended 5 schools by the 5th grade. I wish them the best of luck.

6) I also like the point about the lady who said, she has to travel a good 30 minutes by bus to get to a store that sells fresh produce. People have a hard time believing that black people do not have access to healthy food.

7) Where was Bill Cosby?

I doubt this show will reach the ears of those who really needs to hear it….

9) I wish more discussion about racism in the workplace and concious and “unconcious” biased among white people was discussed.

And yes the program was water downed but hey…its mainstream TV.

I watched it but I felt it was too short the topics were not as developed as I would have liked to see especially the HIV epidemic, and I live in the DC area and people life when I say that sleeping around here is like putting a gun to your head with three bullets and cocking it back repeatedly. OKAY thanks to this deocumentary I hope people consider what I have said repeatedly. Sad but true, HIV has no standard but the face of the disease seems to be BLACK WOMEN.

To Angel & Co.,

I appreciate your opinion…a lot. But this was not meant to be a “coming out” party for people that represent the African American community. This was meant as a starting point. A dialogue piece. And if some of you all didn’t take advantage of what it was worth, you missed out. I don’t think that people realize the magnitude of what has a great opportunity of happening in November. There is a chance that the face of the United States of America will be a black man. The model family that will be put on display for the Nation and the World to see will look like you and me. By saying that, this was not meant for you. CNN was attempting to assist in a “should be” on going dialogue in our society (not just the black community), about past and current issues dwelling amongst the African Americans. This showed that you can’t put us in a box. And that we are more than stereotypes. And if you didn’t see it, you must of been so busy looking for the “we have arrived” moment or the negative. It also shows that there are issues with mainstreams acceptance of who we are (in some portions) and what some of us go through on an everyday basis. This showed a glimpse of all (blue-collar, working, middle, entertainment, political, gender, etc.). And your job was to break it down for yourself (stop depending on everybody to give you answers) and to have this dialogue about these areas. Not just amongst yourself, but with other people that represent other views and cultures in our society. I took advantage of the opportunity to have dialogue in my office. I invited other people to watch it. Me being one (if not) the only male of color some of my colleagues come in contact with on a daily basis and a administrator & faculty/staff member at a prestigious institution of higher education, I feel like its my responsibility (obligation) to be upfront and willing to talk to them about issues that dwell in our community and sub-culture (and for some of you all that don’t understand, we are a sub-culture…so get over it). We got our lunch, came back to my office, and talked. They asked questions. I asked questions. We left lunch feeling like we learned something. About ourselves and each other. If you were looking for “Roots: Where We Left Off”, you were waiting and looking for the wrong type of program. If you were looking for somebody to come on and give you all the answers, you were looking for the wrong type of program. If you was looking for somebody to display all the positive just to cover up the negative, you were looking for the wrong type of program. If you were looking for a starting piece for a “should be” (but its up to you to take advantage or just complain) dialogue, I think you was in the right place. But I remember being invited out to dinner with Soledad O’brien by some colleagues last Feb. and she made this statement. This was when she first started working on background for this piece. She said, “My job in this piece, just like any other piece, is to give information. Give listeners a starting point. The viewers job, is to create the answer.” So the question to everybody is…

Are you all creating the answer or just complaining about the questions?

If you would further like to talk about some of these issues, please contact me. My email address is published.

she’s right. and i thought it was very interesting, however im sure the people that needed to be watching werent watching in the first place so they can better themselves. those that are already aware of the issues that we all face as black people already know how we are all affected and how we can improve the black community.

I watched the special and I thought that it was very informative. Like most of the replies it didnt tell me anything I really didnt know but that is because i try to keep abreast of the issues that affect my community. Im glad that Black in America was aired because you will be surprised at the Black people that dont know about themselves or their culture. I think that children and young adults would best benefit from the special because those topics are not being addressed at school or the household. Some of OUR kids are not educated about Black History, the stigmatism of slavery, Black struggle and Black affluence. The special brought up issues that teenagers need to see. We need to be educated. We need to break the cycle of negative sterotypes that plague our communtity. Education is the only way!
The only thing that kinda disapointed me was the Black women segment. I didnt think that enough was exposed about the issues that we have to face.
What I learned from the special is that we as a community need to take control of our own destiny and make responsible choices. Individual choices end up affecting those around us sooner or later….We must think before we act.

And what I dont like is the fact that some Black people believe that the special was essentially a waste of time. My question is WHAT ARE U DOING TO HELP UPLIFT THE BLACK COMMUNITY? WHAT ARE U CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY TO GET RID OF THE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES OF US? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAT DOWN WITH THE YOUTH AND READ A BOOK?

*****The Only and Only I agree with you I felt it should have being longer also it
*******seemed to be all over the place to me.

I DVRed part 2 so I’ll watch it tonight. I do agree that they seems to skim over the topic of black women and save it for the last 30-45 minutes of the show. I kept checking the info to make sure it was supposed to focus on women and family because I wasn’t seeing anything about women. I was also disappointed that while they highlighted problems in the black community, the never really gave any concrete reasons or solutions beyond the generic of more education, money, and housing. For examply, the single mother with 5 children who worked as a real estate agent and massage therapist. She got up and left as her children left for school and didn’t get home most nights until 8pm or later. Well you have to realize that for all those hours after school her children are alone. No one’s home to help them with their homework or to account for their whereabouts so they don’t get caught up in what’s happening in the streets. She’s not there to know if her daughters are on the phone all night and talking this or that boy or having heart to hearts to discuss the normal teenage questions and uncertainties about their future. If anything, besides mentioning that she had 5 children, they were pretty much forgotten.

The segments should really have been split more to address women and family separately. I didn’t learn anything from watching it, but it definitely brought our issues back into the forefront of my mind. Doing the everyday grind we tend to forget that our struggles are shared by a whole race of people and we need to be more proactive about not only helping ourselves but others.

The show was interesting. Some things i agree with and some thing I don’t. Seem though CNN doing this special to give us a break. But I also notice that these statitcs always are based on the African American community.

To be honest we have chances to better our selves but when the goverment is involved and has it set up so that the African American community to fail what do you expect. But you can always over come this. It goes back to how hard you will fight for your rights.

All black people are not uneducated. And Im happy CNN show that they are two sides. The question is which one wiill you be?

THE EFFORTS OF SOLEDAD AND CNN ARE WAY BETTER THAN SITTING IN FRONT OF THE TV ALL DAY WATCHING BOOTY BUTT CHEEKS AND GANGSTAS. WHY IS IT THAT WHEN THE TRUTH IS REVEALED SOME BLACK FOLKS ARE SO UNAPPRECIATIVE? BE GLAD THAT SOMEONE CARES ENOUGH ABOUT US TO HAVE TWO NIGHTS DEDICATED SOLELY TO US! BACK IN THE DAY THIS WAS UNHEARDOF. WE ARE STILL FIGHTING TO EVEN GET OUR OWN SHOWS AND OUR PEOPLE ON TV AND HAVE THEM STAY ON TV FOR LONGER THAN A YEAR.
THE SPECIAL WILL NOT REMEDY THE ILLS THAT FACE OUR COMMUNITY. BUT NOW WE ARE MORE AWARE OF THE STRUGGLE AND NOW WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE KNEW BEFORE WHAT OUR DUTY IS OR WHAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE FUTURE. EDUCATE YOURSELF!
FIN!

I just have to say this. I’m tired of Black men who were raised without a father figure, using that as an excuse not to be there for their child or children. My father was raised without his father, my grandfather was never there. I can count on one hand the many times that I’ve seen my grandfather (that I can remember) which is pretty sad. BUT my father made a promise to himself that if he had kids he would be there for them and never leave them because he knows how it feels to have your own father abandon you. He didnt want his kids to feel the same way. He has been there for me and my sister since day one and still is today. The excuse that he didnt know how to be a father never once came out of his mouth, for someone who didnt have a father figure he sure knew how to be one.

Black people let’s stop with the excuses.

And I agree that the people who needed to watch this special most likely didn’t. We as black people especially black males need to do better. It’s a shame that we don’t value education and intelligence like per say..white people do. It’s a shame that if you can speak proper english and get good grades in school you are considered “white”. Do we know how dumb that makes us look to taunt people for want to become something in life?

Wow. I would say more but I’m at work.

I’m glad you posted this Angel. Anyway I think that there should of been more parts to it OR they should of elaborated way better than they did. There was a lot of Truth but at the same time it seemed the special had quite a few boring parts and was all over the place. Right after the commercial on some of those stories I was waiting to hear more of what happened but they never went back to that person/family it was on to the next topic. Oh well it was a good effort.

I may some typos because I was rushing but hopefully you guys get my point. I will say that I feel bad for my Black men because I didnt realize how hard they have it. The ones who are actually out there trying to do right for themselves and their family. To see the segment on the 38 year old guy from NY trying to find a job and being turned down numerous times because of his skin color was terrible.

I watched Black in America also. I enjoyed it, but it left me wondering exactly who CNN is targeting with this programming. Are pank people watching it and gaining a better understanding of the current climate in Black America, because truthfully, it didn’t tell me anything I don’t already know about our plight. It was uplifting to see people trying to make a difference in their communities and hopefully it will prompt others to do the same. I want to find a home for that little Eric Kennedy and his family, because sadly I can picture him by grade 8 with that fire extinguished by circumstances.

I thoroughly enjoyed the special. I felt like I could see myself in a few segments. As a young, Black man I felt like the part last night about being held down for having a record and growing up in the hood didnt represent too much truth. I say that because I do have a felony that hinders me from gaining employment at banks, but I’ve worked at Fortune 500 companies none the less because many employers looked past that and given me a chance. Also to me, it seems like many black males who grow up without fathers and living in lower income families don’t have a chance as say a young Black male from a middle class home. All in all, it was a good two-part series, but I would have liked to seen more diversity instead of so much harsh statistics.

i enjoyed the special..yes it discussed things that we as blacks assume that other blacks know but some of those facts were knew to me and it’s always different to have an idea about the state of something and seeing it in black and white..or in the case on the small screen. it did jump around subjects a little and possible could have been edited in a more orderly fashion but as a writer i understand how hard it is to cram so many concepts behind being a black male/woman in America into two hours..pretty much impossible. and for the comments about the people who need to watch this show not doing so, the assumption is that the doers have to take action for there to be progress and this in itself is implicitly one of the problems. Obviously we all watched the program and if it moved half of us or even a fourth of us to actually act out and become more involved in our communities than imagine the affects this could have on our youth. Come on people, those of you have lived a little bit should understand the concept behind this show. It takes a community to raise children.

Didn’t have the opportunity to watch the DocuSeries, but the included article here reflects my own personal point of views. I think it all starts with taking personal responsibility for your actions. There is a big difference in singing a Woe is me song, and deciding to make actual changes in our lives. We are so focused on the wrong things sometimes, we don’t realize when we are being exploited. Look at the Jewish community. That is a true example of truly uniting and making positive strides within a culture. Lets stop pointing fingers and dividing ourselves.

I’m so happy my voice was actually heard..thanx angel!

Now for my opinion:

The first part to the special I agree did not do any justice. Yet again they choose to highlight the stereotype that black woman as oversexed and weak. Not all black single mothers are struggling and that is not something they chose to show. Instead they chose to show a black mother who was on the verge of being evicted and who looked washed out as well as worn out. Now although looks don’t matter couldn’t they find better representations for black women..i mean really! I also didn’t like the way they portrayed the successful black woman as judgemental and feeling as if black men weren’t good enough for her. Yes they do exist but they could have balanced it. What I wanted them to highlight the most was the presence of more liquor stores than health food stores in inner city neighborhoods and the fact that EBT cards are only excepted at low supplying and unhealthy supermarkets and not at places such as whole foods which is what contributes to the way we are because of the stuff we put into our bodies.

The second part to the special was a lot better but not enough. Atleast they were able to balance it more with the positives and the negatives. I didn’t like the way it ended. The comment about the lighter skined black-americans having it a little better than darker skined black-americans needed to be explored more. I also feel just as they were able to highlight the affects of rap on young black men they could’ve highlighted the effects of the media and magazines on young black girls. If you look in Vogue right now the chances of seeing a black woman in it, is a 10% chance.

The special as a whole showed me that we as black woman we need to really get our sh** together. A lot of us(not including myself) are too dependent on others to do things for us and that has to end. We need to be more selective of who we let in our lives and cater to the child within us. I also think what came to light is that there is a sacrafice with seeking more positive lives for ourselves and children as seen with the warren family who’s two son’s ended up dating and marrying white women, take it as you want to.

I think that the special needs to be done over by another group of people or network to bring forth the more important issues. I give the special a C- overall and an E for effort.

Karen Hunter said it all!!! The people that should have been watching more then likely were not tuned into the show!! Tell me something I don’t know! Also, I would have like to have seen the fathers that have their own custody battles going on with women, how about the fathers that do take care of their children although they are not with the child’s mother (not necessarily a baby’s momma) What about the working class families that are two parent homes.The story about the father with the two children touched my heart.

Ithink the show fell short of expectations. Yes, the second part was better but for the most part it was regular everyday 5 o’clock news.

I applaud CNN and Soledad O’Brian for jump starting this conversation. It’s a conversation that is long over due. I watched the 2nd part last night and every moment that passed I grew angrier and angrier. It is not by default why Black communities are in such a dilapidated state. And to hear that coon, Joseph C. Phillips talks as if its Black people’s fault why we are in this putrid state had me livid. It’s like telling a woman who was brutally raped, that is was her fault. But see, you’ll always have that one Negro who will stand up and defend the white man’s antics with all his might because he feels like he has to protect his master at all cost. He is one of those “we sick” slaves; he wants to say, “See, master I am good old slave.” Have y’all ever seen that Uncle Tom Negro Michael Steele on Fox? I swear to God, if I ever see him anywhere there’re going to be some furniture moving and fists flying. Don’t get me wrong, there are some real knuckleheads in the Black community – people who fit the mold that the white society has classified all Blacks i.e. lazy, misguided etc. But the same goes for any and all races, ethnic group or social class. But to think that the statistic of being black is the equivalent to having a criminal record is our fault is exponentially preposterous.

I got that same empty feeling from the documentary. I didn’t think there was much new material discussed either and I think that there is more to being Black than struggle. It still painted us all as being poor and disenfranchized. Granted, the Black community is facing some very bleak circumstances on the fronts of health and violence, but I think they still only showed the extremes. We are not all rich screenwriters but we also all are not “baby mamas” either.

What I think is missing usually when the Black story is told is just the regular human stuff. I think that racism is rooted so much in the idea that Black people are is some way NOT as human as whites, that Black people can’t have loving relationships, that a Black woman cannot adore her husband, that all our men are out running the street dropping babies everywhere. There is more to us than that and I don’t know how best to demonstrate that, but I wish someone would try.

I applaud the special. I also agree with the writer. Will the people that need to watch,
watch? This is where my deep concern over BET comes in. BET truly needs to take
on the responsibility of responsible programming. In my opinion, Robert Johnson
should remove himself from the Clintons and be responsible for his community. Enough
of the videos, Baldwin Hills and Hell date. Let’s see truth and reality. In the words of
Spike, “Wake Up!!!”