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!!!”

As a follow-up, think about the last time a Black man was shown as being tender, really loving and not just bragging about money and how successful they are, whether they be in the form of rappers or these corporate dudes. Also, Black women are still portrayed as money-hungry career anti-man bitches or as totally lonely, desperate women. I think Black people are shown as totally one-dimensional.

I think she also could have stood to mention that not only is it poor, under-educated women that are having children out of wedlock, its career women now, some of which chose to have a baby without a man. I would love to see statistics on the children of women who are unmarried, but are successful in their careers. It would be interesting to see whether money or having father has more impact on the success of children and their emotional stability.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE SPECIAL, I WAS THINKING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING PRAISING THE GREATNESS OF BLACK AMERICANS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD SHOW THE STRUGGLES WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND STILL MANAGE TO MAKE IT. I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG. IM NOT SAYING THAT THE SHOW WASNT SHOWING THE TRUTH, BUT AT THE END THE CONCLUSION THAT ME AND THE REST OF THE WORLD GOT WAS THAT ” ACCORDING TO CNN” BLACK ARE JUST A BUNCH OF DUMB, UNHEALTHY, POOR, CANT GET A MAN, BUNCH OF BABY’S MAMAS, AIDS HAVING PEOPLE! THEY SHOW 1 OR 2 FAMILIES DOING WELL BUT OTHER THAN THAT THE ENIRE SHOW WAS VERY NEGATIVE! I AM REALLY HOPING THAT THEY DECIDE TO DO ANOTHER SPECIAL SHOW THE GREATNESS OF BLACK AMERICANS!
BUT IT DID LEAVE ME WITH ONE QUESTION IN MY MIND:

ARE WE AS BLACK AMERICANS REALLY IN TROUBLE????

Karen hunter’s article is only partially true. Though the people who need it the most may not watch the show directly, those of us that can help and touch those people should be inspired by the knowledge and spread it. No message ever reaches everyone. As social beings, word of mouth is the most powerful way to spread a message. This show’s objective is to inspire us to take action ourselves and help empower others.

I watched it…I live in Canada
it was very good
but my sister thinks that it made black peopl look bad.lool hmm

Again…

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

Its not that BET has not showed programs such as this they have people choose not to watch.. now granted BET has definitely taken a turn for the worst..why aren’t there any other black entertainment channels other than BET. We need to start raising our children to be lawyers, and journalist because that is where there is a shortage of black professionals. Journalist are the one’s running the media and the majority of journalist are white, so what do you expect when the portayal of the black man is slanted?

i was particularly interested on the fact that successful black women cannot find themselves a mate because most of them are in jail. as a black female (19) and growing up in england, i must say that it is very discouraging. i am very open minded and really don’t care who i spend the rest of my life with but people still have preferances. england is definately more tolerant to interaccial relationships than america from what i saw on the show. here, it would seem as though interaccial relationships are a trend. as a girl who has big dreams of becoming a doctor, should i be worried that i won’t find a black lawyer husband, black architect husband or black accountant husband? well my ma always jokes that i won’t get married to a black man cos there are none here and certainly with the culture i am growing up in (go to an all white school, live in an all white neighbourhood, go to all white parties), i’m likely to get married to a white guy…(which i know secretely, she hopes not but just trying to deal with the disappointment now). i don’t know….black males, STEP UP!!! u know i want brown babies.lol

Watching the show pissed me off!!! I missed the intended message the show was trying to send out. Was it trying to send a message to us a a people to straighten our lives? Was it trying to show white America the obstacles and challenges of being black? I think either way — it failed. As posters ahead of me said, the ones of us that needed to see it probably didn’t and if white America actually sat down to view (which no whites on my job even cared it was on) they saw that blacks didn’t use the sense they were born with. Bad decision, after bad decision. Why does a woman, already in poverty choose to keep getting pregnant for unworthy partners?

I could not help wondering continuously as I watched, what is your thought process? In the segment of the young lady with the absentee father for her daughter, she complains that he is not there for their daughter and times are hard but she gets pregnant with twins for someone else who is not in the picture. Hello? Does the idea “BIRTH CONTROL” come into play here?

White America has already tagged us as a dumb race. This show solified how dumb we are.

I watched both nights of the piece and I thought it was well done. It seemed to me that the goal of it was to shed a little light into the complexities of being black in America. I really loved how when they consulted professionals on certain issues, they were all black professionals (the female cardiologist, the ER surgeon, the economist, the college president, they district attorney, etc.). They showed more positive images of blacks in two nights than BET shows in a week’s worth of programming. I also liked how they showed both sides of many of the issues that they tackled. What I took away from it is that some of the state of Black America can be attributed to what happened in the past, but some of where we are can also be attributed to the decisions that each individual person makes. The young man that was in the ER in Part 1 who had been shot said that he saw how his getting shot affected his whole family, not just him. I think that we can apply that to everything. Every decision one person makes and occurrence in one person’s life affects more than just that one person. It affects everyone connected to them. So, if you choose to sell crack, the drug addict is affected, their family is affected and the whole community is affected. If you choose to work hard, you become a better example to your family and possibly your entire community.

There is no way that CNN could have summed up all there is to being black in this country in two nights. However, the fact that they chose to put this program together and hopefully open up dialogue on a topic so many people run from is a good thing. It is good that they have done something proactive as opposed to doing something as a reaction to a negative current event or news story, which is when people tend to look at things more negatively because they are emotional and angry.

One last point: it is disappointing to see the number of people who have posted nothing but negativity on this topic. It seems to me that if you have a cynical or pessimistic mentality, if wouldn’t have mattered what CNN did, some folks would not have been satisfied either way. Kudos to those of you who watched the special with an open mind and chose to see the positive instead.

#76 Yes Some of us are.

I don’t think cause the show showed you something, some of you already know, makes it more so for white people. When the issues that were addressed in the special are usually presented, it is usually presented in a glamorized or comedic way where we look at it and say “haha oh well.” Presenting it as a real and serious situation makes people really open their eyes. We may know, but some of us don’t think about it. So the special was effective in that.

I don’t thing it’s necessary to show the greatness of anyone because of their race. I think greatness comes from a persons determination and drive to succeed.

My husband said the saaaame thing: will “we” really be watching this? He is convinced that more whites than blacks will watch the show and I am compelled to agree - albeit, reluctantly. I don’t know what to think about it either. We watched it and enjoyed it.

I must have been watching a different show from eveyone else that said they liked it! The mirror images they portrayed of the black community, while some were accurate is the same thing that we chastize rappers and other hip hop artist for! Was it not appauling to see that on the black men in america episode the only good black man who had ” Made it out the hood” had three son one married to a white woman and another dating a white woman, when the episode before basically blamed african american females for the rise in biracial relations??? my question is who was the show made to be viewed by lets just see you have children being paid to learn which down here in the south you don’t get paid to do what you are suppose to instead you get handled it you dont! Another thing african americans in north american are the lowest of all educated african americans what the hell? this show was not made to open the eyes of african americans instead it was just another way to show us as a minority that has yet to overcome!

…………They barely scratched the surface of what it is to be Black in America.
…………More was put into the advertising of the show than the actual show, 2
…………thumbs down..

I watched both segments of Black in America, and I thought the first segment was more of a representation of being black in america then the second segment. I am a black female with more love then can be expressed for our black brothers and I don’t beleive their segment portrayed them as the majority are. I’m not saying the the diplictions were not true, but I do feel that the majority of their segment steriotipically displayed them as much of the media normally does. Don’t get me wrong, I truely enjoyed the fact that CNN is trying to connect with black america and I feel that’s were it should start in order for the American’s that don’t relate to being black in america. Overall I say jumbs up to CNN and I would love to see a continuation, possibly a series, especially on black males because I feel they are the beginning and the end of how our young black women and men succeed. I am a 37 year old black female that trying her best to raise a 17 yr old black male and a 15 year old black female on her own and I have to say that there are many days of tears and disapointments of self because I know that I can’t give either one of my children all that is need to be a strong (COMPLETE) black intelligent mother, father, sister, brother, leader, teacher and most of all god fearing child of god. It’s only by GOD’s hand that I hold on and pray that I’ve given them the love and leason’s needed to be the best they can be and hope they have the means,strength and love in their heart to eventually give their children more then I could give to them.

Praying Black Mom!
Jamie

They did a better job promoting it that putting it all together.
There was nothing extraordinary about the special and if you keep up with what’s happening their information and insights were outdated. I know that started this 3 years ago, but ain;t no way in hell, it should have taken 3 years for that.

Much better information and commentary on the blogs these days….

It was disappointing.

You people are missing it. The show is for those that CNN are trying to attract. The mid to higher Educated black person. They got the ratings they needed. thats what they were looking for. Look up a thing called “sweeps week” and will understand

#91 - JA

You are absolutely right.

I personally don’t need a white audience telling me what it is to be black in america. They don’t know or have a clue. I thought it was on the wrong station also. I don’t like them judging us, I get enough of that on a everyday basis at work. If it was on BET or TVONE I would have watched it.

@#73–What conversation did Soledad and CNN start? They didn’t start any conversation in the black community. The topics in her series have been discussed in barbershops, hairdressers, my college classes, the card table–it was nothing new. The stuff she was emphasizing are the same topics Louis Farrakhan and Bill Cosby have been saying all along. Shoot, I got more out of Barack Obama’s father’s day speech then that watered down mess that was on last night. Just because some half-black woman and her white-owned network want to be the first out of all the television networks to air a 2-day series on the plights of BLACK AMERICANS (and yes, I do applaud Soledad and CNN for the effort), does not mean they are starting a conversation. Puhleaaaze!!!!

CNN’s Black in America was not a cure for our struggles, but was aimed to shed light into those who have no clue what it’s like for us. I mean hopefully Elizabeth from the view watched it because she is one who appears to have to clue.

I actually enjoyed the show although I will agree that I did not give me new insight to what being Black is about because I AM BLACK. I understand that being black means to recognize our past and to NEVER let go of history. I understand that being black means you can be success and have a committed marriage and raise wonderful children as they depicted with one set of the Rands. I understand that being black sometimes makes you wonder, “Did I get pulled over by the police…Did I not qualify for this loan…Is this sales clerk watching me…Do I have to go above and beyond to PROVE myself on my job/school BECAUSE I AM BLACK??? White people have the privilege of not having to ask themselves these questions.

Being black is being proud of the gains that we have made, but it also means that we have to figure out how to reach the population that didn’t watch the series to enlighten them. It’s hard though reaching some of us when the parents who were born in poverty and are raising their children in poverty continue to perpetuate the images of being “hood”. Some of these people have never been outside of their communities due to lack of transportation and/or funds.

I am an educator, who understands this because I took a student of mine to the book store where she could purchase books. She saw the escalator and asked me “What is that thing called? I’ve always wanted to ride one.” She had NEVER been on an escalator! Not only that, after we purchased the books and the cashier was putting them into the bag, she said, “That’s okay because you have to pay for the bags.” It was then that I realized that her family must only shop at Save a Lot, which is the grocery store in her community.

Those of us who have done better must employ the “Each One Teach One” concept for those who don’t know. I mean there are just to many things that mean being black that there was no way it could have been exposed in 2 days, but at least O’Brien tried and it’s a start. Just like we have to start reaching out and doing something to help as the ER doctor.

I just wish we would come up with solutions, instead of always talking about the problems. We know there are less and less black males in the home, at school and in the corporate world. My question is what do we do to combat this issue…..We can talk about these topics and how they tick us off all day….And how we have finally aired our dirty laundry for the world too see……All I want to know is what do we do so that these problems can be resolved……….

and I agree with you #83 aka Diva. I felt so embarrassed for that woman who had the lame “baby daddy”…or, as Soledad would say “Baby’s Father” , then the chick gets knocked up again–WITH TWINS. And Soledad didn’t mention who the second father was. I was so embarrased for my people when i saw that. The fact that homegirl couldn’t keep her legs closed was all on NATIONAL tv like that…

So, the white folks who saw that part are probably all pointing to us black people saying..”haha, I told you so.”

i thought this doc would go deep in the trenches to find out whats it like to be black….i thought inmates would be onterviewed, gang members, drug dealers, doctors lawyers and so forth…..it was a perspective one one person, on family…it gave white america an excuse to say whats your point?

The real problem is that people of African ancestry have failed to look beyond being “Black in America”. I’m not talking about intergration and Melting Pot theories, but understanding all along the Caribbean, Latin and Central America, people of professed African identity are routinely at the bottom of the well. African Americans know little about aspects of our bretheren in this part of the world. I think the greatest seduction of Blacks has been to divide us among countries and have us think of ourselves in nationalistic terms, ex, Jamaicans, Hatians, African Americans, etc.

There are some fundamental and systemic problems that plague the Black community, we all know this, right? First, Black men, for the most part are not taught to respect Black women. That’s why we have so many acceptable births outside of marraige. If you can afford to take care of your kids great, but let’s be real, an unmarried mother is more likely to be in poverty than not, so this impacts the development and well being of children. We need to re-educate our women so they don’t fall prey to sweet words.

A wholesale culture of learning is absent in the Black community. Smart children are considered special, when this, in reality should be the norm. We are not forceful enough in ensuring that our children actually enjoy learning, but we give them so much garbarge for limited performance.

I opted not to watch it because it was premiering on CNN. They don’t cater to the black community so therefore, I didn’t feel that the episodes would be interesting. And, reading most of the previous posts, it appears that I was correct.

Several of the posts make great points just from observation and personal experience that would yield a better version of the show that CNN attempted to create for us. Who knows “us” better than “we” do?!

Great try, but it appears that once again, they fell short! It’s up to Black America to address the issues that matter within our own community and not rely on White America to do it for us.

I am hearing (and reading) lots of people say that they did not get anything or learn anything from the documentary…did u really need to learn what it is like to be Black in America or did u already know?????? The purpose of the program was to allow people of other backgrounds to see and understand the plight of black people in America and the diversity of our people.

With that being said, if you think the representation of us was not accurate, then you have the right to that opinion. I am a Black woman. I am a law student, and very motivated. In my opinion Black women were dipicted well and the program showed how diverse we all are.

How do you cram Black in America into 4 hours? This should have been a month, year, YEARS long series. The show skipped and dipped all over the place. And who really watched it? Was Black in America for white people? Did any of them watch it? I didn’t hear anything I didn’t already know. Frustration! I agree Karen Hunter 100%

I felt it was some what degrading.

ROCK said it all , BET should have done this a long time ago to make up for the debauchery they consistantly run …….an i dont think the special was for black people , thats why most of u knew what they were talking about duh? It was to show other races what being black in america is like ….i found it missleading and one sided

It was very interesting.
I started watching the special on Wednesday. Some of the things that was being said kind of ticked me off a little, and that host was fucking annoying.
Some Asian guy asked me, “Do you like being African-American?” I wanted to punch this bitch in the face, but you know I told him in a politely manner, “Of course!”
It can be difficult being “Black In America”.

I am glad to see that I was not alone with how I felt about the special. I honestly think that the show was disappointing to many of African-Americans based on the fact that it told us nothing that we didn’t know! I do think this show would be effective in making non-Black Americans aware of some issues that effect out community…It was a decent attempt and I am aware that we have to start some where so, blah, blah blah…I respect Soledad, but I just felt that she was a bit biased in her commentary. Like for instance, when Dyson was trying to explain ‘colorism’ and how he feels that it had impacted the treatment of him and his brother in his family, she quickly shut that notion down. And I hate to point this out, but I found it interesting that someone like herself had this done this commentary. How come only ’she’ had covered this story? How come she didn’t have other journalists covering such a broad story?

well , i didnt get to watch it but i heard there was a man on there with 10 kids by 10 different mothers……..why is that my sisters uncle Donald (smh)!!! Let me tell them something, their whole family does that. Almost every man in the Grey Family has multiple kids everywhere with different women. They need to come to Columbus Ohio for a follow-up story to show it goes way further back then just the daddy….try the great-great-great-grand-daddy , oh and uncles too!!!!!

I did watch both parts of Black In America. I felt that the different topics covered in the segments could have been an hour long special of their own. When I first heard that CNN and Soledad O’Brian were going to have this year long capaign I thought it was going to be at least a monthly thing, but I guess this 2-part special was more than a lot of other networks are doing.
As far as reaching the people that need to get this message and learn from it, maybe we could have done a little more promotion, maybe in a movie theater or auditorium and have people come out to see it, or have it on the local networks. There is a responsibility that each of us have to better our own community. What ever little you can do is a start. Then again, specials like this will reach people whether directly or indirectly, therefore reaching the people that needed to see it. To promt change, and create an ongoing dialouge.

it was okay….i feel like a lot was left out….and stuff that did get disussed was not thorough enough…and we spent way too much time on the likes of d.l. hughley

honestly, two 2-hour specials (with commercials in between) is not nearly enough to truly give a comprehensive overview of what it is to be black in america

and karen hunter took the words right out of my mouth…those who need to see it dont have cable….and prolly wont care to watch it anyways

Well I watched both, I agree with all who said they discussed things that we already know. I mean seriously it should have been broken down into 3 episodes. Even then I dont think it could’ve been done the right way. I mean as a woman I was disappointed with the first episode. We as black women have more important problems that werent discussed and not discussed enough. I mean they could’ve discussed the corporate glass ceiling or the fact how we are portrayed in the media. I dont think enough was covered about women and our issues that no one wants to ever talk about. The mens show was ok but still it was all stuff we already knew. OMG if Joseph C Phillips’ uncle tom ass didnt stop acting as things are so easy to do in life, obviously everyone is not afforded the same opportunities for these “great” decisions. He should know that as a black man. Overall it was about a B+ for the effort and a D- for the execution of the topics.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!!!!!

People in the black community need to stop expecting others to find solutions to problems we are plagued with. It starts with having respect, morals, and values for yourself! Regardless of whether or not the CNN program was well done, instead of complaining or ignoring the issues, do something about it. Raise your own children and stop allowing all forms of media to do it for you, because if you know who you are no one can tell you different. Educate yourself and those around you. Those music videos, rap songs, violent movies, etc are a form of entertainment, not reality (for the most part)! Be self sufficient and stop blaming everyone other than yourself for your mistakes and given circumstance! Be the change you want to see in this world!
Our CHOICES in life are what make the difference.

People wake up! If u paid attention to the special there were several examples of US doing well….going to college, obtaining degrees, owning businesses. This examples seem to be overshawdowed by the overwhelming number of US who are not succeeding. Why do we only make up 13% of the U.S. population but our drop out rate from high school is 50%? Why is there a disporportionate number of Black women living w/ AIDS/HIV? Why are most of our Black men in prison? Something is going on…What messages are being fed into OUR community that are the cause of these alarming statistics?
the solution is obvious to OUR issues if you read behind the words and disect the issues…THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO SURVIVE IS EDUCATION! EVEN IF OYOU KNOW SOMETHING ALREADY, IS IT REALLY HURTING U TO HAVE IT REPEATED? BECOMING AWARE OF ISSUES AND DEVELOPING AN OPINION ABOUT THESE ISSUES IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF ELEVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
COME ON NOW PEOPLE, NOBODY HAS SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE ONE CHANNEL (bet)THATS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US THAT IS NOT DEPICTING OUR PEOPLE…PERPETUATING THE STEREOTYPES…HEAVY IMAGES OF BAFFOONERY…BUT FOLKS WANNA BE OFFENDED WHEN THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IS REVEALED. WAKE UP PEOPLE? LETS FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING! IF U HAVE AN ISSUE SPEAK UP…BECOME AN ACTIVIST TO SUPPORT US! IF NOT THEN SHUT UP!
FOLKS WE NEED TO STOP ACTING LIKE CRABS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARRELL.

I agree, it fell short. If we can spend 4 hours on problems we need parts three and four on solutions. I too applaud her efforts but we know the ills of our culture and now sub-cultures but need to do more. I was also disillusioned by some of the ‘people’ used in certain segments. I think that it is far too big a task to ‘generalize’ our people as a whole, you will always leave someone out and left with questions????. Lastly, M.E. Dyson was awesome, never really knew who he was but he is a powerful brother and I am now going to support his books as a result of this show.

The lady who had the dead beat “baby daddy”, now pregnant again with twins really got under my skin. Just so typical and expected. Her story deserved no airplay! Couldn’t they find ONE black female in her same situation that learned from her mistakes and now is married & pregnant with twins. I’m so tired of stories where they REPEAT the cycle!

@82 TARIYA You stated:
as a girl who has big dreams of becoming a doctor, should i be worried that i won’t find a black lawyer husband, black architect husband or black accountant husband?

Even though you’re across the pond in England, we both share the same struggle. I too worry that I won’t be able to find a successful spouse as well. Its such a shame. Here I am single, NO KIDS, holding a MBA and unfortunately lack the hopes of having a good black husband.

Statistically black females are holding it down when it comes to education and careers. So who do you blame for the lack of good black men?….. I say themselves

it was boring, because it is stuff we grown folks who have lived know, and live, or know someone who is going thru it. But it educates the kids (younger generation) who think everything is a joke! like my 12 yr old son, and oblivious whites and any other race!

im sure CNN did this for reasons other than that but if it opens a few eyes then hey!

We thought it was just bland enough to get our son(13) to ask…”what are they really saying”. It isn’t like we don’t constantly talk to him about being black in America or more specifically black in Hawaii, where might I add racism is very much alive. We broke it down to him even more and we were able to use this special as visual tools. All in all my husband and I thought it was good for what it was intended…which in our sons case, was to start a dialogue.

the part 2 section I did not like, especially the segment with the guy that moved his family into the white neighborhood. His african american lineage has been wiped out completely,because all his sons married or is dating white girls, hoiw lame is that. I doubt the granchildren will marry black. Also, yes he had this huge house but there was no thing that showed any thing african american with all his white daughter in laws …. pathetic. He looked like he forgot where he came from.

I thought that the series was good. The problems were real, and that is just how the cookie crumbles. We do need to do better, but there is racism out there. It is not an either or type of thing. It’s both. I think it tried as best as it could to tell the range of our stories, which I appreciated. The sad thing is-is that so many successful and educated Black women are single, and so many successful and educated Black men are poster children for interracial marriage. I don’t see anything wrong, per se, with interracial marriage. But I do think that Black men, some have believed in this Eurocentric form of beauty-be it white or light, or whatever. Now that is just the truth. Whether you think that Black people make fun of you because you speak proper English-so you marry a white woman?Come on man, that is a poor excuse, because their as so many Black women who speak great English, raised in white communities, and assimilated into white culture-so what are you saying? I know, I have a brother-in-law who is married to a white woman, wouldn’t even look at a black woman because he doesn’t think they are attractive. Why? Because that is what has been thrown at him by the media, his ignorant slave acting grandparents, and everyday Black men who prefer long permed hair, flat or skinny noses, passive women, hyper sexual, and all the other white women stereotypes.

We need to get our stuff together but will the people that need to get it together even watch? That is still in the air.

Emmy for Soledad-I liked it.

If you ask me this so called presentation was a waste of two hours. I didn’t need a televised documentary to inform me on how to date a white man If I don’t learn to love and appreciate my own man that God created for me for who he is , because that’s exactly what those women were saying . “I’m not lowering my standards “ what’s that’s suppose to mean ? If you already have money, a nice home, car , etc….. what do you need in a man ? I don’t think a lot of women even know what the word “successful “ means . I loved it when one of the young ladies said something to the effect ., The black man was made for her so she’s not dating outside her race. Then they had that interracial couple on there knowing damn well the husband’s family didn’t like his wife . I was LOL when he tried to justify his family “not coming around for awhile” for being ashamed of his interracial children . If they didn’t like them then ,they wont like them later , most ,if not all older people are set in their ways . I like how CNN repeatedly worked white people into the factor.

. All black people are aware of everything they portrayed us to be in this documentary , so what was the purpose of it ? The only segment of this “documentary” that touched me was the single black father raising his two children alone . I was in tears because that’s a part of “ Black America” that most people never get to see, and contrary to what people may think there are many single black males raising their children ALONE . I noticed throughout his segment they may have mentioned they’re mother maybe once briefly , but when it came time to discuss the single black female household the continually talked about how the father abandoned his family . Regardless If more single mothers exist or not ,it’s the same difference . Children need a mother just as much as they need a father . CNN is very well crafted with that damn trickery

Im going to watch the second half . I didn’t get to catch it .

All i am saying is that Black In American did not tell me something i already didn’t know. Its like how are you going to tell a blind man that he’s blind, like he already doesn’t know his situation. Maybe this comes as an eye opener to the people who think that everything is everything. This also reinstates that the “white man” is not to blame; but instead we [black people] are the ones to blame for our current situations and lifestyles because we choose to CONTINUE to stay put and not take charge. .

This wasn’t just for Blacks, it was for other people as well…perhaps to enlighten those who have no idea about what it is like to be us…to those who say it didn’t tell them stuff they didn’t already know…um hello? that’s because you’re Black in America, *of course* you already know!

Anyway, I liked it. I think they could have done a hell of a better job for the first segment but the second one was done very nicely. I would have liked Black women to be discussed a whooole lot more! But I appreciate Soledad O’Brien and CNN for even putting this special together - it’s very important for everyone to watch, especially those who are totally ignorant to the struggles of Black people.

It is very hard for black people who can’t afford cable to see a show that detail their situation. Just think, how many black people are struggling get food on the table and struggling to buy gas to get to work can even afford to have cable/satellite television to see CNN?

the second part was far better than the first. i watched it with a white friend wednesday and after digesting it, i thought the next day, “is this what he and others will think it is to be black in america?”.
the next day was something many more people of color could relate to and it showed more than what a lot of people think (negatively) about us as a people.
i dont agree with the snippet in regards to it needing to reach “those people”. they know what it is to be black in america, as do i. so i can understand why it fell short for some people. this is something for non black people (or black people who dont or cant identify with the african american race) to watch and get a glimse of what it feels like to be us.
further more, if we are expecting a show to tell the world all about us, we can hang it up. show and prove what we are about as a race. that will speak louder than any television show.

Hats off the CNN for producing the show. The show was called “Black In America”. I’m almost certain that if you are in fact “black in america” the show didn’t teach you anything new! It simply shed light on the status of our people, which I’m sure some people (white people) were ignorant of! I, not unlike Ms. Karen Hunter, was a little concerned about who was watching the program. The people who really needed to see it the most probably didn’t even know it was on! However, the piece was insightful and interesting and most of all TRUE! I loved it!

It is obvious that this is nothing but a ploy to discredit Barack Obama and his BLACK wife and his BLACK race. What a convenient time for the white media to spew its racist propaganda and numbers, during the heat of election time in which the first BLACK president is slated to take office.

C A S E C L O S E D .

White America was already well aware of the problems that continue to plague the black community. I think it shed a very bright light on issues that we face daily and could’ve been summed up in one two hour show, not a week long series.

I won’t sit around waiting for a CNN special or a black president to change the world. I can only do my part in raising my girls. I put God and education first, and I teach them to respect themselves and others. I just wish we were more unified as a race, that’s a start.

Some of it I could relate to and some of it I was like WTF????

#1. I am Black in America. This documentary attempts to over simplify being Black in America. Black people are not all cut from the same cloth. Regardless of race, every life experience is relative and unique.

#2. I think the timing of this production being aired is way off. For the first time in the history of American politics, the American people have nominated a black man to represent the Democratic Party for the candidacy of the highest office in the land. In the midst of a presidential campaign of historic proportions, White America and the “entire world” are given the opportunity to tune their televisions to CNN and watch Black America discuss the perils of being Black in America.

Another “WTF?”moment for me.

This has to be perceived as a paradox to anyone that is not Black in America.

Quoting my mother after the first hour of Black in America, ” I’m going to sleep, this is just too much black.” The understanding of blacks in america is not about you and I. It is about white people trying to get a understanding of the presidential candidate Barack Obama. Maybe if they understand the general black population they will understand Mr. Obama. The media outlets could careless about the black plight. They want to know how will their world be affected if Barack Obama a black man becomes the next president.

I THINK THIS PROGRAM WAS INTEDED FOR BLACK VIEWERS. SIMPLY BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN HEARING THIS, SEEING DOCUMENTARIES LIKE THIS AND YET WE’VE DONE NOTHING. WE’VE CHANGED NOTHING FOR OUR PEOPLE, FOR OURSELVES. SO YES CNN WAS GIVING IT A SHOT… AGAIN! AND PUTTING THIS SHOW OUT THERE FOR BLACKS 2 WATCH, HOPING THAT WE FINALLY GET THE HINT. YEAH THE TARGET VIEWERS (IGNORANT BLACKS) DIDN’T TUNE IN, BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO R BETTER EDUCATED, HAVE CAREERS, CAN B POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO OTHER BLACKS, SHOULD GO OUT THERE AND INFORM OUR PEOPLE. ATTEMPT 2 OPEN THEIR EYES, SO THINGS CAN B BETTER.

I had higher expectations for the content of the special and now after watching it I believe the special was overhyped. Tell me something I don’t know. I also wish they could of diversified our people a little more or provide us with more success stories of black families. I also hated how they pulled out the statistics card, sure it’s the truth but where are the solutions? Also Black Americans aren’t just those who are descendents from slavery. Recent African immigrants are part of Black America too.

Last night’s part that ended with Dyson and his brother’s story was the only thing that genuinely struck me, other than the single father and his 2 kids from the first segment. Dyson brought up an interesting point that I wish couldv’e been investigated a little bit further and that’s the issue with skin tone/racism within the community. Look at the guy who worked in the marketing/music world, or the dad who was part of the little rock 9 with his three grown sons, both are successful but they aren’t entirely “dark” looking either; even the harvard professor was light skinned or the woman who was president of that college and finally Dyson. watching the segment last night gave me a message that there seems to be this correlation that the skin tone of a black individual determines their sucess in the real world (and when I mean real world I’m not saying professional sports, acting, or music), the lighter skin you have the more sucessful you’re gonna be? I wish they had taken it there, (but they probably didn’t even think about it) instead of staying in the safe zone by telling us what we should fear… that Black America is doomed.

I also enjoyed Spike’s segment and I agree that more needs to be done about the education system, because this is America where everyone should be entitled to the best education.

@ #56 I’m cosigning with you! WTF!! Why did anyone who is black in America expect to get some euphoric epifamy epephanamy this program?!

“I don’t feel like I learned anything that I didn’t already know”

Of course you didn’t, because your ARE “Black in America” Geese guys, fall back.

I enjoyed it, and as a journalist, I know what it took to get that series on the air, I applaud CNN for their efforts. I got it!

**epephanamy= “from”

On a whole, Black people are not doing as bad as the media portrays or as many people would like to believe. We have come a very long way. Our history/past is like no other group in this world and PLENTY of us continue to exceed ALL negative expectations. Many poor urban black folk have learned to work the system and are doing just fine. They are doing a whole lot better than them white folk in the south, mid west and the appalachian mountains. If you are poor and white in this country you should be ashamed. People killed and died to make sure you have everything based on your skin color and you still having problems?Now that’s something to be ashamed of. The rich or middle class white folk often portrayed in the media is NOT the norm. But they have everyone fooled.

I don’t believe in the bullsh*t statistics about black people. They are used to remind us that we are “inferior” and to keep other people fearful of us. If you’re black you’re gonna die of HIV/AIDS, go to jail, won’t be able to get a quality education, won’t get married, won’t marry another black person, won’t be a responsible citizen, won’t be a responsible parent, will die of heart disease, Glaucoma, cataract, cancer, diabetes and gun violence. Give me a break!

If you believe this you’re a damn FOOL. Black people are doing just fine under the circumstances.

I thought it does what the media does on a daily basis. It show black pepole in a negative way and reinforced what the media puts out . I don’t care what group of pepole you may belong to every group has the good the bad and the ugly.

Thank you #127…
Judah, where are you?

The educational system is not that bad. MANY Parents just don’t want to take the time to help their children with homework or encourage education as a means to great success. That is NOT the fault of the educational system. Students in this country are getting basic education. No matter where they live! Also, there ARE a lot of community based programs and activities for blacks in the inner city. If you go to the library or ask questions then you will see. But we love to blame the system and the system loves to patronize us - that’s another way to keep us in our place.

I agree with her, although I was wondering how many White people watched it.

NICE! My friend recommended me a very interesting place ☆☆☆”NYwealthyMatch . c o m”"”"”"”"☆☆☆ If you’ve ever been there you will know what I mean….

Honestly, I was very disappointed with the special. I thought it was something that we don’t know about and had to watch it. From what they showed on those two nights, we already aware of our background unless some of us black people didn’t pay any attention in school and home. Our family should have showed us and taught us about the history of blacks. I was hoping to see something that would have made me shock about something i didnt know about. I’m aware of this so that special was pointless to me

Okay the reason everything is sooo alarming is because American American’s don’t make up a large portion of the American populations( however there is def. a problem within the african american society). White people do the same things it’s just that it doesn’t seem as bad because they have a bigger population. In addition to the fact the black people are targeted, which the show affirmed. I believed that the show proved all of the stereotypes. They showed the absent father with all the excuses in the world… they showed the stereotypical baby momma who’s on her way to have more kids even though she’s struggling with the one with an absent father…. they showed the brother who went to jail and found God… they showed all the light skinned brothers with good jobs and then reaffirmed it at the end with the two brother whom happened to be light and dark… they showed the individuals who get educated in prison (Most of the education programs get cut), but right after that they reminded us that this guy has basically no chance of getting a job. And that his ass is probably going to be back They showed you the brother who just had to keep it real and go shoot up some drug dealer place when he had it made in the burbs. They showed the “CLASSIC” successful black man whom marries outside his race….. I believe CNN just aired our damn dirty laundry!!!

On the real, i don’t know if this was good or bad though, i mean everything they stated i knew, I think we know our story because we live it. I don’t honestly believe that black people are ignorant of the situations, simply ignorant on how to rectify the wrong . I don’t think there will be change due to the show. I think that when other races watch it, they’ll say well the stereotype is correct most of the time….. Yea there were a couple of success stories…. but most were contradicted with something negative.

Nevertheless, we as black people have to do better now, our business is out, we have to prove them wrong. Lets be better fathers, stop getting locked up, and strung out. Ladies let wait to have the babies. of course the people who need to see these things won’t….. but hey…. it is what it is…. now what we gonna do?

I could be wrong yall, I could have interpreted it the wrong way… but hey prove me wrong… if you watched it…lol

WHERE DO THEY FIND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TO PUT ON TV? THE GUTTER? I AM A SINGLE MOTHER, YET I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON WELFARE, AND I CAN GET DATES. THEY ACTUALLY TURNED DOWN MY APPLICATION, AND THAT AINT DO NOTHIN BUT MOTIVATE ME TO DO BETTER AND WANT BETTER FOR MYSELF. I HAVE LEARNED ALOT, AND I RATHER STRUGGLE ON MY OWN, THAN WITH HELP. OVERALL, THE PROGRAM LEFT ALOT TO BE DESIRED.

I was about to not come on concreteloop anymore… because I didnt think you were gonna put anything about black in america documentary… but I loved the documentary… they touched on every issue that was every directed or a problem with blacks/african americans

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I watched both episodes and I liked the black woman and families segment, but I think they could have delved a lot deeper into the black psyche. Yeah we all know we suffer harder than it seems all, but what is our real motivation for the things we do? I don’t think it really taught other races anything new about black people.

All hail CNN for an attempt at shedding light on an unfair and seemingly grim situation. Only so much that they can/say/do/show/cover, it got “us” talking, it got “them” talkinh (whoever u want us and them to be) But the key is it is time to end excuses and ignorance for all blacks. We must must inspir each other and nobody’s going to do that for us. CNN simply gave a wider platform for everyone to witness our countries injustices

I watched the special and I didn’t see anything eye opening but my teenaged son got a reality check. If it’s not on BET, You Tube or in a text message, I think our youth are missing out on knowing the struggles of those who came before us. I was fortunate to have a parents who were in the movement in the 60s and saw the racism from the 50s. Since have more means to support my kids they don’t really know hard times like I did so this type of stuff was new him. He started to ask questions of his grandparents to understand more and is “waking up” to understand what being black means.

I think that Soledad made a smart decision to focus on African Americans to show her journalistic efforts as well as shine a light to “other” people. Hopefully, educators will show these programs to all the T-Bones and Shaniquas so they will have more exposure to what the world thinks of us. Maybe I am going too long here but one reason why we don’t change much as a ethnic group is because most are isolated in this great big world. Some don’t go outside their neighborhood or their comfort zone to know what else exists. This is not only true for us but also for many other immigrants (even though we were imports). Ours is just more scattered because of self-hate, misinformation, and negative sterotypes that splinter our bonds as a people.

Basically, it’s a start. Just think of how ROOTS made an impact on consciousness.

it didnt show ME anything new but i really dont think it was designed to education black people. it was designed to others who somehow believe racism and struggle dont exist.

Good programming although it was geared to a white audience or other audiences. True were know how it is to be Black in America. That’s not a program for us. The program for Blacks in America is positive solutions that will uplift us as a people.If Obama is elected a white person told me that there aren’t anymore excuses for Blacks to use as an excuse. He said it will put more responsibility on us to take advantage of the opportunities out there. In other words stop complaining and start producing, studing, parents teach your young children the ABC and numbers etc. Take care of your business and stop chasing some of the sorry brothers. And Young Black brothers get into your books and stay way from gangs etc. You know the difference between right and wrong. You know nothing easy is worth anything but problems. Handle your business early go to school get yourselves prepared for you future. If you families don’t support you in your dreams keep going anyway. God’s got your back.

The problem with the Black in America series is that it left out one fundamental concern I have…The reason why Black America and America is suffering as a whole is cuz we forgot one thing…GOD…When Black folks didn’t have anything..no education, no money, living in 2 by 4’s, not competing with the Jones’s we had only 1 option…GOD ALMIGHTY…nowadays…God is on the backburner…Get it right before its too late…

In general…Every dynasty has an endpoint…Rome overextended itself and crumbled…The British had rebellious colonies…will u be ready before the end of America comes…cause its coming….

THESE PROGRAMS PUT BLACK PEOPLE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN OUR SOCIETY. OTHER GROUPS KNOW ALL OUR BUSINESS, BUT WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ASIANS/PUERTO RICANS/WHITES/AFRICANS/CARIBBEANS AND ALL THE OTHER GROUPS TRUE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE WITH THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

ALL OF OUR DIRTY LAUNDRY IS LAID OUT FOR OTHERS TO USE AGAINST US. KNOWING YOUR ENEMY IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL OF SURVIVAL, AND THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT US, BUT WE KNOW NOTHING TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

I enjoyed it. It was informative, and I hope that at least a few white people got a better understanding in the complexity of being Black in America.

I watched the 2-part series and i do think it was a good show, however i dont believe it did much … one i think they basically tackled the stereotypes black ppl face…they just showed america what back people deal with, While it should b no surprise, im sure some people who tuned in that were not black left with a better understanding of what black ppl face on a day to day basis …but as a black person watching the show i just said to my self “ook i already knew that” i didnt gain any new info …maybe a few statistics that i didnt know but hat was about it. I also feel like the show focused more on what negative things go on, rather than the positive…they would show a prison yard full of black men and then back it up with a mouth full of statistics about how our men are behimd bars, how few of them go on to college and so on. then they would show about two or three very successful, intelligent black men and how they are different …. so i think th enetwork could have done a better job at balancing the view of what is is to be black in america with some more positive statistics and showing what we ARE doin rather than what we ARE NOT doing, or how we have progressed as a people …

They always show us poor and struggling… What about the Upper Middle class blacks, the CEO’s the Doctors, the college students at HBCU’s that are making a difference…There was so many things un touched….

Yeah I saw some of the Black Man portion. It was interesting. I might have to get it on DVD.

@ #155 (Gift from a Virgo) - What show did you watch?

You said:
“They always show us poor and struggling… What about the Upper Middle class blacks, the CEO’s the Doctors, the college students at HBCU’s that are making a difference…”

Here’s just a short list of the upper middle class people that were in the show: a District Attorney, music executive, ER surgeon, cardiologist, economist, college professor, college president, screen writer, school superintendent, teacher…

It seems to me that some people only focused on what they perceived to be negative aspects of the show. One thing that I think this program did well was show a variety of people: nuclear families/single parent families; working people/people looking for jobs; high-school drop outs/college students or graduates; inmates/non-incarcerated people; people who choose to date outside their race/people who don’t; single women with no kids/single women with kids… I would go on, but I think I’ve made my point.

I said it once and I’ll say it again, it doesn’t matter what CNN put together, some people only choose to see the negative, never the positive.

One problem I think SOME of us have is acting like the behavior that SOME black folks exhibit is overstated. The reality of it is if you are black you probably have a black friend or relative that: has more than one child from more than one person, is in jail or has been to jail, is living with HIV or AIDS, does not value education, etc. The problem that SOME of us have feel like if somebody talks about it (and God forbid on a major cable news network), then they’re doing something wrong to us instead of being real about some of the problems that are plaguing our community and choosing to do something about it. There are people of every other race that fit into every category that I mentioned above. However, just because we can say “that other race does it too” doesn’t make the stated problems untrue and doesn’t mean that we don’t have some collective and individual changes to make.

Just my opinion…