CNN begins 'Black in America' special

Someone suggested that people who are black and Buddhist should make their own documentary rather than complain about being left out of CNN's investigative report on black America, so I did: http://rainbowdharma.com/festivalscreening/theater1.htm

I was already against this program and according to what I'm hearing from my friends who did actually watch it, the program is only reinforcing the age old stereotypes lauded against "black" people. That is not to say that there is aren't any negative experiences black people endure, but the program completely took a overly pessimistic view of the Black culture and the Black way of life. Not a surprise, I'm not necessarily a fan of cable or network television. I am also equally disappointed in the fact that Soledad O'Brien was not forthcoming about her personal story as a bi-racial American and her sort of false impartiality throughout the entire program. Thank you, Erika

Soledad is doing an excellent job as the commentator for the documentary. This special seems to be mirroring the plight of black people during the 50's and the 60's, but sadly, we are talking about 2008. Although I find the show insightful, my feeling is that white folks and those black folks who have arrived and forgotten or are ignorant to what is going on with their own people are the ones who need this quick jolt. Most of us know the plight of our folks. Regardless of our education or our successes, most black folks compared to other cultures are still facing challenges and barriers.

Hot mess filled with the same old, racist, negative stereotypes that have been around for years, and O'Brien is just awful on every level, thank God no one will be watching this tripe, and, she does not have to worry about an Emmy nod. And, it was funny that she is doing a part on interracial marriage, when she is the product of one and married to a white man, but, doesn't say so. Trifling mess on the Clinton News Network and just another reason for the rest of the country to say "they have had every chance, and, still can't do it right, so, we are right to hate them."

Erika, it might prove helpful for you to watch the show. That would give you a better place to speak from. Saying that the show "completely took a overly pessimistic view of the Black culture and the Black way of life" without having watched it is akin to complaining about the referee calls in a game you didn't watch.

If you've watched any coverage of the show, she talks about her black cuban mother and her irish-australian father. Moreover, the show was not about her. Maybe that's why she didn't feel it appropriate to dedicate a segment about her life. We've heard it a million times already

Thanks Alicia, spoken like a true hater

Midwest guy, what was Alicia "hating" on? If it was a powerful news network trotting out the same stereotypical images of black America under the guise of "serious reporting", and make no mistake, this was, I would say that the "hate" is fully justified. Soledad and CNN should be ashamed. If they were going to do it, they should have done it right, and this mess was dead WRONG on many levels.

Sorry, Midwest boy, if the show shows your life in the hood, more power to you. I didn't grow up in the hood, and, can't relate to the issues you and those who do have, along with millions of other middle class blacks who grew up in two parent homes. The show is a hot mess, and, only seems to appeal to those who live that life of poverty and lack of self esteem and want the world to know it.

Rob, I agree that they unfairly trot out the same stereotypical images of black america. How dare them show how a middle class black family ensured that their kids would end up at Syracuse, U of Miami and Juliard. How dare them show how a mother of four, works hard to provide for her kids, stressing the importance of education. How dare them show a single black father raising two kids who yes, understands the need for education, and stresses its importance to his kids, especially his son who wants to use his money to help dad pay bills while saving the rest for college. Why in the hell would CNN allow O'Brian to do a show like that!

Oh Alicia, what self-hate you have. I'm black and I am male, why in the world would you "not" think I grew up in the hood. That's your parental conditioning speaking loudly. I can only imagine the sort of household you grew up in--one the teaches its children to think they are better than those who aren't fortunate enough to have two parents and the resources to move out of the hood. The good thing is that there are middle class families who make a point not to look their noses down on others--proving that self-hate is for the select few

Self hate? Must be your issue Midwest boy. My life is far to wonderful for CNN and your type who grew up in poverty to take serious, spew the n-word and, let me guess wear saggy pants. Peace to you, and, hopefully, you'll rise up out of your situation, anger, rage and jealousy, after all, CNN shows your type, poor young black men who are to be feared daily, and, you are proving that's one sterotype that might be right. If, you like being seen in a negative light, good for you, but, don't dare assume the rest of us want to be, since, you are in your spot by choice, just like the ones she showed that are not a true picture of black America, where most of us work and play by the rules.

Alicia why wouldn't your life be wonderful? You were fortunate enough to grow up in a two-parent home in the burbs saving yourself from the conditioning that goes along with being raised in the hood like other low-life degenerate niggers.

As proven, intellect is not your strong suit dear. Maybe your hate of black men is the reason for your lesbianism. Don't blame us for your ineptness in being a forward-thinking black woman. Blame your parents, the ignominious niggers who raised you

LOL, sorry Midwest boy, I'm a happily married straight woman, so, your issues with women is your issue. Now, take your rage out into the streets and live up to the stereotypes that CNN is spreading. Your kind is just the typical angry black man that has issues and, I guess yours are with women and society since your anger and rage is scary, not to mention your lack of a grasp of the English language and homophobic, misogynistic slurs, look them up since I'm sure you don't know what they mean.

My apologies. I wrongly assumed that your hatred of black men was due to lesbianism. I now see it's because of the troubled relationship you have with an abusive husband and the nigger'd father who molested you. I can see it more clearly now. Again, my apologies.

Now that that is settled

Yes I will take my rage out in about an hour when I pick my son up from camp. Of course I am a single black father so we will probably go hang out on the block and smoke a blunt or two. Then we will leave and go bust a cap in a couple of b*tches on Michigan Ave all in preparation for his yet-budding rap career. You know how we black men do.

What is scary is the fact that someone deemed you marriage material

Now That is scary. Sadly humorous

Im dissappointed that these very intellectual minds are allowing there usually insightfull perspectives to go down this schoolyard dissing match path. Anyway. Yahl are both right. The show was a Hot Mess. And it showed some encouraging stories too. One thing surely shouldnt be the result of the show, and thats for us to diss each other over it. With all the flaws and there were many. Hell at least CNN tried!!!! Wheres everybody else?

A single black father, big whoop, with no, education, class or life skills, I guess that kid is doomed to a life of petty nothing or jail if you are the male figure in its life. Not impressed with you, or your rage, find someone who cares about your kind. Stick with the topic, CNN and the show, save the slurs for those in your 'hood.'

LOL@Alicia. You are right, I'm black and male. Of course I do not have any education or life skills. I especially know little about fatherhood. Ain't that how we all be?

Look sweetie, your anger is quite misdirected. It was your husband who left you barefoot and shod. I know that many black women suffer because of that. However, do not take that out on the rest of us. Maybe you should have been a tad bit more creative in the bedroom or at least a bit cleaner down under. The smell can be quite overwhelming

I was wrong. You two may need this site to yourselves. I think yahl are in Love with Each Other. Go ahead and kiss and make up. Get a room!!!!!

I wasn't impressed with it at all, they didn't do anything but rehash the negatives and the same talking heads with nothing new to offer on any issue they claimed to be trying to discuss as fresh. The black community like all other ones in this country is diverse, not some monolithic group, and, its not easy to define us as they tried to do, and, badly so in my opinion. I'll skip the rest of it. And enough of the black man is a criminal and the black woman with kids and no man to support them, that is the worst sterotype they keep dragging up. But, to those who enjoyed it, fine, but I'll watch something more relevant.

I watched it from beginning to end and still woke up black. I must have gotten lost somewhere in the importance of this made for white folks television event.

Mrs. Gibson, Ignoring the issues won't make them go away. 70 percent of our children born to unwed mothers...that's real! The number of brothers in prisin...that's real! 50 percent of our Black inner city youth dropping out of high school...that's real! Why would/should we ignore these issues? I hope you weren't looking for any solutions from them. That is not CNN's purpose, nor should it be. It is up to US to come up with solutions to our problems NOT a news network! Good evening.

Tolson, I agree certain issues are not going away, but, its not just black women who are not having kids while married, just the ones easily vilified by the media. If, CNN is so concerned about the poor and people of color, they would address all the groups that have issues and offer solutions with money or mentorship's, and, its not just blacks who have issues. Check out the high school graduation rates for Hispanics. The kids get the worse schools, so, why would they have any incentive to stay? Check out their child born out of wedlock rates across the board, and, they are all too high with all races, something they won't tell you on CNN. The CNN "special" was anything but. We'll just have to agree to disagree but, I respect your point of view on it. CNN does not care about the state of black America and offers no solutions, only stereotypes and a few crumbs of the real black America, many of which are wrong and which must have the truth told from the black community. The days of sitting by and watching black people dismissed as the problem minority are gone, when half the problems are still from institutionalized racism.

I didn't plan on watching this program reason being,I thought that Anderson Cooper was narrating this expose'. I did however see bits and pieces after the program had aired which couldn't be avoided. The number one LIE being diseminated is that 1 outter 3 black men are in jail or will go to jail. The fact is 1 out of 4 black men will have contact with the criminal justice system in their life time. One out of four, that means people who have traffic tickets they have not paid,alimony not paid and domestic violence issues all are counted with that 1 out of 4. There are more black men who are wanted for traffic tickets then on any other charges. Another falsehood is that 60% of black children are growing up with no male figure or man in their lives. Kids are reverred in the black community and many black women chose to have their baby despite the fact that they are not married most of these woman are still involved with their baby daddies many of them have brothers,fathers,uncles and sons who are involved in these kids lives. Over all I don't think this documentary will truely show the true diversity especially today in the Black Community,this documentary is all about someone else's agenda and not for the uplifting of Black America even the trailer for this program IS MINNISING. PEACE OUT.

You are all right in your assessments of this drive-by. I think that blacks who work in influential industries still have little power and some don't get it when their superiors are trying to knock them down a peg are two. There are many Blacks out there who work with whites and others who they run circles around and for Black folks with too big ahead to be knocked down a peg or two just show them all the dispoportion of negativity in the Black Community and maybe they want be so big headed. If Soledad is so black and proud of it maybe she shouldn't have rushed to marry. It's to bad that many will see her as another successful black woman married to a white man. thats all they'll see. PEACE

Will it ever end? It is Saturday night and still "Black in America." Ms. O'Brien is superb in her job. This was just too much, too many and over the top for one subject.

Alicia...this read is for you...just because you are married, grew up in a nice middle class environment doesn't mean EVERYBODY grew up the same way. Just because YOU don't or didn't see all of the crap MOST of us DO see is strictly your own observation. But the reality is that YOU are out of touch, sweetheart. I live in Atlanta where the "wealthy" blacks live and I still still B.S. all around me and yes...I got a little money as well but I will never say the crap you've said on this blog. Get real. Silly woman, he did stick with the topic. Re-read what he is saying. I don't agree with the "nigger" thing he pulled but for the most part...he is right. I own a tech firm here in the city and my pants don't sag. See...that is what I am talking about, too much BET for you Alicia. All if us don't dress like that. I think you are a angry woman. Sorry.