"Who is watching 'Black In America'"?

"Field, are you watching [or going to watch] that series on CNN, about being black in A-merry-ca?

If I had a dollar for every time I heard that question, I would be moving into Will Smith's zip code. And guess what? Half the people asking me are white. To them, I always say, "no I am not watching it, I already know what it's like to be black in A-merry-ca". Which always gets a nervous laugh. To the black folks, I always say, "yeah I am checking it out, and I will reserve judgment until I see the last segment."

But then I read an excellent article from Karen Hunter, and I found myself agreeing with her, and getting a little judgmental.

Even though I admire what Soledad and the folks at CNN are trying to do, for some reason I am not quite feeling what the ultimate effects of this series will be. White folks looking from a distance as if they are watching just another reality show. And black folks who care and are already trying to improve their lives and communities, watching to try and understand why our community is always coming up short.

Here is Ms. Hunter's article:

"Who is watching "Black in America" on CNN? I ask the question because it was raging inside of me as I listened to pundits and experts, educators and pastors, business professionals and actors--all attempting to make sense and give shape to what it means to be black in America.
I asked the very same question after Tavis Smiley produced the "The Covenant with Black America" a few years ago. That book sold millions of copies, and was the topic of quite a few talk shows.

And this CNN "special" will probably be one the highest rated shows on the network ever. But I again I ask who is watching?

Is Shaniqua living in a tenement in Brooklyn with five babies by five different "men" watching? Is James, who stands on a corner in Baltimore selling crack cocaine to his community watching? T-Bone, a Blood from South Central and his boys and rival Crips from cross-town, are they watching? Janice, who dropped out of Somerville High School in Massachusetts, will she be tuning in?

I doubt it. And here in lies the problem with shows like "Black in America," and books like "The Covenant with Black America" they don't reach the people who need to hear and read it most. The people who need to change, probably won't be tuning in--which is why years after the Million Man March and years after The Covenant with Black America and years after Black in America, nothing will change. "

I think I agree with a lot of what she said. But are we shooting the messenger once again?
I am watching as I write this, and Soledad is talking about crack. This time it's a has-been actor from the Cosby show playing grown up black man. "If you don't want to go to jail, don't take crack. Gee, I wonder how many crack dealers are listening?

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