Why do we need CNN to remind us that we’re Black in America?

Sandra Rose July 23, 2008

CNN’s much hyped 6 part series titled “Black in America”, premieres tonight. I always cast a cynical eye towards a major network that feels the need to remind us that we’re the downtrodden and forsaken. Then you look at the racial makeup of their newsroom and it’s never balanced. Where’s the CNN specials on Jewish in America or Asian in America? Is anything going to change other than CNN’s coffers growing fat off the commercial revenue?

scorpio

Hopefully it’s not the same old, same old pick us apart make us seem totally unable to exist as part of the human experience.
Lucy

Its not for us Sandra Its suppose to help THE WHITE FOLK because just getting to know the person in the next cube is not good enogh. White folk need all the education they can get.

I personally would like to show the twit sitting behind me a thing or two but I don’t want to come off as a
angry black woman (although I am).
Kymystry

WoW … cynical is a good word Sandra … but lets get real … they HAVE done other “specials’ … Soledad is a respected black journalist (SHE said she was BLACK so lets not start that bi-racial conversation ) Lets support her and celebrate her show for what it’s intended to do ..bring about open dialong and intelligent conversation.
Sharonda

To me, this isn’t really going to change anything, but it might open some eyes.People might be shocked to hear it, but then go back to their regular lives.Props to Soledad though.Anything in that program probably won’t surprise me.
pointhimout

good point, but i’ll check it out anyways.
http://www.smokiesays.blogspot.com/ Smokie

At first I was skeptical, but after hearing Soledad this morning I realize that the special will show the WHOLE spectrum of Blacks in America. The successful and not so successful. It’ll be a great show for blacks who need inspiration and for whites who need enlightenment.
PAHairston

CNN is trying to prepare white America for the first black President.
http://www.myspace.com/hune916 HunE916

I think this show is important for White folks to watch and our young children to watch. There is a REASON why Black folks are doing so bad. No excuses, but reasons. And until we address and admit to those reasons, Black people will never be on equal ground with White folks.
theatrkakal

i dont think its directed at black people. i think it has been made to open the eyes of other races… plus…is there really another races that is discriminated against more than black people. i think it will be an eye opener to those that are uninformed.
The Divine Ms. K

Dang, can the show come on before it gets slammed? And who cares if white people watch and get it? I mean, its a bonus if THEY are interested, but you’d be surprised how much WE don’t know about ourselves and just the wide spectrums (economics, education, etc…) we cover. Hopefully, like Kym said, this will inspire some dialogue if nothing else.
MOCHAMOMMY

I think this will be good for white people…. Hopefully it will stop them from asking such stupid questions
theatrkakal

i think it will be an eye opener for those less educated black people as well…if they even watch it… so they can understand that speaking the king’s english is what’s hot and you dont “talk white” if you pronounce all of your words correctly and articulate.
ReadTheBlog

Now Sandra knows that some brain washed mofo’s forget all too often where they come from. And besides, whitey loves to remind us of ‘our place’ on his territory, and they’re too afraid to try to get to know us as a whole. CNN usually does a pretty decent job. I’ll have to see how they do with this one. I have class tonight, so I’ll be DRV’ing it.
ThatCarmen

CNN has done the series on the different practiced religions in the World that covered many cultures….and they are not done with their cultural series of topics.

If you knew anything about the subjects being raised in this two day series, you would put your children in front of the television to capture the underground fight that they may one day have to face and try to instill love for all at the same time. (hard i know) One of the topics being raised is the amount of companies there are that will (and are caught admitting) hire a white man with a felony conviction over a black man with a four year degree. It is slightly irritating that whenever our struggles are brought to light in the media, you (Sandra) have seemed to bring whatever negative there is in it and make the whole topic negative. I guess you bringing it up at all is a plus but, still….irritating.

I have a friend(white) who swears that racisim is all but gone… she and I both will be watching this as Im sick of defending our fight to her. She sees me as light skin and long hair in a corporate office and says “See, you are doing fine.” …which makes me want to scream. I wonder if she would be my friend if my skin color was three shades darker or if I would even have this cush job. And I was brought up around the “not dark enough to be black/not light enough to be white” hoopla and I hope this opens the eyes of even black people who walk around thinking that their lighter complextion is something to hold dear in society as to the racist white people….you are still black.

I pray Sandra, that you are not putting this sad negative twist on this subject for it to be spotlighted again on national television….think as a community and not just for yourself. I hurt for that type of selfish ignorance that kills our people.
Sharonda

Yeah, it spark dialogue like any other program that showcases being black in America, but has those shows in past do anything?Perhaps, it made it worse.I’m pretty sure that these white people know exactly what they are doing when it comes to dealing with blacks, so if it was to open their eyes, I don’t know about that.But I don’t think whites need to watch it, it’s black people that really need to watch, because it’s more common that blacks discriminating against their own people.
ReadTheBlog

That Carmen – don’t give up the fight. Those before US didn’t… You’re doing good
stefany

I can sum it all up in one paragraph what it means to be black in American, CNN can call me and save some money..This what it means to be black in America….

-STEREOTYPED
-DEGENERATED
-WRONGFULLY INCARCERATED
-IGNORED
-PASSED OVER FOR GOOD JOBS
-RECEIVE A LOWER SALARY
-GIVEN HIGHER LOAN AND MORTGAGE RATES
-SHI**Y BLACK SCHOOLS
-SHI**Y SOCIAL SERVICES
-GIVEN NO CREDIT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN HISTORY
-CAN BE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND SUCCESSFUL AND STILL BE A NI**ER
-PUNISHED FOR BEING A PRODUCT OF WHAT WHITE SOCIETY HAS MADE
MADE ME
-LIVING IN A SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR MY FAILURE
-I CAN BE AN UNARMED INOCENT BLACK MAN & GET SHOT 50 TIMES
-AS A BLACK MAN I CAN BE ACCUSED OF RAPE FOR CONSENTUAL SEX
WITH A WHITE WOMAN
-I CAN COMMIT THE SAME CRIME AS MY WHITE COUNTERPART AND
RECEIVE A STIFFER SENTENCE
-CONSIDERED LAZY BECAUSE I SUPPORT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
-LEFT TO DIE IN A LEVEL 5 HURRICANE

*******JUST TO NAME A FEW*************
Kymystry

Hi Carmen … and thanks for putting to words what my fingers struggled to do .. as I was so irritated with Sandra’s blase’ and negative reasponse to the airing of the show … I WILL be callin my son in NJ and he WILL be watching the show …
karaz

Come on people, don’t get your panties in a bunch, Sandra can’t possibly be this obtuse and simple-minded, she’s just trying to make sure that we all remember to tune in. And you know she has to stay in character and be contrary so she posts it this way.
bklynchick

I commend Soledad for this series that she is doing. As you can see it does bring about dialogue amongst people. But what does this series has to do with showing white people how it is to be black in america. They know, trust me they set it up for us to be “Black in America”. I love being black doesn’t matter what country I am in. We have done a so much in America but we only get looked at as being slaves anyways. But if we stand together and stick together, stop downgrading each other, support one another, put family first oh what a powerful race we can be. Racism will always be here but, we as black people need to learn to stick together regardless if yt’s like us our accepts us.
MzDetermined

I think this would be something to watch with your kid’s. I will be tuning in.
tamel

I think some blk ppl need enlightenment on what it means to be black in America. I know it’s hard to believe but not all blk folks are struggling to catch a break or waiting for a hand out. There are more Michelle and Barack Obama’s out there than we want to admit just so we can constantly bitch about what the while man is or isn’t doing for us. Some of us are doing great despite how we were brought up or what little we were given when growing up.
stefany

There are more Michelle and Barack Obama’s out there

@ TAMEL,

I agree, it would be nice to see the media put the spotlight on more positive black figures..There are a lot of educated sucessful blacks out there who are practically unknown..whenever Ebony Magazine does a list on the top successful blacks in America I’m always asking the question “Why haven’t I heard of this person?”..The media sometimes focuses too much on the stuggle as opposed to the progression.
PAHairston

Let’s look at the real picture of Black America, especially in the inner cities, where many black folks live. I live in DC and for the past 20 years, young black men have been killing each other like it’s no tomorrow. Almost er night a young black male gets shot or killed on the streets of DC, the most important city in the world! (My 25 yr old nephew was killed, shot thru the chest, 2 yrs ago, on the streets of DC) Just last weekend, in an area called Trinidad, 2 young black males got out a car and just started randomly shooting. They killed a young 13 yr old boy who was visiting from Alabama. (His 28 yr old mother was also wounded.) Then this same car went to another block and shot and wounded 7 more. Then they went to another block and wounded 4 more. Senseless. Stupid, senseless killing. (It’s so easy to be stupid in America.)

Sure we know that there is still racism and hate in America. Sure we know that there is discrimination. Hell, our parents and their parents lived thru it and so do we but it’s often the choices that we make in life. Take high-school dropouts. HALF of young black men drop out of high-schools in DC. HALF!!!! (What are you gone do in DC without an education?) Back in the 60s, when I was growing up, erbody tried to finish high school, hell, it was the smart thing to do, and still is. 70% of black babies are born out of wedlock. Hell, this wouldn’t be so bad if these young, black, single women had good jobs to take care of these children– they could have ’em all day long. Once again, it’s the choicest we make in life that comes back to haunt us.

Ladies, keep yo legs closed until the right man comes along, albeit black or white. Know his last name before you get pregnant by him. Don’t choose to have 3,4,5 babies by as many different men. Our children deserve better.

Now raise yo hand if I made any sense. As always, I leave you in peace.
indesign18

I just wanted to say I am proud of you all for wanting to grow and care enough to bring in the next generation which is our true responsibilty. Auntie Sandra, I kno0ow you get it too, but just want to be an antagonist, and since you didn’t grow up in America, you could add to conversation by giving your experience of growing up black in a different. country. And yes I have the whole series set on TIVO.
Sharonda

Ladies, keep yo legs closed until the right man comes along, albeit black or white. Know his last name before you get pregnant by him. Don’t choose to have 3,4,5 babies by as many different men. Our children deserve better.

^That’s weird you said that, my friend just had her baby by this man who has 7 kids/7 different women, and she just made him his 8th baby.And what is so strange to me,is that she said, he don’t do shit, he’s 28, living with his momma.I don’t know if he has a career to support those babies because if he isn’t doing shit according to her, he isn’t doing nothing.Hood fella.And now he goes around scoping up these young girls, who are in high school, messing with their head, and two young girls he messing with beefing over myspace.I just hope my friend’s new born doesn’t get mist in the drama that his daddy create with these females.
http://mrswindycity.blogspot.com Windycitychick

I have not read all the comments above but I will say this. We don’t need anyone to remind us of who we are, yet we do need some misconceptions about our race to be brought to the forefront and addressed. As a recent journalism graduate, I respect and admire Soledad for her work in the African American community.

If you took the time to read the CNN website or watch the free preview video on iTunes you would know that they are talking about the misconceptions facing the african american community.

Did anyone know that a majority of african americans are NOT low incomes house holds? we have more middle class households and that number is rising…..

As for the make up of color in their newsroom I would rather watch CNN over FOX. FOX highers the brown nosers and Oreos that don’t want to be black. I wish people (any color) would stop looking at everything with these negative views. Watch the program and then form an opinion
sali

Sandra,
They did have a special on being Jewish and Muslim in America. I forgot the exact name but I did watch some of it and it was in my opinion to educate ignorant people of the religions. Also, lets be real how many black people watch the news let alone CNN. That segment is probably for the ignorant people who have no clue on the black culture. BTW I love Roland Martin’s articles and segments on CNN, you should check him out sometime.
http://www.findentertainmentnow.com miesha@FindEntertainmentNow.com

sandra i know right. many blacks seem to be so excited about this special but honestly it has made me a lil wary. but since they r soooooo excited i just kept my mouth shut. i’ve gotten several emails on facebook AND my gmail asking me to “tune in”. i sure hope it highlights the good, rich history, inventions, and what strength we bring to the economy. otherwise i aint buying it. don’t need no one feeling sorry for black people or looking down on us or making a worse generalization.

i understand why CNN is a better choice publically and ratings wise than say a TV one or a BET but the show may be more appropriate for later stations IF in any way they plan to poke or bring up anything negative about blacks, even if it is a reality in any kind of way. i hope if there is any negativity it is not hosted as an “ALL black people r this way” type of deal. but i’ll try and be positive…but we already know they will talk about the good and the bad. oh boy!!! let’s just see how it goes. in light of Obama this could be a good or a not so good thing. Lord let it be positive and beneficial!! no matter what is said, be strong and delighted in who you are a black or bi-racial black. it’s all good at the end of the day. still get yours by the will of God.

p.s. they choose black bcz we make more noise and seem to be more controversial than asians, mexicans. i think all races have had their own struggle but blacks make a special impact and have come up from so far in business and education wise since the 80’s and 90’s. the world for blacks has changed significantly. but who knows…maybe one day CNN will focus on all races. but u know ours is just more intersting and something else to talk about. yes the ad dollars made is gonna be AMAZING for the network!! they are slick!
Anna

@ stefany Says:

I can sum it all up in one paragraph what it means to be black in American, CNN can call me and save some money..This what it means to be black in America….

-STEREOTYPED
-DEGENERATED
-WRONGFULLY INCARCERATED
-IGNORED
-PASSED OVER FOR GOOD JOBS
-RECEIVE A LOWER SALARY
-GIVEN HIGHER LOAN AND MORTGAGE RATES
-SHI**Y BLACK SCHOOLS
-SHI**Y SOCIAL SERVICES
-GIVEN NO CREDIT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN HISTORY
-CAN BE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND SUCCESSFUL AND STILL BE A NI**ER
-PUNISHED FOR BEING A PRODUCT OF WHAT WHITE SOCIETY HAS MADE
MADE ME
-LIVING IN A SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR MY FAILURE
-I CAN BE AN UNARMED INOCENT BLACK MAN & GET SHOT 50 TIMES
-AS A BLACK MAN I CAN BE ACCUSED OF RAPE FOR CONSENTUAL SEX
WITH A WHITE WOMAN
-I CAN COMMIT THE SAME CRIME AS MY WHITE COUNTERPART AND
RECEIVE A STIFFER SENTENCE
-CONSIDERED LAZY BECAUSE I SUPPORT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
-LEFT TO DIE IN A LEVEL 5 HURRICANE

*******JUST TO NAME A FEW*************
I so agree.

You can also be Black in Amercia and run for president of The US of A, something as a black 40 yr old woman I never thought or dreamed I would see in my life time. I have been telling my husband for the past 10 yrs that a White Woman will be president before a black man.

I am just glad I got to see both run against each other. Nice to be able to look at your kids and tell them that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up and truely mean it.
karaz

PAHairston, please realize that that’s not everyone’s real picture of black America, not even in the inner cities.
ThatCarmen

@ PAHairston

Thank you for sharing that as I overheard a white man tell another white man “When will we finish driving all the niggers to Atlanta, Louisianna, Detroit and DC” while I was on the train one day… I had my jacket over my head because it was early in the morning and I was still tired…. There were few people on the train and I doubt they knew I was there. All I could do was think of how to explain that to my daughter one day if she came home saying that she had overheard such a thing. Its hard to fight the war with love when your first mind tells you to be angry…. but, I try.
http://www.myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

I think the question should be why can’t BET do a program of this sort as well as CNN. It doesn’t matter who is doing it. This is an important discussion and I’m glad CNN is taking it on. Better them than no one.
Coop

***********************************************

@Lucy
@Bird
@Anna
@Windycitychick
@The Divine Ms. K
@theatrkakal
@ThatCarmen
@ReadTheBlog
@ReadTheBlog

I watched a previous episode on Sunday night and I thought it was done in a intellectual manor in order to hide how degrading it was. Hill Harper and Ed Gordon Spoke about the black male and were coming very close to promoting black self hate.
Anna

34Coop Says:

***********************************************

@Lucy
@Bird
@Anna
@Windycitychick
@The Divine Ms. K
@theatrkakal
@ThatCarmen
@ReadTheBlog
@ReadTheBlog

I watched a previous episode on Sunday night and I thought it was done in a intellectual manor in order to hide how degrading it was. Hill Harper and Ed Gordon Spoke about the black male and were coming very close to promoting black self hate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That I do believe. Many blacks are filled with so much self pity that they don’t even choose to rise above it because there is hopelessness.
dblaq

Racism is very much alive in America instead of being blatant with it, it is now hiding in credit reports, background checks, etc.

White people have learned to adapt meaning they can pretend that like you but in reality they still look at you as a black!

Also we do give ammunition for them to stereotype us. I have been black all my life and I can pretty much say that a large of the stereo types happened to be true on different levels.
http://myspace.com/mullatos SnootyPooty1

@thatcarmen I agree with you.. You said everything that I wanted to say….
http://www.myspace.com/reddymond_45 The Black Katie Couric

I’m givng a standing O to “thatcarmen” right now!!!!

Loved the comment and I totally agree with EVERYTHING you said.

Not only will I plan to watch but while in ATL a couple of weeks ago I copped a Black in America Tshirt from the CNN store-lol!!!!!!
hellava10

Bird, those were my thoughts exactly! I commend CNN for sticking thier neck out to even broadcast the series. Here we have an entire network that does nothing to promote our race and nothing being done about it. I for one would like to see BET go away into the shadows of our memories (and I have fond ones of Video Soul, Video Vibrations, Midnight Love, the news with the lady who always wore a choker-forgot her name, the old Bobby Jones, etc). There are 3 sides of the fence for most of the black population – 1 that cares, 2 that could care less, and 3 that don’t know which side is up.

You know I’m going to take it there. Here is a topic that needs to be discussed/addressed, where we can share our views and get different opinions but I’m just #39. But you have Trina that can get over 200 posts. This is hard to people to talk about and not get emotional over, but at the same time – more emotions bring about change. If you really sit back and look at it —– Who is our black leader? I’m not including Obama simply because he is for all races. I’m strictly speaking about a tried and true black leader(s) that step out into the forefront DAILY. Not like Sharpton, only when it gets to the media. Certainly not Jesse. Who is going into the history books for our generation other than Lil Wayne for selling a record?
dblaq

Well #39 let me just say this:

We as black people are very hypocritical, we always have something to say about everything but very little do we do anything about it. We quick to adapt anything that really bares no value and the self destruct us but yet when a white person says anything about it we want to jump all over them.

Let me just put it in context. I have been reading Forbes magazine for the last 2 – 3 years. They always have issue about the richest this and that. Out of 400 billionaires we only have 2 black people and that is Bob Johnson and Oprah. Yet we have all these baller athletes, actors, rappers, singers, or anything entertainment related that make millions, do we own any major corporations??? I am not talking about small businesses I am talking about IBM’s, Coca Cola’s? We don’t have it, why?

Why can we spend $25K in a strip club and make it rain, when that could start a business but yet someone can’t get loan for a day care or something in that nature. If you can throw in the air for some ass, why can’t you let someone have it that has a good business idea and need it.

How come on Buford Hwy it turned into Mexico City or China Town? I hear that bullish that they come over here and get all this government help but that is just B.S. Alot of the mexicans are illegal here and can’t get any type of assistance even if they could they wouldn’t. Imagine yourself moving into a country like Japan and not know the language and culture but yet having to build a business and life. See how easy that is. We on the other hand a good in buidling hoods. We always look for someone else to blame for all of our misfortune and ish so messed up. but the reality lies with us only not the white people, asians or the system. It is us black people.

If we would become judges, lawyers, senators, doctors, etc. We can make that difference. If you become a law maker you can change the law. If you become a judge, you can make the justice system equal but we don’t wanna do it because it ain’t HOOD enough or not real enough.

Thats why Rhianna, Beyonce, and Video Hoes get more posts than this because it is easy to gossip than try and make some ish happen
tintin

well i watched it and it was well done. it looked at at every angle from aids amongst black women, violence with black men, interracial relationships, stayiing committed to black people etc. so every special that CNN does have on us, I will watch and support.
lexdiamonz

dblaq you said a mouthful… CNN can kiss my azz how about getting some more “black” dark-skinned reporters surely there have to be some in the ATL and i am so sick and freaking tired of people telling us what is means to be black in america we all know what it means to have to work twice as hard and get half as far and i live in Europe i hate shows like this yes we get CNN too (cable) because then for about a week afterwards people look at you like a damn science project let’s have a real discussion on race white people refuse to admit it still exists there in lies the problem …. also we need to stop letting tv, radio and internet speak for us and sweep around our own back door to whoever wrote about the death of their nephew my deepest sympathy but this statement right here “They killed a young 13 yr old boy who was visiting from Alabama. (His 28 yr old mother was also wounded.) A 13 yr old whose mother is only 15 years older than him now that is the real problem…the killing itself is a tragedy but our community look like this as normal sorry we have got to do better while we killing each other, selling drugs, getting pregnant with multiple baby-daddies them damn indian and chinese kids taking over the world….. sorry but i don’t need a show to tell me what is wrong with black folk i’ve lived it.
Kymystry

Awesome Show …

Why do we need CNN to remind us that we’re Black in America?

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