We knew we couldn’t cover every issue and some people will watch the four hours and see glaring omissions. But my hope is that this will be the beginning of a long and productive dialogue and there will be more.

And I would like to thank you for that. The conversation is so hard to have mainly because of anger (there is alot in the black community), denial and accountability. On yesterday I blogged about some issues and received some feedback, people of other races want to be involved in the conversation however, WE ALL KNOW THE ISSUES OF THIS COUNTRY ARE MAINLY BLACK AND WHITE. I truly believe until we Black and White Americans can sit down and talk REALLY TALK, the chances of us eliminating the problems with other races are slim to none.

THANK YOU AGAIN CNN……………………….

I have to admit that I wondered also how this subject would be approached and dealt with in this documentary. And so far I can tell you that it was handled very well. The first part was excellent. How you all followed the Rand family to try and explain or talk about issues that affects blacks in America was a great idea. Showing the problems through peoples actual lives instead of just talking about it with researchers or what not brought the issues home more and it actually meant something. It wasn’t just words being said, we got to see it first hand.

I figured that it would be great though because Soledad has always done excellent reports and documentaries. I can’t wait to see tonight’s final installment.

Cindy…Ga.

So I didn’t really now what to expect from the documentary last night. My whole thing was that how can you show what its like to be black in America when every black American experiences things differently. Well I think yall did an outstanding job. While my particular story was not shown (I was raised by a single black college educated woman) I so got the overall picture.

I was still left with the question now what? We have this great documentary but how do things change? My heart sunk when the young man featured last night never returned back to school after re-registering. I was thinking where are the adults in his life to encourage him and make sure he does right? Growing up even though my parents were divorced they both made it very clear their expectations of me and gave me absolutely no excuse to fail. And I realized he as well as many other black young people many times do not have adults in their lives to not only encourage them to do better but set an expectation so high that they feel there is no other option but to succeed.

After watching last night I feel there is a desperate need for all successful black men and women to go back into the community and give back. It’s not enough to just say what’s wrong in the black community and do nothing about it. I stood on someone shoulders to get where I have gotten in life, it’s not fair now as a soon to be college graduate I don’t turnaround and give someone the same help I was given. It takes a village to raise a child so when we have an epidemic of black high school drop outs we all need to step up to the plate.

Last night’s documentary was excellent! I noticed the kid that re-registered to go back to school but then dropped right back out had zero direction and expectations by the adults raising him. He should’ve been working if he’s not attending school. The other family of I believe 5 where all of them graduated or are attending top notch colleges stated it was expected by their parents that they get educated in order for them to succeed. To me that was proof it’s not a black or white issue - it’s a parent issue. This was even more evident when Dr. Cooper (what a great man!) started the VIP program to help these directionless youths who kept on ending up on the ER table for him to operate on. The opportunities are there yet kids of all races are not taking advantage of them (I say that because the drop out rate in high school here in So. CA is at least 60%). Our youths need to be taught how important education is if they want to succeed in life.

To me this documentary presented a superficial presentation and only served to reinforce the stereotypes that exist: black people are poor; black men are in jail; black adolescents drop out of school; etc.

I enjoyed the opening segment where they introduced the Rand family and after that it no longer kept my attention. I realize the issues presented are realities but they are partial and not representative of the entire black experience. We were presented with issues that we are already well too familiar with.

There is much more to being black in America than being poor, disadvantaged, and struggling through hardships.

I’m torn by what I saw last night. As my wife and I talked about the show and it’s impending repeat performance tonight, I shared with her how on one hand I feel extremely hopeful and proud about where we have been and where we are going. The other side of me felt depressed and hopeless for the HAVE NOTS. This show, whether it intended to or not, pointed out that the world we know is divided by the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS. The lady in New York that had to catch the bus and travel an hour or so for one tomato broke my heart; especially since I can leave work right now and purchase a tomato in about 5 minutes. I don’t have the answers, but I am thankful that my parents are still together after 36 years. I am very fortunate to have been educated at three prestigious universities and gainfully employed. The values my parents instilled in me, I will definitely share with my children should the good Lord decide to bless my wife and I with them. Until then I will remain hopeful that the work I do with my athletes will be a blessing to them as they continue to grow as young men and women; both black and white.

Great job CNN. I’m going to brace myself for the report on Black Men in America.

When I watched the broadcast, I must admit I was hoping to see more of the positives of being Black in America, but I think the documentary did a good job of showing an objective view of Black America. I myself a Black American woman didn’t realize that some of the alarming negative statics are as bad as they are. I had hoped we had advanced more.
Race has been an issue that has been swept under the rug in this country for far too long. The country has a bitter past concerning race and this is the first step to healing. It is an eye opener for other Americans to view what it is like to be Black in America and great for black people to view and began internal discussions about expanding our successes and addressing our challenges.

As an older white person, I waited for this program with great anticipation. After all, I have been through the Dr. King era. I have understood what he was fighting for. Sadly, what I experienced last evening was just a rehash of how, for many black people in America things have not changed. No new ground was really broken.
We have all seen programs like this before. We have all heard stories about black oppression in this country, despite how we try to ignore it.

What I would have liked to have seen was a program that concentrated more on the positives that have been accomplished in the last 40+ years. Yes , the black middle class is growing. Educational strides have been made. We have someone running for the highest elected office in this country, who just happens to be black.
Much of this could not have been invisioned 40 years ago.
We must start focusing on solutions rather than just retelling problems that still exist.

I think that the program is such a great tool to teach our children that there is more to life than what is right out side your door. That one can end up paying for an error made today for years to come. I paid close attention to families with sucessful stories so that maybe I can steer my 5 year old daughter in the right direction. She is already doing well in school.

My only issue is that now I wonder how many people who were featured last night told the truth about thier situations and neighborhoods. For example, Ms. O’Brien spoke to a woman from Harlem who was in Harlem Hospital and stated that the stress in her life helped her end up there. When faced with a follow-up visit with Ms. O’Brien, the woman stated that the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in the neighborhood was a hardship. She could not find fresh food. She then waved her cane behind her and said something like look at it around here.

I was baffled because I live around the corner from the woman and know personally that there is a major chain supermarket 2 blocks away. The smaller supermarkets are ok, but you get what you need when you wish not to travel. There are two weekend farmer’s markets in the neighborhood. Her block is almost always clean. I dont look to my local bodega for grapes.

I do not know everyones situation and I dont pretend to, but in a situation like this when a person is telling the world a lie about a thriving community, what should I feel? I have seen horrible areas where people honestly have no choices. For ten years I have seen our food choices get better and it was a shame to watch it.

It may seem silly to comment on this part at all, but where is the pride in community and in self that seem to be strong not so long a go.

Last night was totally horrible! It did not truthfully depict Black life! We are more than the inner city and the “Hood”! I didn’t even grow up in that type of environment and I’m sure a lot of other black people didn’t either! For someone who isn’t black it would lead them to think that we all are from the “Hood”, black men make babies and leave, and our children have to get paid in order to have the interest to learn in school! It would have been a lot better if their were some solutions or even if the true diversity of black life was depicted! Believe it or not a whole lot of black people are doing great in this country! Another thing, I hated the narrator/poet guy, where did he fit in? That was embarrasing to say the least; why does it have to be an entertainment element to it! That guy might as well had been a damned cartoon! I’m sorry but we as black people do not all talk like that! We are more intelligent than the way we were depicted last night! Totally Horrible! Did I say Horrible?!

I have not seen the broadcast but from reading the posts and all that others have to say about it, I am thrilled that it was not just a puff piese. Sure they can vote now, they can attend any college they can afford, they can at least ride the bus without having to give up their seats why would the documentary highlight those things? Those are things that we shouldn’t be happy to see happen, those ar things that we never should have been denied in the first palce. I’m happy to see that the piece was simply saying aftert all these years in some instances it sucks to be black. I do agree with Melissa in LA, alot of these issues are not Black/White they are about influences. I myself grew up in a single parent home with a Dad that had very little education, but he impressed upon us how important it was for us to excell in school. That’s another non-stereotypical even a black man raising two kids as a single Dad…

I do think that this documentary is just scratching the surface. Personally, as someone who lives Black in America everyday, I knew everything already. But I guess the same is not true for mainstream America, so it is a good introduction.

However there are some glaring omissions that I do not feel comfortable overlooking….where is the accountability? where is the historical context of racism, supremacy, and oppression that reign on the conscious and unconscious levels of American minds today? Where is the revelation of the fallacies in American textbooks? Where is the discussion about pride and love of oneself?

We DO need more honest conversation. We DO need to create more safe spaces for discussion. Each and every one of us–Black, White, Asian, Latino–needs to make this documentary personal. Write about it, talk about, argue about, by by all means DO something about it.

All said, I truly love CNN for this documentary and most of its coverages. Revolutionizing the way America speaks. CNN, let’s do more…how about town forums around race issues?

@ Nicole Harlem I don’t think your comment is silly at all. As a matter of fact it’s quite shocking because that woman was reinforcing negative stereotypes in my mind because I assumed that grocery stores and farmer’s markets avoided that area because of high crime due to the people who live there.

I personally feel that woman that lied is playing the victim mentality and people like her pass that on to their children who become directionless in life and thus continue to blame the white man when in reality it’s their own undoing and no one else’s when they’re unsuccessful or in prison.

Thanks for speaking up and telling the truth.

Overall, the show was great, but I was disappointed because it did not address the put down by white women each day toward black women. From 16-80 we are addressed with “sugar”, “honey” “darling” or “baby” by waitresses, clerks, nurses and everyone who tries to put us in “our place”. Employees of the most professional offices addresses the black women in those terms. I believe this came out of Slavery or “Jim Crowism” when white people’s attitude was that all black people were considered as having a child like mentality. I am one of those people that extremely tired of it and it should be deleted from the vocabulary.

“To me this documentary presented a superficial presentation and only served to reinforce the stereotypes that exist: black people are poor; black men are in jail; black adolescents drop out of school; etc.”

@ N the statistics are there with the dropout rate, the number of black men imprisoned, the number of women who are infected with HIV etc. and we cannot ignore it or put the blame on someone else. Why not take that indignation like Dr. Cooper did and do something about these statistics? CNN also profiled successful black women as well who had their own struggles albeit not as much coverage as the others. There are many stories to be told that can’t be done in two hours. I personally would love to see more coverage on middle black America from both the female and male perspective.

How do you fully explain the great success of the black middle class in the last 40 years, but at the same time explore the tremendous growth of the black male prison population and dozens of other topics in only four hours?

How do I explain it? I explain it by choices and parenting. Parenting is also a choice.

@Zee: very well said.

@Velma: I totally disagree with your comment about people trying to put you in your place. I’m white and I dont like to be called those names either, but I think they are just an individual’s way of trying to welcome someone or address them. Those words are not intended for put down. I am sorry that you feel that way.

And Velma, I for one, would never dream of calling any other woman
“sugar”, “honey” “darling” or “baby”; simply because those are words of endearment and familiarity to me. If I were you and a white female called me sugar, I would address them back the same way they addressed me. That would make them sit and think.

@Velma: Have you only been to one restaurant? I have heard waitresses address ALL people with “sugar”, “honey”, et al. I think you are digging in the bottom of the barrel to come up with this complaint! I’m sure they weren’t putting you down because you’re black. As for professional offices, I work in one (attorney’s office) and NO ONE is addressed in those terms either. Peace baby!

I am a black person in America who watched this show with family and friends who were all disappointed with this documentary. The show seems to only tell the same stories that you will find in any “Black” movie. CNN had the opportunity to show black people in a truly positive light at the beginning of the presentation but chose to skim over the successful family with the 5 college student/graduate children. They showed the home of the single mother being evicted, the single father on welfare being evicted, but when they talked about the successful family they just showed them walking through the hood. Right now that is the side of the black family that America needs to see. This special was advertised as finding out what it truly is to be black in America. They missed the mark.

We are not all an episode of the Cosby show but there are families out there that are similar and it is what we should be pushing to become.

With that said… At least CNN is trying…

Missed the show last night, but as a passionate hair-stylist (Black) I’m not afforded the opportunity of owning a salon in the up-scaled area in the city I live in because racism is truly live and well-known. In the majority of the beauty schools here, one is taught mainly how to fix caucasion hair and is the _ONLY required to perform those basics to earn a license. So for us to be deprived of opening our dream businesses in certain areas are unfair just because our skin color happens to be such a rich and highly desired color. Unless one was born into a somewhat financial family, their minds are thought by others to only be of lower or NO moral standards. WE need to have these closed and locked doors opened AND it needs to be done NOW

Mary said: “as a passionate hair-stylist (Black) I’m not afforded the opportunity of owning a salon in the up-scaled area in the city I live in because racism is truly live and well-known. In the majority of the beauty schools here, one is taught mainly how to fix caucasion hair and is the _ONLY required to perform those basics to earn a license. So for us to be deprived of opening our dream businesses in certain areas are unfair just because our skin color…”

I am wondering what city in America you live in. I live near NYC, and my wife, who is black, gets her hair done at a very upscale place in the “upscale” upper west side of Manhattan by an African woman in a black owned salon. They charge hundreds of dollars to do someone’s hair (which is the reason my wife can only go there on occasion). Secondly, you make it sound like a white hair stylist graduates school, and then is magically handed a salon of her own. That just ain’t how it works! If you have the money and the skill, at least in NYC (and I am guessing most cities in America), you can get your own salon, if you have the funds and the ability (the same as anyone else). Furthermore (and I know this from personal experience), black women tend to spend a great deal of money on their hair, so if one specialized in that they should make a very good income.

Maybe I missed what you were trying to say, but the above is what it sounded like to me.

Great job presenting the information on being black in America. I think the program was well written and very informative.

Thanks for doing a wonderful job of portraying all different aspects of life for black people in general.

Keep up the great work.

Im glad that cnn did this, I always thought cnn was racist.

@N, I guess I would say that the program didn’t reinforce stereotypes as much as confirm stereotypes. If the black dropout rate is more than 50%, then most blacks are dropouts. If the black illigitimate birth rate is 70%, the most blacks are born into single family homes. If one third of black males are in prison, then black males are much more likely to be in prison than any other ethnic group. It’s not a steroetype if it’s true. Someone above asked what’s next? Good question. Will blacks assume personal responsibility for their choices like Bill Cosby has been saying for years, or keep blaming slavery, an institution that died 7 generations ago? After watching the program last night, it seems to me that 95% of racial inequities are self induced by poor choices, and 5% are true racial bias.

I watched the first half of the documentary of “Black in America” and honestly I am shocked that anyone is finding this information groundbreaking. These are the same issues repackaged and put back on the shelf as a new and improved model. I understand that within 4 hours you can only do but so much but haven’t wasted enough time talking about interracial marriages, the dating options for single black women, high school drop out rate, the increasing prison population among minorities, etc…… In 40 years things have changed, we need to start having a relevant conversation to the issues of today such as the disconnect the church and the black family is having as it deals with domestic violence, the war between the “old guard” and the “new guard” of the civil rights movement, why are our neighborhoods being broken apart and sold off into strip malls and condominiums that we can’t afford? There are so many issues and I understand truly that within the meduim you are working with you can only shine a light into the darkness. I hope that this documentary will start the coversation that needs to go further.

Hats off to CNN, Soledad and others for covering this most important topic. It has caused us all to have conversations, even it is just through the blogs. My hope is that in the near future they will take it to the next level where some of the omissions can be discussed.

I watched the show last nite and one thing I do not understand is why
so many black women have so many kids. I am married with 2 kids/make a decent living and still struggle. How in the world do these
moms expect to survive with so many kids and no dads in the house?
It doesn’t work that way.

I watched last night show about “Black Women & Family”. I was shocked to hear that some black women are still looking for their “IBM”. I was just recently married in May to a white man. Before I met him, I made a list of all the qualities that I wanted in a mate, and none them included skin color. It saddens me that we are continually talking about having equal rights and opportunies at our white counter parts, but yet they aren’t good enough to date or marry. A man is man regardless of his culture and racial background. I think that women should take a step back and look at the qualities that matter most instead of focusing their attention on one thing. This doesn’t make us any better than those people who wouldn’t give our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents a chance because they were black.

I noticed comments about the issues of our society being black and white. If anything they are becoming more and more grey every day. Look at Obama, he really cannot be consider black nor white, but grey. Soledad O’brien as well, the commentator for this segment. Tiger Wood for instance. I could go on and on with popular names, that are grey. We need to learn embrace these individuals and everyone, for who they are and not attempt to identify them by their skin color. Everyone has something to offer to society no matter where you come from or what your ethinicity.

I am happy that CNN is attempting to help us understand the lives of the typical black American. This information is good. I do wonder though if the typical black American knows what it is like to be white. If they got images from television shows then they might have foggy views of our reality as well. I doubt there will ever be a documentry called “White in America” but I appreciate CNNs attempt at education.

I quit watching TV years ago and I feel I’m much better for it. There is a problem though…I never know what anybody else is talking about anymore. It seems as if no one has a life . You all are either watching TV or talking about what you saw on TV. Either way, I don’t have a clue. But I do know this, a whole bunch of you watchers can’t think independently anymore. I have found out , in modern America, most people who claim to be a victim of an “ism” , whether race or what ever, were treated badly not because of their race or whatever, they were treated badly because they behaved badly. This America is not a racist nation, but we have racist, but far to few to be responsible for much of anything. Its a matter of personal responsibility for your own actions. Racism seems to be a crutch to lean on when you need an excuse for your own actions.

It is productions like this that cause many of the problems people of color think they have. I have freinds of other races and it’s not even a question or a topic of conversation. Only people that have fears to hide even bother to think about it, white or black.
What really causes problems is the attitude that you are owed something because you have colored skin and if you point that out you are a racist pig. Can you imagine the uproar if someone wanted to do “white in America” or wanted a “white history month? CNN in Atlanta would probably get blown up!lol
The monocolored racists and the colored people like me (pink in the spring, brown in summer and white in winter) have to realise that the color you are is a non-topic and sure as blazes isn’t a reason for your problems. My proof can be found any week on a tv show called 48 hours. The detectives are black and white. They work together, they depend on each other and most of all they respect each other. That is the real world. What you people want to say is it’s not like that and I think your wrong. Another thing about that show is the crimes are usually black on black.
The whole production is an insult to all Americans and blacks more than anyone else.

You know one of the things i keep hearing from people is, “Why aren’t black people taking responsibility for themselves?” The real questions should be, “Why aren’t white people taking responsibility for what they have done and are still doing?”
I am a white woman who has almost always been poor. I have dated black men and have seen first hand how they are treated by white people. I have heard first hand the prejudice remarks, the anger in peoples eyes because I was dating out of my race, the way that white people look at black people, etc. I know the statistics of how many black men who are imprisoned.
It breaks my heart to think that even though we have come along way from the days of Dr. King, but we still have a LONG way to go and we, as white Americans owe it to the black community to come together and find a way to heal. We need to step up to the plate and start making the changes that would put us all on the same playing field. Hasn’t there been enough racism in our country? We need to start the healing process TODAY!

I have not seen the documentary but judging from the comments, I’d say it sounds like it only serves as an introduction to the black experience in America. I would like to watch every episode of it before I can make my own conclusions but I like the fact that someone is doing something other than complain angrily behind closed doors about the race issue. Being born and raised in Africa, racism was somewhat irreal;not an everyday issue for me and my family.As I grew older and looked at the world as a global village, the reality became very personal and I have to say that if and when America changes for the better, then the impact will be felt all over the world.

Fran: You are absolutely correct in your comments. I did not see the show but would like to know what if anything positive came out of it.

The truth of the matter is we are no closer to reconciliation then we were 40 years ago. As long as race is the issue someone will feel violated. 40 years ago it was the african americans. Today we have open dialouge about it and everyone feels like the have the worse end of it. Every race thinks every other race should just get over it. The fact is humans see in color… untill we all (black, white , latino, asian. arab etc…) learn to be color blind and not see the color of somones skin, we are all screwed.

I might be related to the Rand Family!

When the program was coming on my 9 years old son and I noticed the last name on the head stone as “McElroy” which is my last name. I know it is not an uncommon name, but it is if your black such as myself. As the program progressed I saw the story about Miss Fiola McElroy and the loss of her son which touched me very much. Between my mother and I we are heavy into geneology and seek opportunities to connect with family. CNN along with the Rand family we may be on to something. I would love to hear from producers or even a member of the Rand Family in case there is a connection.

Aside from the possible family connection, hats off to CNN for airing such an indept and heartfelt program that tells our story and maybe lays to rest some assumptions and stereotypes.

As a white guy watching the show I gotta say I didn’t see anything new. I see a lot of successful Black families and young Black professionals working their way up the latter…. there should have been more focus on that. CNN focuses on the negative. There are a lot of poor white families that make the same mistakes as poor black ones. The problem comes from bad/neglectful parenting and I don’t know how to solve that one.

Nothing is going to change (big generalization coming!) until black people stop viewing todays whites as privileged ex-slave owners, whites stop viewing blacks as lazy and BOTH black and white people take accountability for the state we are in today and stop blaming each other.

When will people just stop focusing on race. This is stupid! I think people of all races should stop whining and acting like idiots. If you keep stoking the fire and keep focusing on “black this” and “black that”, we will never make progress. If you want the world to stop focusing on someone’s skin colour, then stop referring to the colour all the time. Let’s just refer to ourselves as PEOPLE and drop this whole “Black” and “White” thing! … it is getting VERY old!

If we all (white, black, and whatever race) can agree that there are problems in our society, and agree to work on these problems together, this documentary will be well worth the effort.

This conversation is long overdue? African-Americans have been talking about their lives forever and a day. We know our strengths and weaknesses - the TRUTH!! Whites need to be brought into this convesation and educated because so many of them still believe that they are superior and that all Black people are poor and that all Black people steal, that Whites are pure and that Blacks are evil. It’s really amazing how fear and lies have ruled the white community for as long as racism has existed. I resent the fact that African-Americans have always had to put things lightly when talking to Whites about racism when whites are the ones who implemented the practice and have commited unspeakable acts violence towards the Black community. It’s time for Whites to stop being afraid to talk about their history and their past and their major role in all of this. They have to stop acting like slavery and racist violence never existed. They have to stop being afraid to face the truth about themselves!!! This is the conversation that is long overdue!!!!

As we continue to discuss our triumphs, trials, and tribulations has anyone considered that this programming could be targeting White America? I briefly read through some of the blogs, and most of the feedback appears to be from people of color. Soledad O’Brien tried to “wake-up” white America with her reporting on Katrina, and I’m thinking she’s still trying to get and keep their attention to what’s going on in this country. As difficult and as painful as it is to watch, repetition of our stories just may have an impact someday soon. I’m prayful.

I wish CNN would do a documentary on what is happening in Rural America. We don’t all live in the city and face a much bigger crisis with Black Land Loss. There are several major lawsuits against the USDA involving discrimination.

I am hopeful that our leaders in Congress will address some of the actions against minority farmers in denying operational loans. Soledad is doing a great job and we all know her hands are tied. I commend CNN for taking a stab it and invite you to see what is going on with the crisis in Rural Black America. What could be revealed is nothing less than shocking!

I have to say that the “Black in America” series should be titled “Poor in America” the issues and topics in the shows are not unique to black people and I faced many of them growing up poor and Italian in Boston. We have a wealth disparity in America and it transcends all skin tones. I think it’s silly to make some kind of assertion that being other than black comes with some advantage. Poor is poor and hardship is hardship. It serves nobody to subdivide and categorize our struggles or to insinuate that being white comes with some sort of advantage. I grew up poor and I will testify that nobody came to my door handing out anything. Our pain is the same and we are all victims of the same broken system.

The media needs to start with the racial tension healing. Because you guys is 90 percent responsible for racial tension in this country. You portray blacks in the media in a negative light almost all the time. You barely show the positives in our communities and the successes we have displayed!! Corporate and institutional racism is what tears this country apart and until this stop, we will continue to have this conversation about black america!!

Bravo Tom from CT. Good post.

I saw my experience in this country briefly when the Rand family was introduced, including the focus on the family with the 5 college educated kids. I wanted to see how the emergency room doctor lives. How did he “make it?” I wanted to see how the committed and dedicated Harvard professor lives but CNN only briefly showed his background story. Where are the sororities, fraternities, the social organizations (Jack and Jill, The Links, etc.) , the professional organizations and its members (Black doctors, lawyers, accoutants, dentists, etc.)? How about the HBCU’s and their successful graduates? To be fair, there are so many facets to being Black in America but what I saw last night did not reflect my families’ or my friends’ lives.

the documentary was a joke. “groundbreaking”? how?

what needed to be done is investigate WHY the black community still wants to be segregated yet, have “equal rights” and still be considered “just an American”. WHY the majority of black people think it’s ok to use the n-word (it’s a cultural thang…it’s “ours” now….) why dog-fighting is deemed acceptable in some communities (it’s a cultural thang….)

guess what? we ALL live in the same world, it’s up to the INDIVIDUAL to decide if they want to participate, to see BEYOND skin color, or stay and continue perpetuating stereotypes. your choice.

as the great Dave Gahan once sang…

“People are people, so why should it be, you and I should get along so awfully. “

Ok Moderator, you will probably omit my comment again so I won’t talk about the host Anderson Cooper, though I would have LOVED to hear him answer that question. I have nothing against the guy, I rarely watch AC360, I was just curious. It’s a question that usually only posed to black people so it would be interesting to see a white guy answer it.

I have to agree with several others about my reservations regarding what this documentary was going, perhaps because I do watch lots of P.B.S, documentaries and discussions on other news programs likes C-Span (am I allow to mention other networks?), read articles in magazines for people of color that I figured what in the world could this documentary add. However I have to realize that because I’m black, and a bit of a news junkie, I pay attention more, so for those that don’t pay attention to blacks, people of color, or only have been exposed to one aspect of our story, I think that this was informative for them. I do think however like most documentaries they just present the problems, and there perhaps needs to be a merging like someone else said of all races coming together to talk about our individual cultures to have an understanding where we all are coming from as Americans. I also have to agree, can we please have a balance between the impoverished and the successful? They both exist but there are successful, happily married black couples who have legitimate children out there that did not grow up in government housing.

The Black in America special is wonderful; I’ve learned a lot just from the first part and am looking forward to the second part. Soledad is a great reporter and does wonderful documentaries - I think this one is her masterpiece. She has given us so much to think about and exposed so many facets of the problems people of color face even today - hopefully this has started a dialog that will result in action to level the playing field for all of us.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

In regards to the condition of the black man in America, the economic disparity in ths country between poor people, and the upper classes forced many poor black families to go on public assistance. The system did not allow the family to receive financial aid if the man was in the household. The woman became the head of household, and the man was pushed into the background.

In the interest of fairness — a la, the “fairness doctrine” that so many people seem to think is a good idea — I trust that CNN will find an employee, maybe Lou Dobbs, to do a series on what it’s like to be “White in America.”

If you think that smacks of racism, then explain tome the difference. While you’re at it explain to me the why this double-standard is okay. Blacks can freely express their intent to vote for Senator Obama based in very large part because he is black, but when I have said that I will have to vote for Senator McCain because he is white like me, people’s jaws hit the floor and they are shocked at my insensitivity. And please don’t tell me it is ok because they want to be a part of history in helping to vote in the first black president.

I think Dr. King would be ashamed of the situation we are in today. Remember, he believed in judging people by the content of the character and not the color of their skin. Is that what we are doing?

My wife and I–both white–have adopted and are raising our African-American granddaughter. We are spending $15,000 a year, which we find very hard to afford, to send her to a private school. Why? So she can be around brown and black people of achievement. Unfortunately, those are almost exclusively the kids of immigrants from Asia and Africa. African-American children in our local public schools tend to be imbued with all the tropes of modern black culture–sullen attitudes, bling, violent hip-hop music, poor language skills, and–above all–the feeling that academic success is somehow not authentically black. African-Americans in this country are commiting cultural suicide in slow motion. My daughter/granddaughter is being kept well away from these cretins.

I am watching the second night of the Special on being Black in America. Although the special discusses the Warrens life style, it is a story of partial success with a return to the same stereotypes that have characterized Blacks and Black men. I understand the realities of life, having been raised in New York and the Bronx. But I also know that life does not have to take you down the paths you describe and that there are many out here that have found their path to American success. The major failing of the special is the overall premise, that you can easily describe, in any manner, the notion of being Black in America. The documentary fails to help the mainstream audience understand the diversity of the blacks in this country. This is a major failing and I found that Soledad and the producers overlooked an issue that we Blacks need to better understand. The culture of the inner city is so very different than the culture of the suburbs. The culture of the middle class is so very different from the culture of the lower class or super rich. Jamaicans, differ from Haitians and from Africans.

But the show did what the mainstream audience does - it lumps all Blacks into one bucket rather than demonstrating that the diversity is the same as the diversity of the white mainstream. My dissappointment with the show was that it did little if anything to break the stereotypes that the mainstream culture has of Blacks and even worse, it did little if anything to provide an image of the Black progressives that is so desperately needed by our Black youth. I am affraid that an attempt was made to tell the world the story of Blacks in America. The reality is - it was the same old story - giviing little hope to one that watches. And intersplicing bits of success in a flood of tragedy. Soledad where are the success stories that I can share with my 15 year old Black daughter living here in massachusetts apart from the community you so readily share. Tell me Obama’s story. Tell me Colin Powell’s story. Tell me Clarence Thomas’ story.

But the same old thing - I expected more.

I think the thing that’s missing is more analysis of the root causes of why the Black community has this gap in performance - some folks doing really well, others not so well. Also, there isn’t much or enough historical context on the impact of slavery, jim crow, segregation and institutional racism. Much of what I see is reinforcing negative stereotypes - I think the series could have been much more balanced. There are so many positive stories of strong Black families - I wish CNN had shown more of these familes who rarely get any visibility. The media always shows the worst and rarely the best.

Folks, our comments are all over the place, yet within the confines of a narrow doctrine. I think the one thing that white America should understand is that we are very thankful to God for being a member of the original man on the planet Earth. This statement of condition is very powerful even if the majority of black folks don’t know, don’t care, or reject it. This speaks directly to the power that we have but do not excersize. How in the world is the tail wagging the dog? A lie has been planted in our educational system that ripples through our daily lives. Unless we can come to grasp the concept of controlling the means of production, we will always be at the feet of another people trying to figure out what’s wrong with us.

This has been a good series. One major oversight in the area of blacks and jobs: Few employers dare to admit this, but one of the main reasons, almost as powerful as a criminal record, that employers do not hire blacks is because of threat of discrimination charges in the event that it doesn’t work out and the person has to be disciplined or terminated. A few years ago I was in a refreshingly honest meeting between employers (about 20) and black leaders (about 20), and this was by far the biggest reason employers hesitated to hire blacks. The threat of interminable litigation in the event it doesn’t work out. Too big of risk. Yet another example of the law of unintended consequences. Less hiring of blacks is hardly what we thought would be the main consequence of anti-discrimination laws.

Hotep my peoples,

The Producer BLACK or WHITE????

We were having strong debate over whether the producer of Black in America was Black or White - (which has brought me to this webpage). The truth is, as Black students, friends and family, we could not understand how the documentary was so superficial. This documentary managed to gloss over the U.S. racial issues with a soft neat brush -too much to even begin to explain here.

We tried taking into account the agenda of those behind the documentary, their presentation style, their choice in statistics and a host of other factors.

Ultimately, some said a White person must have done this because they don’t know much about complex Black issues.

In opposition, it was said that a Black person did it -But the kind of Black person who has looked at RACE mostly as an incidental fact and not as something to be taken under too much consideration. A Black person who has lived, continues to live with and operate in mostly White circles.

I personally believe the latter -A Black person made this.

The message of the documentary has been
Racism exists, yeah its bad…but you know its not really that bad.

Hotep,
Nga.M’nhotep

It’s now almost 10:15 on the second night of the special. And although I sent one critical comment that I doubt will be posted, I am motivated to send yet another. This late in the program, like the back pages of the newspaper, your program discusses the Black corporate player. It is odd that ALL of the successful Black men mentioned prior to the discussion of Malcolm, they worked for or were supported by the state in some way. The Warrens - the primary success story work for the school system and judicial branch. Other men displayed were in the hands of state prisons or in schools. I too am in marketing, male and work for large companies. Malcolm’s story validates the light skin Black stereotype. Unfortunate but true.

10:20 - Malcolm says - “I can only show up for work every day and prove myself.” Soledad too bad my 15 year old daughter, educated, articulate, well cared for by her single Black father is upstairs in bed. This was the message that I would have wanted her to see. The segment was short - could have been missed. But in that segment we say the ray of hope that will bring us out of this tragedy. The voice of a Black man that has been trained to compete in the world he lives in.

Soledad says the begative images are everywhere - CNN has done little to change that. Better luck next time. I do hope there is a next time.

Why not do a show on being white, hispanic or asian in America?
I invite anyone who wants to know how it feel to “Be black in America” to try 200 years of enslavement and daily discrimination.Give black folks a break-My God they deserve one!
Wishing and hoping in the land of the free!

Ms. O’brien:
I have watched much of the program that you and your team have done on being Black in America and I must say; You all have done an outstanding job! I think this was a well researched, well thought out and very well presented work.

I hope this serves as both a standard and a opportunity for other networks to do this kind of research and work.

Keep up the great work!

I’m glad that this subject was discussed and will air again throughout the night and into the morning. I appreciate that we are being discussed, the good and the not so good, the depiction that many of our people do not want aired, but live daily. For those of you who were offended or felt that the story was a poor representation, your voice was heard and I respect you. Years ago, I would have been angry and hurt by many of the comments on that I’ve read. But, I’m alright with hearing others anger and disappointment. Hope it gets better.

CNN were do you go from here? You’ve taken on an obvious painful and powerful subject, that will be under attack. I think you’ve depicted a painful reality. A suggestion if you continue with this discussion, interview single mothers, our fatherless children, youth, adults, and the wise and let their voices be heard.
It is my hope that much positive will come from this show BIA.
Monica

I think the coverage Soledad did was surficial but glad at least some of the most threatening factors were uncovered. My brothers, in a predominately white area, were wrongly identified by a little white boy on a school bus, as carrying a gun. The little boy told a police officer at the school and the officer just took the word from the boy and searched my brothers in front of the entire school. My brothers are preppy and light skinned, and are Christians. It is just something that constantly happens to us black people. The principal apologized, but the damage was done. It is frustrating that when you explain stories like these to non-blacks, especially whites, they act like racism, discrimination, and hatred are still not a part of America, but it is. I wish they could understand us, because we’ve spent an eternity trying to understand them and fit in and assimilate into white America just to progress to the heights they have made on the free labor black people gave over 400 years due to slavery. There are so many other stories I can tell, but this is the reality for us, the reason we need reparations.

What I saw these last two nights was the same old thing from the white media. Why was Tara Walls in the conversation? She is a sambo she is not embraced by the African American Community because she chooses not to engage with the African American Community, because her face is black that dose not make her a spokes person concening The African American Community. The black actor who was on the Cosby Show why was he in the conversation? This is an actor who is familar because he was on a black sitcom, this is amazing. Charles Barkley in a joke this is who CNN goes too to speak on Black Men in American, this is laughable. This side show was for white consumption. This proves that African American People must take control of how we are protrayed and presented in the media because we get crap like this that is one sided and hyped. The fact that most successful African Americans are not married to white people, I quess the mostly white viewers did not want to see that. The black families who fight for their children every day and survive with positive results, didn’t fit into what CNN wanted to protray . There was not one African American husband and wife highlighted on the show African Americans are not marrying white people stop it please. What was presented was the only way an African American can be happy in marriage is to marry white, that was disrespectful and distored and diliberate. . Tyler Perry the film maker who makes films for the AA audience, right there in Atlanta, I quess that was the part of the story that did not want to be told. When Soledad says the Singer Seal is a R&B singer that says what ever the purpose of this program was it wasn’t to tell the African American story. I am disappoint, but not surprise and now tomorrow black people will have to go to their jobs and have to hurt some white co-workers feelings when that co-worker attempts to explain the African- Americam community based on this typical white hype trash.

CNN, LaNeice, Soledad, Anderson….etc., let me first start by saying, “hats off” to all that have worked on this piece. Whereas, every issue was not portrayed, elaborated, featured, highlighted, etc. regarding Black America (nor could it be)… it was a START to putting some of the core issues back on the table. I agree, that many of these core issues are not pleasant or flattering; I also agree that there are some incredibly positive trends that were not focused on, or expounded upon as well. However, it was a catalyst for “discussion,” which MANY news media would “care less” to invest the time and/or effort to approach, or let alone present a two part series on. So, “kudos” to CNN for their efforts and Soledad was really outstanding; she deserves real recognition for outstanding reporting in this series.

Secondly, a few points of criticism: first, this disparity and criticism of “skin tones” in black society and in American society in general, I believe CNN is NO exception. It’s real…take a look at the African-American reporters that you present ‘on camera?’ So, that “real,” even subconscious issue, is even represented on your TV station (an many others) and unfortunately, IS a long-standing issue in our community. Secondly, why put the “adversarial” African Americans on like ultra, conservative Tara Wall and well documented “self-hater,” of his own “blackness,” like Armstong Williams on to DISCUSS “Black in America?” That was like an “oxymoronic” joke and truly counterproductive to genuine conversation that should occur, after such a genuine documentary. Bad move…

Otherwise, I truly applaud the efforts and hope that if you do a part 2 (and you should already be working on it!), that you concentrate on some of the other issues that were not focused on like the large middle class experiences, the huge rates of black entrepreneurialship (which you mentioned, but did not expound upon), the historical relationships of black strife in this country as it relates to today’s issues, the younger generation and their changing attitudes, etc. Overall, great job!

I think that it is about time that we scratch the surface and dig deeper with this subject because there is plenty of deepth to the issue of being black and how our mindsets are, how we live against the odd, our relationship and black men veiw black women, the whole kitt and kiboutle. Please make a every week show on this. to reach our youth so that they can be enlighten, and enriched with this knowledge.

History of America- Students are Not learning the true history of america, the african american history- Black inventors, painters, doctors, etc. I believe schools have failed alot of students by not giving them the success of African-americans. Students need to know were they come from, and that a blackman was first to preform open-heart surgery, build building, invent many things we use today like shoes, act in well known movies and tv shows, and more. White americans will always say get over it.. It Will not happen.. because they just dont understand and never will..
We are damaged by not knowing where we come from, our past. It’s hard to understand where your going if your don’t know where your from.

I am glad this show is airing and in some parts of the country I am sure it is true. I am from a town that has always been black and white equally. WE are probably considered lower middle class (which means we earn under $150,000 per year. I have to say that I feel that there is white discrimination here. Even at a drive through restaurant, if a black person is working, you will hear a greeting and look and sure enough it is a black person in the car ahead , but when I go up and say hello, thank you, etc. I get a blank stare and my change. I think children (teens) get confused as all color teens do, and think all whites are the enemy…u know that my grandparents were immigrants from Italy and my mom died still thinking she wasn’t good enough or pretty enough. They were poor Italians; big family; one income. Maybe the issue isn’t color, but the amount of money people have to better themselves; ie educate; get out of the poor areas

Thank you Soledo and CNN for addressing the issues and concerns we face everyday of our lives. Some people think it is so easy to just go to college and to have a successful career. But it is not that easy for Black people. If with or without educational experience we are sometimes not given the job or the same pay rate as our white employees. This special enlighten me to do stay motivated in my education and to continue to stay involved in my son’s life. I can’t express enough Thank you’s to everyone who worked on this project. It was a project that has been long overdue. I just pray this will open our eyes to help our youth to be strong and motivate about their future.

This programme is excellent. To me it seems long overdue.
I’m a Scotswoman married to a West African. At present we live in England, but have moved around a bit, and spent 17 years in West Africa.
We have 3 grown-up sons, now living in different parts of the world and doing okay.
Many of the issues covered in the programme are relevant to us too - white v black issues and stereotypes are widespread.
When we were students (we met at university), Martin Luther King was my hero, and I have always been passionate about human rights issues. I found it disheartening how slow change was in coming - meaningful change - and how patchy. it is
We have to keep striving to overcome the dead weight of inertia, of lack of understanding, and of the negative effects of unthinking habit and of powerful vested interests.
But change does happen - and programmes like this should help to make it be change for the better. It’s another inch in the right direction.

I thought the documentary was very informing. As an educator in a rural school, I do all I can to encourage all students, especially our black males to graduate from high school and college to become productive citizens. It is imperative that someone stands in the gap and talk against the many stereotypes there are against our black boys. The documentary hit some pretty tough areas and gave good insight on the thought processess and the stress of being a young black man. I did have an issue with one young man in the San Quentin Prison. It wasn’t that he did not have someone telling him to do right, I truly beleive he choose the path he walked. Many parents may not know how to encourage their children, but I guarantee there was someone telling this young man that another way exsisted and that he did not have to get involved with a life of crime. All parents want the best for their children no matter what background they live in.

I truly believe the media portrays these negative images that have painted negative portayals of blacks around the world. I beleive it stems from slavery and the mindsets that are still prevalent in 2008. This show should be seen by all and brought to CBS, NBC, AND ABC. Mainstream America should see this. The only problem would be that many people with biases would be in denial.

This is an issue that needs to be fixed and the descendants of those that have implemeted this bias should attempt and support to do all things to make it right.

I am overwhelmed at the documentary. My husband insisted that our family watch it together. We have two teenaged girls and a seven year old son (who didn’t pay that much attention). Both segments were enlightning as well as stirring. The rap music segment was heaven sent for me because I had been trying to show my girls the kind of influence and message that music was sending. They had dialogue with my husband about an hour after the documentary was gone off and I stood back to watch a miracle take place.

Soladad O’Brien and all of CNN, you deserve the highest honor and the highest reward for this documentary. It was well put.

Oh my! Did I offend someone with my comments yesterday, or did you determine they were not appropriate? I guess you are biased in who has a voice unless you agree with what is said. Go figure! My point is that there is no body in the USA that is not aware of “black issues”. But why does it deserve such media exposure and attention? I’m personally glad that some in the black community are doing well as a result of their strength and ambition. It’s a damn shame the majority of them can’t change their ways and adopt more positive measures. Well, I guess I won’t be watching Lou Dobbs or Anderson Copper anymore since I’m boycotting what use to be my favorite news source, CNN!

all i want to know is: when will i be able to purchase this documentary? i plan on opening a wonderful after-school recreation center one day, so i’ve been collecting thought provoking documentaries. i need this in my collection so that i can try to make the difference the only way i know how: by talking about it with our future leaders. if and whenever this is going to go to dvd, i’d like to be notified as soon as possible. great work, and i am so proud of soledad for her sympathetic, understanding, yet unbiased approach.