Being Black in American has been paved by historical and present social and political policy. Everyone speaks of solutions while avoiding how the problems began. For instance Black females have always been forced into the position of head of the household this started during slavery when the family by law could be divided and inventory needed to be increased. When welfare was offered to African American Women during the 1960's it required that no male be present in the home again creating the female headed household.

My point is if solution are truly the goal, then true insight into how these conditions have evolved must be examined there is a beginning to every situation. Without such true insight the question will forever remain "What are the solutions?"

I am of the baby boomer generation and I can tell you that I am disappointed and somewhat discouraged. Not by the program but this overwhelming feeling that my generation has dropped the baton and our legacy will be that we are the generation the FIRST generation that caused a regression. We benefited from being the ones who participated in sitins, work stoppages, etc but we hurt our Black family structure by not living up to our marital commitments, not marrying and staying married, not putting away the pot, crack, etc and not living the lessons learned in all those church studies that we rebelled against because we were "free". This freedom carried a huge price tag and we are paying it. We bought into white America's lie that we should abort our babies, love whoever we wanted, smoke what we wanted. We forgot the lessons of our forefathers that put such value and emphasis on fidelity, community, and religion. We bought into a lie and now we are reaping a whirlwind. An answer to some of this: no free ride (welfare money) unless you attend parentng classes taught by Black teachers who can empathize but lead; putting more money in education and programs for young offenders. Giving financial (tax) incentives to companies (and remove tax incentives for locating outside this country) who hire inner city workers but have those workers spend 2 or 3 hours a week in class upgrading their math and writing skills.

Very interesting talking points; I found your comment "the challenges and opportunities that African Americans face are the same ones available to and confronting Americans from all walks of life" extremely poignant.

Today, people from all walks of life and all races have the ability to make the right choices, overcome obstacles, practice responsibility and display self respect; by creating a culture where nothing less is tolerated, change can begin.

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to change the past and the unjust treatment of good people; since we are not promised tomorrow, we can only do our best today which is what self respect is all about.

Martin Luther King would be ashamed of Obama.

They have Different Dreams and expectations.

Rev King would not be Proud of those using Race against others, and for Seperating with the African-American Stanza. Rev King would see that as self segregation.

Rev King was honorable, yet firm. Rev King Believed in the American Dream for all. Rev King wanted mutal respect for all.

While I was certainly impressed on how the series Black in America was delivered. I have to ask what portion of other races, cultures, etc had tuned in? I believe that it would be very beneficial for all us as a people to hear from all of us on this subject of being Black in America. If we are going to have a serious discussion, about race, let's truly discuss. While I applaud the efforts of getting national and international view points from African Americans, they are preaching to the choir, all Balck Americans know and understand the state that we are in, no matter where we fall on this vast spectrum. I would like to hear from other their beliefs, thoughts, and opinions on this subject we are not going to break barriers without serious dialogue.
Also please know that the State of Black America is not easily fixed and what ails us is a direct mirror of the sum total of all Americans, so it is time to begin to cure the ailments that effect the least and the most of us.

Its amazing when you think about it. If not for the JFK airlift of Africans from Kenya to attend schools in America, of which Barack's dad was one. Then it is somewhat unlikely that the next president of the united states of america would be bi-racial. As a Harvard graduate Obama Sr. made it possible for his american born son to get into Harvard thru the 'legacy' route; it was the same for Ted Kennedy, though Obama Jr was a significantly better scholar. As to Barack becoming the president of the Harvard Law Review, we cannot ignore that the qualifications for being awarded that position had been changed several years earlier; it had gone from being awarded to the student with the highest academic grade to a half-academic and half-popular vote. Blacks at Harvard had been making inroads to the Harvard Law Review long before Barack ever came along, Obama might want to give credit to those who opened doors at Harvard for him.
Today we now understand the obama-kennedy relationship and why Ted Kennedy is against Hillary as vp as well as all the kennedys lined up to support Barack and Caroline is a member of his vp vetting group.

Its a lovely day, I think I'll go over to the park and read a book on the african american impressionist artist Allan Freelon.

What a great program and should be required viewing in all schools. This is a conversation that has needed to take place for many years. As a black married mother of biracial children, this is a topic that is never far from my thoughts, because one of my two children is male and even though it is difficult being black in America no matter your gender there are no words for how difficult it is to be a black male anywhere in the world.

Shawna Moon-Torres

This series is quite an accomplishment and hats off to Soledad O'Brian and all responsible for the sensitive yet informative dialogue that has been long overdue....interesting to me due to the fact that I am a Canadian First Nations and many of the same struggles that have been shared along with the triumphs, have been felt and experienced here in Canada by many of our peoples. The reconciliation is so key to complete healing however until educating individuals all aspects of life including the poverty, lack of education, lack of parenting (& skills), lack of self-esteem, lack of self-pride and a true sense of acceptance and belonging can we begin to truly heal, understand and accept. It would be interesting to see if a follow-up would be considered by the major players and stakeholders to see how such a great educational program has reached enough individuals to stand up and make a difference as so with so many good "vehicles" of communication there never appears to be a solid follow-up and result in good acting planning. Thank you.

As a Harvard graduate Obama Sr. made it possible for his american born son to get into Harvard thru the ‘legacy’ route

You of course forget to mention that Obama went to Columbia for undergrad. Which 'legacy' route allowed him to get into there? Silly comment.

I would like to thank you for running episode of Balck America. I am a black man, from the Republic of Rwanda but I have lived in Canada since I was a teen.
All that was said and presented seems to be right but one thing is ignored. That is culture. The backbone of every race is culture. Without a culture you are always swimming in someone else's and sooner or later you will drown.
African Americans should embrace the cultural norms of their ancestral slaves like preserving themselves until marriage, respecting men despite their economical status and sticking to having a family as a fullfilment of what makes a black culture. The problem, African Americans have been mixed up. They are both white and black. It doesn't work and will contuine to cost us. How many white people have abandoned their culture to become black? Even rap music that is hugely bought by white kids, that is where its ends. it doesn't become part of them. It is just music and they just see it as such.
Thank you!

Teles Minega

I watched your series on black in America. It portrayed the black man as not wanting to step up to the plate. It disturbed me that we are portrayed this way. Many of us want to be a part of our kids life, but many of the mothers used the kids as a wedge to control the fathers. In my own situation it got so bad that I had to just pay my support and not have anything to do with my kids. I have drove 200 miles to pick up my kids to come visit me and after I arrived she changed her mind after we had agreed. The kids didn't understand why they couldn't go, I later found out the she told them I didn't want to bring them back. This is just one instance. Many Black Men go through this and after awhile just drop out of their kids life. How much can you take? Please address this issue.

To SEAH OHIO:

So you think that Dr. King would be ashamed of Sen. Obama?????? How so? How has Sen. Obama used his race or promoted himself using his race?

Your comment shows how ignorant you are! Back when Dr. King was alive and speaking against racial hatred, there were plenty of people who HATED HIM FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASONS THEY HATE SEN. OBAMA TODAY!

We ARE NOT, at least NOT YET......... a nation that looks beyond color! We STILL JUDGE people by the color of their skin.

Sen. Obama has not as you, 'Seah' in Ohio, say 'against others'..... no one has suggested segregation.

Dr. King's Dream IS the American Dream, where "ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL" ......... GOD WILLING WE WILL SEE THIS DREAM BECOME REALITY!

@ Roy Edwards it's called the court system. You sue your ex for equal custody. Don't blame your ex for your lack of involvement because she made it difficult – you made the choice to drop out because it became too hard.

CNN didn't "make up" the people in last night's series. Brandon had 2 kids with 2 different women – neither which he takes care of – that's a fact. I'm surprised no one has addressed the mother of Brandon's baby now pregnant with twins from another man. It's sad to see this foolishness going on. This is reality and yes I'm sure this happens with other races too. We all need to be accountable for our own actions.

@EJ (USA) Barack Obama, prior to his two years at Columbia, spent two years of undergrad at Occidental College, His mother was a catalyst for Barack to always strive to work hard at everything. Naturally, his mom's & her parents contributions to his maturation get thrown under the bus. As to his entry to Columbia, have you heard of affirmative action? Mind you, I'm not saying that he wasn't a good student, its the getting in that's the toughest parts to schools such as Columbia & Harvard.

Dorothy L Brooks wrote:

"We bought into white America’s lie that we should abort our babies, love whoever we wanted, smoke what we wanted."

Most of white America never shared in those "values." White America was the principal target of the promoters of those behaviors.

Shawna Moon-Torres wrote:

"...there are no words for how difficult it is to be a black male anywhere in the world."

I assume you are including Mother Africa as one of those places that are "difficult" for black males. Are you saying that black men find it difficult to fit in the modern world? Perhaps this is the origin of the Angry Black Man.

To Teles:

You made some good points. I agree that hybrid cultures are largely dysfunctional.

However, I disagree that white kids are simply embracing black music. There is definitely some adoption of black cultural norms, albeit in a rather shallow way. Whites have also become deracinated – cut off from their roots.

Your segment on Blacks in American was a wonderful start to open dialogue about some of the very important issues that need to be discussed in the Black communities across the country. It was very thought provoking and has really stirred up a much needed conversation on a national level. As an African American woman with an advertising and public relations firm, whose primary focus is the African American market, I would like to challenge CNN to schedule some impromptu trips several major cities across the country to continue the dialogue on local levels in forums that allow your very conscious raising segment to mobilize African Americans to continue to talk and start developing an action plan for positive change.

Although it was impossible to touch on every subject of concern, it was a very good start to stimulate conversation for change. I would like to volunteer to coordinate a forum in San Antonio, Texas in hopes that you would send your team out to cover a shoot segments on CNN to start encouraging your very impactful message to continue.

GREAT START CNN!
laura thompson
san antonio, texas
lthompson@imgtx.com

My neighbor down the way is black and they moved in when I was in high school. Everyone in the neighborhood held their breath regarding their property values but they have proven to actually be very nice people.

He is an accountant and very mild, quiet and educated. His girls are now grown and they are nice too.

It is funny how these stereotypes make people react. Actually we should just react to the way people act not their exterior.

I have met people who I would not associate with because they are criminal and ignorant....they are white by the way not another nationality. Trash is in all races/cultures/creeds and we should seek to hang out with those that are good not bad.

Much like one of the guys on the special said (I am bad with names), it is a class thing more than a race thing when it comes to choosing people to socialize with...that is the right way.

For my generation Black History was not even taught in schools. The first Black History lesson I ever learned was when I watched the ROOTS series by Alex Haily on T.V. . Although I was just a child at the time, watching this changed my life. It opened my mind and made me yearn for more information about my people. In my Twenty's I attended Medgar Ever College in Brooklyn, NY. There I took my first real course in African American History. During this course my classmate and I experienced became emotional as we learned how slavery began in this county. My point is, as Black people we have to learn and honor our past, and then we can move forward with a better perspective about what we need to do for ourselves. Thus, education is the KEY, and the quality of education must include all spectrums of our history. Black kids should learn about their history as early as possible because it will provide them with a sense of pride. I can't speak for everyone, but I beleive that knowledge is power.

I had to address sean from ohio

I really dont think MLK would be ashamed at all, he's a smart man and i think he would understand that to get elected to president in america as a blackman you couldnt be a black activist, you have to be active for all people and thats what Obama is about.

I dont think you all are getting the problem. The problem is that the white people that started this country subjected us to aspects they didnt even fully understand the outcome of. Aspects like punishing or killing black people if they tried to read a book, blaming black people for crimes they didnt commit (thatll make anyone disregard police a laws), one of the worst thing I've read about in slave times was concearning slave owners who would gather all other female slaves pregnant and non-pregnant around while one pregnant female was giving birth, at the moment the baby was born the slave owner would take the baby and slam it on the ground and crush the head of the baby with the heal of his boot, that was to insteal fear into the female slaves so that they would be to scared to escape or disobey any rule. Sounds like our forefathers were just as bad as Sadame Husane or even worse. I also think there are modern techniques that provide the same effect of fear and or intimidation.
The only difference now is we understand what type of people we are
and regardless of what anyone says we'll do whatever we feel will counter the problem good or bad, unfortunately the bad things keep us imprisoned for years and the good things white people careless about. Its only the bad things about how black people are forced to live that effect white people and when it does you see police brutality and the stiffening of laws that basically only apply to black crime.

White peoples laws and ideas have created a monster and now that monster is smart in all the same ways as white people are and smarter, it can articulate better and with more power, this monster appeals to white people and black, and seemingly seems to be more fair then anyone in history regarding moving forward with improving life in the USA and this planet, that monster is named
Barrack Obama.

ROY EDWARDS, I felt that black in america, was a good step on getting folks talking, but i do feel that black fathers were shown in a negative manner, since i deal with men of all colors, from all over the world. with the same exact problem as yours, dont give up on your children if you pay support,you have rights, the department of child support services, i dont what state your in but, ask the courts for a visitation order. you also may want to contact- national coalition of free men, attorney marc angelucci

I'm white in NJ and have a couple of simple questions; How many "Blacks in America" have no roots in slavery in this country and where do they fit in . Are they able to jump on the band wagon or how do we separate them for the statistics and government programs?
Now since I'm the son of immigrants where does my family fit in this equation? I'm first generation: are we viewed as being responsible for situations that black people face or faced?

The Black in America Series is fairly informative (especially for whites) and is long overdue - but it is a HIGHLY watered-down version of the truth, revealing mostly only what white America is more comfortable viewing. The series steps all over itself and does not present a compelling picture of the all-encompassing nature of racism, discrimination, hatred nor of the physical, spiritual and PSYCHOLOGICAL violence that the black community has endured for generations - nor does it show a clear link between this omnipresent oppression and how it has FORCED many blacks into their current social, educational, economic, political and familial and MENTAL state. It leaves too much to individual interpretation and imagination because it tries to cover too much from too many different perspectives. Blacks can connect-the-dots with their eyes closed, but I'm not so sure whites can - or will - based on this series' lack of passion.

Showing Michael Eric Dyson (whom I truly respect) and his death-row brother was contrastive, but not especially revealing, except for some of Dr. Dyson's comments, as was also the case of Hugly and his son. Such cases are rife in black America. These depictions might easily be saying (to white viewers): "See they came from the same family, and one made it - it was all about choice," but being black in America is about a dearth of choices - and that is one point that the series fails to drive home.

There was barely any mention of 300 years of slavery except en passant, even though this is the fundamental basis for today's treatment of American blacks - and we hear almost nothing from whites about anything significant. We hear that blacks score lower than any group, even in undeveloped countries. The fact is that black people from ANYWHERE in the world fare better in America, (on the whole) than native-born black Americans. But this isn't discussed, either.

If CNN just wanted to get something out that is not necessarily compelling and that doesn't offend whites, they have done a masterful job. I could have created a more compelling work and I have no particular expertise in this area. Only because it's a lot better than nothing, I would give it a grade of C+.

How low down are europeans willing to go... to keep control of this country...I believe in the inner most parts of my being that Obama has been duped into making "a mistake"...it is quite obvious that europeans are laying in wait for something to use against him...he will never be accepted as a viable candiate BECAUSE he is black...it's enough to make you give up so called citizenship!!!

On the subject "Missing Fathers", where are the Fathers I kept waiting for someone to mention how the "System" is designed? The "System" is designed to keep the male out of the house! If a women has a child she can get help from the government if the man is NOT around. It is more beneficial to the woman – link card, subsidised housing, medical ibenefits.

In order to find a solution, you must go back to the origin of the problem. The system needs to be revamped. Some incentives or assistance should be given to the FAMILY not just to single moms!

I have followed your work on this very important project religiously,and i must commend your effort for a job well done.There are a couple of issues that have not been addresed in this program,which relates to segregation within the black communities in America.There is a very serious divide amongst African Americans and African immigrants who have come to regard America as home.There is so much animosity between these two groups,where African Americans tell other Black Africans to go back from the jungles they come from.This is a recurent theme at the job place,on the streets,stores and all over.This is a very serious issue that needs to be addresed.This is creating very uneasy tensions in our communities,from personal experiences.I wil very much like for this issue to be addresed,in other for us to live and grow in harmony.This will help in healing our wounds and help us share ideas in family building and most importantly,a just and humane black society in America which helps growth in values and education.

I found the program Black in America to be quite informative. I grew up middle class in Northern California. I have family and friends of all racial backgrounds. I have been in integrated environments my entire life. Neigborhoods, school, work, church, etc. It has been a way of life. My parents provided me a wonderful life. They provided my siblings a wonderful life. I grew up with a stable, intact family, involved parents who knew what was going on with my school situtation on a daily basis. Family vacations every summer, financial resources to make sure that the only question regarding college was what college I wanted to go to. I know plenty of Black people that grew up the same way I did.

I am a Black women who has a loving, beautiful, and amazing relationship with a Black man who grew up like me. I want to see more of my story. I saw a mere glimpse of it on the program. I commend the attempt to balance the success with the struggle, but there was truly a leaning towards the struggle and dispair. I feel that is what is always shown, written about, talked about, popularized in popular culture. My perpspective of the Black experience in America is largely ignored, and invisable. I have lived, and and am living a life of success, opportunity, emotional, and physical health, true diversity, and just genuine happiness. I want to see much much more of my story.

Winston Churchill referred to us as the American race. That's what we should be. Our own race made up of people from every culture, every ethnic group, every religion.

The documentatry, Black In America was very good and educational. However, I feel that it was way too short. There should have been a discussion about what was shown and how it iwas shown, plus a little more.

To me, it appeared that all of the 'successes' were by African-Americans that were light skinned, while the "screw ups" appeared to be those of a darker hue. That wasn't far. The income level went from poor to millionaires with their own businesses. Where were the $50,000 a year families?

As a pecan brown-skin gal whose great-grandmother was dark-skinned, her grandmother light-skinned and her mother dark-skinned, I know how it feels to be treated less than (and still do) because of not looking a certain way. I have felt the sting of being treated like trash by light skinned blacks and shunned by those with means. It is not a pleasant feeling.

I wish we all could look pass the racial issues that we have, but I'm not that optimistic. Because for the people that this was intended, I've noticed that it didn't help them understand.

But please note that Sabrina in Los Angeles is right. "Trash is in all races/cultures/creeds and we should seek to hang out with those that are good not bad."

The problem with this is that the folk that get the help most often are the 'trash' while the decent folk are left behind to struggle. Why? Because most often we don't have the straight hair, light eyes and light skin.

People that are HR/Personnel Directors that do the hiring in the various companies that read this, remember it is the substance that matters. Not the package. The so-called unattractive people need a job, too.

Thank you for being bold enough CNN and AC360 to enlighten America on this strong fabric of the quilt in our culture as you air Black In America. I would really like to see, Black America, think "HUSBAND" and "WIFE" and renounce the terms "baby daddy" and "baby momma". HUSBAND / WIFE means family, unity, normalcy, responsibility and wholeness. "Baby momma" and “baby daddy” means disconnect, disjointed, irresponsible, aloof, carelessness, thoughtless sex, child-bearing and not parenting. Why do SOME to Most Black American men fear being a HUSBAND but can fathom being a “baby daddy”? This fear is so much the reason why the Black American culture is in despair. Animals tend to mate without facing each other and leave litters of their reproduction to chance. I would like to see the mentality of the sexuality of Black America to rise above animal instincts to that of intelligence and forethought instead of foreplay. The pattern of family has been torn and never mended, so we adopt the terms “baby daddy/momma” to palate the dysfunction that keeps crippling the Black culture. Black America needs the complete family unit to be an even healthier contributor to society: husband, wife then children. Black in America. Nice touch. Thank you.

As usual, you Negroes are just as confused as I suspected. You still don't get it do you? Black people are DOOMED! You have been here for over 400 years and you haven't even figured out that you're not African Americans.

The White Supremacists have done a marvelous job confusing each and every one of us. Got you calling your selves something that you're not. Will we ever wake up?...

Soledad, didn't even scratch the surface of the real problems we face. She simply gave the White Supremacists an update on how well the Business of Racism (White Supremacy) is functioning.

They can rest easy and continue building more Plantations (Prisons) to house all the non-white people in the known Universe.

If Soledad wants to truly report on the problems with Black people let her look no further then the mirror. She's just as confused as the people she interviewed.

I'm going to leave you Negroes with some unsolicited information. All White people that are able to be a racist, is a racist suspect. That excludes babies and people that have either lost their mental faculties or never possessed adequate mental capacity to begin with.

Just because White people agree with you on certain issues regarding race, does not mean they are not a racist (White Supremacist) It just means they agree with you regarding that particular issue.

Please wake up!

I watched the episodes of the Black in America,every bit of it is true.Whites never abandon their culture for the blacks' culture.so what do we expect as blacks? We blacks have to be humiliated even from our own countries by the whites simply because we want to adopt the white culture so they think they are superior to Africans..Am sorry to say this but we Africans have carried ourselves in a way to give the whites a loophole to the kind of lives we are living.

There is a famous saying in swahili which states that he who abandons his culture is a slave (mwacha mila ni mtumwa)....

Africans lets respect our spouses for a good future of our kids they need a bright tomorrow!!!!

STOP COMPLAINING and take responsibility for your own actions that is part of being an adult. Stop using your race as an excuse. See the other side of things if at all possible. Family values are what is the most important factor. As a white athlete I was discriminated against due to my position even though I was faster than almost everyone else and just better. A new black coach came my Senior year and I went from all-league 2nd team to the bench for a player who had never even played football before and had no clue. The scholarship offers I had just stopped but I moved on and did what I had to do. How many blacks were promoted over whites during affirmative action? Was that close to being fair? I grew up poor and without a father and turned out just fine. My mother taught me responsibility and never looked for hand outs and did not complain. We are american not african american or french american or whatever. Have most who claim to be african american even been to Africa? Black women need to stop hating on the black men. The reason they do not want to be with you is your poor controlling bossy attitude not your skin color. Racism has totally flipped around and Black's use the race card way too much. Remember the Duke Lacrosse case? That about says it all, cry loud enough and you will be heard even though you may be wrong. That being said GO OBAMA!

As an American man of Western African, Native American and Western European descent – I acknowledge all of my heritage – I'm glad I finally decided to leave the US, for good, 10 years ago. It's been a breath of fresh air and a huge relief to not have deal with US style racism since my immigration to New Zealand.

I can go to a high end department store here without having security follow me around like I was a thief (i.e. racial profiling). And, in every resturant, shop, store, club etc. I go to I'm mostly treated very well – if I'm not it has nothing to do with my skin colour; the person is just a jerk. I know this because I've had white friends complain about the same people to me.

I would like to bring to your attention how the mostly white police force is turning young black boys into criminals. My son was accused of taking a white kid's money in the bathroom at school. The white kid lied that there were witnesses, However, it tuned out that were no witnesses. My son told me that that group of white kids didn't like him at all.

The case went to court and we had a public defender. We went through three judges because they were upset that I as the father, did not let my son make any statements to the police. The public defender did not want to bring race into the picture. She felt that the case was so weak and with no evidence, that the case wouldn't even go to trial.
However, we went from Juvenile Cout to Superior Court and my 17 year old son was charged as an adult. He was found guilty by one judge and we could not have a jury trial. And my son received a strike on his record. We filed an appeal and the appeal lawyer couldn't understand what happened himself, The appellate court upheld the decision.

I've learned since then from talking with other people that this is done all the time to black kids in juvenile court. They wind up with scars on their records, while white kids are dealt with in juvenile court and their record is clean at the age of 18.

Months later the same judge was accused by his clerk of helping the D.A. in court and telling him what questions to ask and not to ask to help convict people in court.

If there ever was a lynching, I felt we were being lynched that day in court.

O'Brien would get a "D-" on this report. Being "Black In America" is more than just the negitive side. O'Brien compiled a report for one year and all of her topics contained MORE OF THE SAME " the struggle:" How about talking about the Positive contributions that blacks HAVE made in America. This was a LAZY report and require NO investigation or reshearch on her part. In my opinion this was one of the worse programs I have ever seen on CNN. O'Brien owes the Black community an appology or a follow up series on the CONTRIBUTIONS THAT BLACKS HAVE MADE IN AMERICA. Her report was boring, long and insulting.

Greetings:

I am upset that more focus was not placed on how Black Men & Women can close the economic gap and what role "Rich Black Americans" play in the process. I am also shocked that as of 2008, Black America still does not have a clue about the creation of jobs that will enable us to assist ourselves and compete in a global economy. I am an Entrepreneur who has been trying to startup a "National Computer Company" in the airline industry, I walk alone. I am in the Venture Capital/Angel Investment community seeking funding. I have dealt with Senators, Lobbying Firms, Venture Capital Firms, and Angel Investors throughout the U.S. It truly amazes me how many of us do not even know what Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, or Lobbyists do, especially when it comes to starting companies that will enable us to compete in a global economy. What amazes me even more is the disconnect with the wealthy Black Americans and how they would rather buy big houses, diamonds, or 10 cars rather than invest in a Black Company. They treat us like the plague (my own people). You know who will hire a Black Man with a "Felony" that is trying to turn his life around, ME – The Black Entrepreneur. But first, we need to create "Black" Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors and a "Central" place that Entrepreneurs can come to receive investment from these individuals. P.S. – Thanks CNN, Soledad O'Brien, and Anderson Cooper for your hard work. Now CNN, if you could just do a story on Business Investment in the Black Community, you will really be on to something.

As an african immigrant I am grateful for the myriad of opportunities available to one in this country. Watching the Black in America documentary I cant help but sympathize with the dark effects of a lifetime of brainwashing and ill treatment not to mention the viscious cycle of ill effects of drug abuse and alcholism in the black populace . Even in the poverty across much of Africa (children holding classrooms under trees) there is not much of the burden of being made to feel sub human. So far I have been slowly absorbed into the statistics of a divorced single mother, head of household and believe me its rough but I am getting it together as much as possible to turn things around. So I wonder how much of this black situation is personal responsibility and how much is societal impact. The power to break free or remain bound lies squarely in the choices we make each day. Oh sure the minor irritations of racism and its many intriuges abound but as most immigrants believe today I sweep your store , tommorow I manage it and in future I own it . So get off your pity pots people and get it together.

As a white male in the south, I'm SICK and TIRED of being generalized. Just because I live in the south and I'm not going to vote for Obama, does that make me a racist? I've ALWAYS voted Republican because of their view on abortions and the economy. But this year every pollster says that we wont vote for Obama because were backwards hicks who are racist. But the news doesn't care, because it is known race generates ratings, which all three news stations crave over actual journalism.

Being "brown" ( indian, as from India) in North America and having grown up in West Africa (20+ years in Nigeria), i have always wondered at the reason why there is such a stark contrast between the meaning of Racism in North America Vs. in Africa.

In my opinion the answer lies in the clear difference between "racism" (dislike towards people of color) and "racial bias" (perceiving people of color in a particular way). Although i believe that there is only a small pocket of americans who are truly "racist", many of them are "racially biased" due to the portrayal of Blacks in the american media, music and sports industry. After all, this generation has grown up seeing rap/hip-hop videos and movies, where being black is potrayed as flashy cars, thugs and treating women as 'Ho's" or seeing blacks as high profile NBA and NFL atheletes. After all, how often does the media potray blacks as CEOs, Doctors, Nasa scientists etc. ? Pereception is a strong tool and this often leads to racial bias.

If you make a trip to Africa, you quickly realize that this perception of 'being black' is so different. You dont see media showcasing young men with jeans hanging from their hips, reverese baseball caps or any bling bling. You see respectable young men, treating women with respect and driving ordinary cars, leading ordinary lives.

So let us look at thr root cause of racial bias in america and let us not muddle this with racism.

- "the brown guy who is probably a doctor or a 7/11 store owner"

Thank you CNN for raising the issue. As I watched this morning, I had to disagree with the comment that Whites must only "think" positively about Blacks to improve the situation. First of all, many Whites do not see their racism. I read that in the blogs. Many do not understand that the first thoughts are those socialized by a racist system that promotes the stereotypes that keep people who are African American from achieving full equality in our society. As a high school teacher, I examine every day, often many times a day, the thoughts that rise in my mind when I see a student of color. I then choose to remember what I have been taught to think and realize that I can then imagine and promote a different idea. I talk to my students about racism and its insidious grip. I tell my students of color that it is not their fault that life is tougher for them. I encourage them to learn, stay in school, go to college, but on our faculty, there are only two teachers of color and the number of students of color is almost 50 %. What does that say about real opportunity and equal opportunity.
I wanted to see more of the women's perspective. It seems we are still very much sexist in our portrayal. Where is Black Feminist thought in this. I wanted to see in interview with Patricia Hill-Collins. We need to hear more voices of women, especially women of color. Powerful women of color who understand racism instead of refusing to talk about it.
Thanks so much for exposing our weaknesses and our strengths on this issue.

When people say "being black in America" do they mean being african-american in America? Or black human in general? Certainly the african blacks who live in America have a far different experience than what CNN is talking about. Black africans face greater discrimation from their african-american sisters and brothers than from any other race or ethnicity or group. I hope the next documentary will talk about how african-americans relate to black africans here in the US and in Africa. Mandela is not the only black african living in Africa. How about those less known?

Congratulations to Soledad for one of the most thoughtful and articulate series on this important topic and to the AC Team for their coverage. As a boomer who grew up with the many movements that continue to inform this country today ... civil rights, feminist, equal opportunity ... so much of the series and many of the articles and blogs continue to resonate with me.

As a NYC-born Puerto Rican, who has a white exterior and was married to a black man that produced a male child, I have grown up with racial bias and discrimination. I was amazed early on as a young girl how many in my own family were willing to accept a message of low expectations. I became labeled the rebel from within, which only served to fuel my passions and motivate me towards a different experience. I witnessed as my husband struggled with his heritage and attempted to pass for Hispanic. I witnessed his humiliation at being pulled over by a State Trooper while we were driving through New England for no other reason than he was driving a car late at night with a "white' woman. Ironically, my husband was a NYC Highway Patrol police officer with all the required identification. That Trooper searched him and our vehicle, and detained us for 2 hours until my husband's "status" was confirmed. Ultimately our marriage did not survive his infidelities, which resulted in other children with an absent father. I wonder if he would have been a different man had he had strong male or female role models to guide his path and help set him straight. Unfortunately, he became one of the absent father statistics Obama has recently highlighted.

I have encouraged my son to embrace his inclusive heritage – Black and Puerto Rican. SInce high school he resisted those White, Black and Hispanic categories and after an open conversation with me settled on Afro-Caribbean to embrace both sides of his racial equation. Racial bias flows in all directions. In high school he asked my support to participate in the Afro Am Student Union. I attended the first meeting, as was requested, to encourage a meet-and-greet among the students and parents. I was quickly informed that we had "obviously" entered the wrong meeting room. A few jaws dropped as I thanked the observers for their concern, announced that my skin was white, my heritage was Puerto Rican, that despite my son's light skin he was biracial, his father was black and I was present to support my son as he embraced all elements of his heritage. Not another word was said.

Like DL Hughley, I too am realistic that our society has still a way to go to close the racial divide and also discussed with my son what his behavior should be if he were ever pulled over by police. My experience made it clear that any adolescent or man of color was a potential target – for cause or for no cause. This instruction proved invaluable, as he was pulled over for speeding late one night soon after being licensed and had to deal with police verbal abuse before being released. He came home shaken and it was very clear that every attempt has been made to provoke him to argue or fight with the police officer. He thanked me for teaching him how to manage such a situation and maintain his cool and composure no matter what the police officer said to him.

As an educated and professional woman, I continue to reinforce the values of personal responsibility, choice, family, social justice and education in my son. He has completed a key milestone by graduating from college and holds close to the vest his responsibility to live a life that demonstrates personal integrity and strength. He does not aspire to become his father,

way to go

It's true about black women on welfare without the black man in the home. also if you would have went a little deeper, you would have found out that most all blacks have white blood in them, because the white slave master had there way with the black women slaves. That's why there is light complexion blacks in every famliy. So that one family was just one family out of many, many, more.

I found the series interesting and a good starting point in dealing with several issues. No one addressed the fact many unmarried fathers are involved in their children's lives or single father's raising children. And, yes mothers can place obstacles in father's paths as they attempt to interact with their children.

In relation to Brandon, he looks like someone who was out of his element and didn't know exactly what to do, so perhaps with some guidance, he has the potential to be active in his child's life. Finally, we should remember that the vast majority of blacks as a group are working hard everyday, raising their children and doing the best we can, like every other American. To the commentator who stated that we 'shame' Brandon into stepping up to the plate. I would disagree with that, because Brandon needs to realize, why its important to be in his daughter's life and the community has to step up to the plate and help him be a good parent. And, that's from my nursing background and my legal background as an attorney who is also Black in middle America.

At 68 years old from Detrout, Michigan I saw noneof the people I knew or .know/I sawno union leadersfromthe AFL/CIO. people who made the life of the workingclass so affleuent they are now called middle class.. These were black men and women you don't acknowledge.
I sisn;t see the barbers, beauticians secretaries ,usually in an intact family, but not living in a gated enclave.
The myriad black government workers (that's where we got "good "jobs,) were not there,,,,did you not know they exist? Most have intact families,
What of the black cubans,etc,?
Your bias showed,and proved that even CNN can't "see" black america without drugs,prisons and the : debauchy" your rap star told,

Shame on you.

JoAnne Gibson

If America were a house then blacks would merely be renting a room. We will never be the head of household in America. Even if Barrack won the election we would still be renting rooms. He would still have to follow the laws of the land set by Whites who came before him. Blacks need to stop trying to live the American dream and focus on living the Black dream. For example: If my house burned down or I was forced from my home and I had to move into a whiteman's house with my family there are rules that were there before my family and I got there that still needs to be abided by. There will be additional rules added because I am now there. Yet, even though I am in that whiteman's house it is not his duty to raise my children and I don't have to allow my children to do what he allows his to do. I have to set my rules within his rules for my children. Blacks need to establish a set of rules for blacks to live by while living under the whiteman's roof. I care more about the solution than the problem. The solution is communication and control. We must effectively communicate with each other and take control of our family.

Dr.King earned his PhD at very early age, a man who was devoted to his wife and kids,a man who persevered alot and sacrificed a lot to get education,and for social justice. Is it social justice to continue having kids out of wedlock and complain about the society, I am wondering that few want to sacrifice for their community by searching education,despising rap music and going to the length to achieve education. Any one who read the bio of Dubois and past African Americans who taught themselves to read would not be shunning education.
We have some things we need to work on, I know many immigrants who came here with 50 dollars and they successful,they had to overcome english and settling in this country.

Please stop the nonsense about we are being discriminated and fold our sleeves to work. I am a provider and the only time I see gunshot,stabbing wounds is a balck patient,shot/stabbed fed crack by onother balck.

Faisal

When will America just be America?  Not Black America not White America ,just America.  For example Obama is just as much a White man as he is a Black man, but the media refer to his as a Black man .  What happen to the DNA that his Mother contributed to his?  Don't get me wrong I am very proud of Obama .  Why can't he just be a very intelligent American Man?  If a person Black or White , mistreat or judge a person for the color of their skin,  he or she may need to check their family tree, you could be mistreating your cousin.

MLK III should tell Barack Obama that. While he is playing good "house negro" in Europe, millions of Minority Americans are under attack by a sorry U.S. Congress, illegal aliens and their lobbyist. For example Jamiel Shaw was murder in L.A. County California by an illegal alien. CriminalSearch.com publishes the names of every Hispanic and African American citizen convicted of a crime in America. Type Pedro Espinoza's name into their search bar he is not listed. Espinoza has not been convicted of murdering Jamiel Shaw yet, but he has been convicted and jailed prior for violating U.S. Immigration Law. Are illegal aliens in America criminals? I am just happy that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 2nd Amendment, because I think in the near future it is going to be used. MLK III needs to tell Obama to come clean about his VIP loan and his connection to the failing Fannie Mae. It is sad when Bill Clinton has advocated more for African Americans then Obama. I guess we are ready for a "House Negro" President, then maybe some of us in the field can get a chance.

I wonder if there were no television where our racial views (BLACK AND WHITE) would be today.the children could go to school without the medias influence in their minds from the night before. maybe they wouldn't want to be a gangster, or be mad about something that happened over 100 years ago. could it be that their perceptions could change for the better.Do you think that they can see for theirselves and have a better world.What do you think ?

I am disappointed that Blacks are rushing to support Barack Obama just because he's Black, or partly Black, anyway. This man does not represent Black America; he doesn't even understand it. I wish a real Black American were running for President, not just a would-be who has the potential to hurt the Black cause more than help it.

JC in Los Angeles, I disagree with your comments. Huey P. Newton, Malcom X and MLK did not die for no reason. Many would like to forget the past, and we cannot have a prosperous today without reparations and acknowledgment of the past. Jeff Fort's connection to Muammar al-Gaddafi was real and it was a preview of the future and an alternative to Dr. Kings movement. Dr. King wanted peace and some wanted to eliminate African Americans in America. Now the militants have been created the question is when is the war going to begin. America's going to have a discussion about the past or it is going to be a conflict worse than Palestine and Israel in North America.

American Slaves got no amnesty, welfare or food stamps. They got wipes, chains, rape, segregation, and "separate but equal". My advice is to study closely what a Jihad is and put the word American in front of it. If we do not speak the truth soon we have something far worse than the Middle East conflicts coming.

I was very impressed @ the way each segment was displayed. As a single black female mother of two girls, I've always had this discussion with people on the very same topics. It's amazing as to how some can relate and some think that I'm trying to be other than myself.
As for the families shown in this program, I felt for every last one of them knowing how hard it is and can be, based on skin color. We must overlook that factor and bring out the best in ourselves.
I have an affirmation I say to myself everyday:" Thank you father for knowledge of self, and being able to know ones self, for I'm grateful for all that you have put before me and that which will come ahead of me".

I recently visited the Civil Rights museum in Memphis where MLK was assasinated. It was very powerful and my wife and I agreed that, for the very first time, we can appreciate just how difficult the fight was. The only thing missing is a room at the end reminding people that winning the battle isn't enough; you have to continue to earn the rights that MLK and others fought and died for. We've got to address single-parenthood, teen-age pregnancies, multi-generation welfare, cime, gangs, drugs, etc. Would Dr. King be proud of what we're doing with the rights he and others earned for us? My guess is he wouldn't. He would probably also like to slap Jesse Jackson, up side the head. Obama 08!

"As a Harvard graduate Obama Sr. made it possible for his american born son to get into Harvard thru the ‘legacy’ route"

"You of course forget to mention that Obama went to Columbia for undergrad. Which ‘legacy’ route allowed him to get into there? Silly comment."

AA?

I think Black In America is a positive step to educate and start breaking down barriers. Of course, many things could not be covered in such a short time, but I do agree that it starts from the commencement of our history. Black men were taken away from their families during slavery. Although this is not an excuse for a black man not to take responsibility for his family today, people do need to understand the history in order to find a solution. How do we break that unfortunate chain and help the black man to move forward? How about the employment opportunities for black people? Are they truly equal or do they still need to be ten times better than a caucasian person and still do not get the job??? These issues need to be addressed in order to move forward. I hope one day we would have a series "Black In Canada". It is truly an "eye opener".

Having said all, we fail to realize that blacks in America actually incapacitated themselves and embrace the heinous predicament of self esteem .A lot of things contributed to this ,even though the price of freedom opens the flood gate of opportunity for them , needless to say is the the effect of education, and cultural heritage has a long way to go with it. All the aforementioned topics discussed in the blugs really shows where we are and where we are going. Nothing is as bad as the state of mind, we as black people needs to expunge off our memory , the act of slavery , the idiosyncracy that has plunged us into the deep gully of helplessnes for years. We actually ows our heritage to Africa , our fore fathers that procreated us has a culture and this is a moral guidance and must be guided jealously , embraced and we would witness a change.
American dream is real, MLK channel this course and the effect of which we are seeing today.Let every black man grab the baton of responsibilty and let African American women consider marriage as sacred, some percentage of children coming from broken home statistically ended up in jail because of that marrital course not protected by their parent. How I wish African American can learn from their mistakes and break this cycle of malady and we would clad ourselves with adorn garment of justice.We woulds no longer feel dejected , depressed and emotionally incacerated.

We must start immediately in poor black homes and poor white homes, we must help parents help their children with language development that will help them achieve in grade school, high school and life. Many homes do not do this because the family does not exist, because there is no one that cares, or they do not know how. It is not reading skills.Reading skills is not easy to acquire without language skills, it may even be impossible. Success in school and life will be difficult, if not impossible, without adequate language development. Low self-esteem developes which often leads to poor behavior. The problem for many and for all of us becomes behavior, behavior, behavior.

I have been watching this series and everything on the news because of Barack Obama runnning for president. I think that things will only change when people just see each other as people. I am voting for Barack because I agree with his policies and don't care about his color. I don't see people as black or white just as good or bad. However, I find myself wondering...why is it okay for blacks to have BET? Whites don't have WET. Why are there churches who are focused only on blacks? I have been to many white churches and they never talk about color..just about God and the Bible. Why is there an African American Caucus? There is no White American Caucus. If there were these kind of things for whites, whites would be accused of being racial. If Afican Americans want to be Americans.....If Spanish Americans want to be Americans, they need to stop using their race as an excuse. They need to stop expecting to point out they are different and then expect to not be treated like they are different. There should be no BET or WET or SET...It should just be AET (American Entertainment Television)....period! My children have friends of many colors...I don't see them as black, white, brown, yellow...just as people. They are all welcome in our home as long as they chose to behave in a polite fashion. They act like respectable people and they are therefore treated like respectable people...regardless of color.

Sabrina in Los Angeles ;

Black people feel the same way when whites move into their neighborhoods. I am a white person in a black neighborhood and trust me....don't not feel guilty how you think. Out of 25 people that live in this apt complex I live in, 1 black person talks to me on a regular basis. Some of them will go out of there way to look down at the ground when they see me coming so they don't have to make eye contact and actually speak. So, don't feel like that feeling you have is a one way street.

If you feel guilt, stop it. You would be very suprised how you might be treated if you moved into a black neighborhood.

Barack Obama is going to upset a lot of black people if he gets into office. He is one person that sees the double standard and stands up for what is right, and he isn't afraid to say it.

I heard a black, liberal, talk show host trying to turn people away from Obama when he made a speach and said to many Black men are acting like boys, stand up and accept some responsibilities.

Up until that speach, he supported Obama 110 %

White Guilt is Over.

I am tired of hearing the Black race blaming the White folks for thier problems. There are many Black people that are more educated, smarter, refined, richer,have better jobs, better homes and a lot of other things than many Whites. You can be anything that you want to be regardless of race. There are many Handicapped people that lead better lives than ones who are not. It's up to you. I am White and Deaf. I have had a lot of Black friends. Get off your butt and make your life better. Oprah, Bill Cosby, and too many others to mention, did not get where they are by sitting on the porch and looking for excuses. Where there is a will there is a way.

All I can say to Solodad O'Brien Thank You for a great documentery, please continue to keep everyone informed.

if you black people would quit killing other blacks and quit, using crack, stop hiphop, and get jobs; maybe your people would realize the dreams. but not when you blame all others for your shortcomings. we white people are tired of 400 years of your whining. work on your dreams.

Idiots, affirmative action requires a percentage of minorities, meaning Women, Asians, Hispanic, Blacks, etc.... It does not require Blacks. So many of you are brought up on ignorant information and learnings, but the worst part is that you guys don't even know it. Most university have more women on it, did they get there by affirmative action? Please.

Why don't you guys just quit complaining about gas? Then, others might stop complaining about real injustices and inequalities. BIGOTRY IS SO ALIVE.

D-Chicago is right. The only real plan that the government has had for black people is to keep us out. The fact that we have made it in is truly astounding, because it was done literally against all odds. We as black men have been subject to attempts at castration. Still we endure. If the field was level and we had equal access to opportunity our people would not suffer so badly. Like any race we have or under-achievers, however we have more stars than any other (many are not allowed to shine). The Black in America series is a series long overdue.

One last thing. About the comments which stress that we get over it. Get over the past and move on. The comments that all people at some point have had it hard. The comments that we whine and cry instead of pulling ourselves up by boot straps. I would like to tell those critics, cynics, and commentators – acknowledge what the people of this country have done. Acknowledge slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, black codes, discrimination, the inability to own property, lynching, (etc)...acknowledge these. Know that we should not have to get over it or forget it. Acknowledge how our people have been hurt and oppressed. Once America truly acknowledges is criminally heinous and murderous past we can heal. WE ARE AMERICANS

Let it go, jesus christ. People are going to be the way they want. There are "certain people" who take advantage of the wrong things and dig their own holes and cast a bag image. There are too many opertunities for everyone to not make something of themselves.Look in the mirror, thats where you can find most faults.

I really get tired of listening and reading that blacks seem to have a tougher time in America. I don't think that the color of skin has anything to do with i. I know lots of people of different color, including the color white, thay all are having a hard time surviving the economy. We have all lost jobs, homes, insurance, etc. History was a long time ago, its time to let it go and stop using it as an excuse that the world owes you. No one ever gave me anything, my husband and I worked since we were 14 and we worked until we retired at 62 years old. What we have we worked hard for. Our lives are full of disappointments, heartaches and missed loves one. So please give us a break and stop with the different color in America. We are all one America.

I think this election cycle really got us as a nation to reflect on were we've been and were we are going. It is a very useful dialog as it prompts us to reflect on ourselves, community, and state. The item I am noticing a lot in the comments of these stories is what really concerns me.

It seems a select few are consistently fixated on blaming other people for their issues. Call it by whatever name you like but by speaking in such a collectivist manner it only can be called one name: Racism. Racism is not an mindset that belongs to any one group. It is an affliction that spans all people who accept the collectivist view of the world.

As a nation we will never get past the race issue so long as parties from both sides are leveraging their race. We are not Afican-American, Italian-Americans, German-Americans, or any other -American. We are all just Americans and our short comings in life are the result of decisions we make. If you make bad decisions then the end result will be that of displeasure with were your life is. One can not leave proverty by not attending school, regardless of how poor the school district is doing.

In closing I offer just this peice of advice: One will never excel so long as they are looking for someone to blame their failures on. By blaming a different party for your mistakes in life you are surrendering your soverign ability to fix those mistakes.

As a Jew, jewish life is diverse. Jews don't go around with a mindset that they are Jews first. Too bad African Americans can't get their mental arms around the concept. If they could they wouldn't be preoccupied with being African American.

As a jew, The Constitution is first in my life, because all other apsects of who I am are as a result of our revolutionary Constitution. Think about it; You are who you are because of the social environment provided by the Constitution of this fabulous country. The next time you hear the ranting of patriotism look closely to see if the expressor of patriotism pays homage to the document which makes their ranting possible. If they do, then they are patriots. And remember, "OLD GLORY" is the symbol of our Constitution.

in reference to hip hop and its influence on black life...black people arent ignorant. where do you think the rappers get their ideas? art imitates life. not everyones life naturally but enough lives for the music to have a following. dont like hip hop then change the way we live and treat one another.

I watched. I learned.
Not much has changed in the way Black people are viewed in America. I have seen the same program with the same points made for the past 20 yrs. The programs are usually aired on channels such as PBS or on a cable channel. Always late at night. Always on a Friday or Saturday when most white america is not watching telvision at all because they are not home. or they have in a DVD. These shows are never broadon mainstream television channels such as ABC, NBC, CBS nor FOX at an hour or on a day for White america to see.
I think we (Black Americans) are still scaring white america.
I have to go catch my bus. I always sit in the front. And NO, I don't give up my seat . Unless an elderly person gets on. I was always taught to respect my elders. (Color is not a factor.)

Angela

"We bought into white America’s lie that we should abort our babies, love whoever we wanted, smoke what we wanted..."

As another blogger has noted, this is NOT a lie from "white America" and to say so merely perpetuates one of the fundamental problems in black culture, namely a lack of accountability. No one is making ANYONE do anything. You choose to have sex, to have an abortion, to keep the baby, to smoke the pipe, whatever...those are choices YOU are making. You can always make better choices. When one isn't willing to assume personal accountability, it's so much easier to blame somebody else for all the bad stuff that happens. In most cases, the root cause is staring right at you from your mirror.

When you see someone blaming someone else for the bad things that have happened to them, you pass on by. When they blame themselves and ask you for help in not letting it happen again, you help them...and we help each other. The cycle of "it's not my fault" has to stop....now.

@Roy Edwards: I totally empathize with you. There are many men who desperately want to honor their responsibilities as fathers but are prevented from doing so by the mothers of the children and a grossly disfunctional court/social system. I have a WONDERFUL relatiopnship with my 14 y/o daughter but it took me 4 attorneys and the threat of jail time from the judge before she saw it fit to honor my visitation rights. Fortunately I had the resources and the deep moral conviction to force her to respect my rights as a father.

Melissa, Los Angeles, your response is a bit short sighted . A lot of men do not have the resources or grow tired from being worn out by a social/court system weighted against men. This is an issue that needs urgent attention because our children are suffering

I have been trying to watch the program every since the first night. I find it fascinating and intriguing. Other times, it is downright depressing! On the whole, we are a strong people! to be here after all we have endured is incredible.
i hope nonblacks are also watching the show and are educating themselves

While I appreciate the comments from MLK III, I must underscore the fact that resposibility for crime in the United States is the resposibility of the person or persons committing the crimes. Personal responsibility is the key to advancement of a culture. If a group seeks to blame society for the ills of the groups, that group will never achieve equality. Society must never tolerate excuses being made for crime and criminals regardless of race.

As black people who now enjoy the rights won during the 50's and '60s, we have an urgent need to face the complex problems related to the wholesome values that somehow have become diluted within so many of our families and neighborhoods. Our youth get blamed for a great deal of this, but they can only know that which they have been taught. There is tremendous denial and a tendency to focus only on the bigotry of white people as a major obstacle. As Bill Cosby indicated, we as parents must make sure our kids can read. Blaming the schools is a cop-out. The appreciation for literacy is a seed that must be sown and nurtured at home. Otherwise, our youth will only know as much as someone tells them. We must recognize complexity but also keep that which is simple, simple.

While Black's are on display, let me add this comment. America has no racial problem. What America is doing is living up to an evil report put together by one man, as giving his opinion of the African American's. And from this one man's opinion, six statesmen, in 1864, entered this one man's opinion into congress, and from this one man's opinion, the behavior toward the African-American's, by the white world was shaped.
The motive behind this act was finding a new way to restrain the African-American's, once the Emancipation Proclamation and 13th Amendment was set in place.
So there is no true racism in America, only behaviors influenced by an evil report, which no one has took the time to search out the truth.
Now before the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, was the era of power, which would have become void once these two Acts were set in place.
So color of skin has never been the true cause for the division; only the desire by some,from the white world, to maintain permanent control over the African-American's. These truth's are on the shelves of our many Libraries across America. Is America ready for the truth?

What a great piece of research. The Moynihan Report:1960's Black Familes in Crisis was on point. Athough ,hiv was not in our community back then.

One of the toughest aspects of getting an education or maintaining a marriage is teen pregnancy. Furthermore, there are numerous teens and single welfare mothers who continue to have additional children out of wedlock (of all races and colors). I think there can be a case made to incentivize birth control to reduce the occurrence of teen pregnancy and pregnancy of welfare mothers, of any color. The milions of dollars spent on prenatal care, the pregnancy, and extended welfare could be used to financially incent people to use birth control and as well as fund our school system.

With fewer teen pregnancies, there is a greater likelihood that a person will complete high school and go to college. This is also true for the male counterparts. Less stress and less responsibility from not having children at an early age would allow them to finish school and wait to have children until later in life.

This proposal does not promote teen sex. It simply tries to get to the heart of the problem in today's America.

Seah Ohio: I see Mr. Obama as the best hope for uniting this country. He seems to me to have a profound understanding and respect for all people. And I believe Dr. King not only would be proud but would champion a man whom he has provided shoulders upon which to stand.

On the issue of being Black in America, enormous gains have been made. But there is a long way to go. When Black anger is harnessed and focused on fighting for equal educational opportunity and not on deifying convention and playing into white racist stereotypes more gains will be made. The more people can identify with others, the less they fear. As Whites confront their overt ,and even more importantly, their covert racism we all stand a better chance of moving forward. Education is crucial as is political leadership. Mr. Obama has my vote in this regard. He absolutely gets it.

Dear Mr King-

I am glad your father did not choose Terrorism.

I have listened to our society complain about the treatment of blacks and jews by others my entire life. I never treated anyone badly.

I find it poor timing to be complaining about the black man, period. That is over: I was not a slave owner, nor was the president. There may be some rich guys left who's money descends from slavery: go get em.

Leave me alone. I do not care for your travails any more than you care for mine.

My best wishes for yourself and your family,

Brendan Steuble

How did Geogre Bush get into Yale? We all know how.
At least Mr. Obama is smart! Stop assuming how Obama got into here or there. He went and he was successful.

I am very dissapointed in Soladad Obrien. First of all what was her purpose for doing this series. She didn't accomplish anything nor did she provide any information that we didn't already know. Blacks are quite aware of were we are in America. We didn't need some wanna be journalist to tell us that. She should be ashamed of herself. Why doesn't she investigate her own people, i.e. the hispanics and talk about how decadent their lifestyle is. I could have appreciated it better if she would have at least stated her purpose, presented the information, and offered some solutions or gave a "call to action." But, I'm sure that wasn't a part of her personal agenda for this program. She didn't do any research, all she did was take someone else's information and presented it This research was done years ago. This was not a year long investigation; she out right lied. Why would present a program that decpicted a race of people in such an awful way and not offer solutions. If she's so smart why didn't offer a solution. I'm sure at some point in her investigation (that she did not do) that she spoke with someone that offered some sort of solutions. Solodad has become a part of the problem. She used black people to advance her own journalistic agenda and I hope she reaps what she has sown. If CNN gives her an award for that mess she presented blacks should boycott the network. I hope she reads this comment personally so she will how I feel about her.

Respectfully submitted.
Arleen B. Anderson (A Proud Black African American Woman)

I found especially important the comment that read "while it can be helpful to isolate the issues . . . we must be careful not to stigmatize the group." In the 'deep south,' such as my home, South Carolina, this is a crucial thing to keep in mind I believe. I think it might be that something of a tension between the generation that came of age in the Civil Rights era, and the generation coming of age today. Today whites and blacks more often don't mind spending more time on the "other side of the train tracks," as it would go in the city I grew up in. In Senator Obama's book he referred to a huge "cross-polinization" taking place across the country today, traditional barriers separating groups being broken. I'm of the younger generation, a first time voter in my 25th year. I say that today's challenge is to help the underpriveledged -white and black- understand that the problems they face are the same. That it's not another race they should fear and loathe; it is, generally speaking, the corporation; the powerful and opulent groups that manipulate our lives in so many fashions. Both the black and white family struggle for such basic necessities as health care, an obvious problem that quite frankly I don't think will change soon. But I have hope, and it's not just in a politician.

I hope none of you get offended if we ever have a Whites In America broadcast. Oh that's right. The double standard. I forgot.

Soledad, I commend you for making the incision and bursting the boil.
Now it is up to us to work on the diagnosis and treatment so healing can begin.
Thank You.
You may hear from great minds and others of power and influence that this production was this or that....be strong and of encourage.
You done good gurl, be strong and keep steppin!
God Loves your pioneering spirit!
Peace and Love,
A Citizen of the World
Sandy

I am a white male that came from a single parent household with no money. I served several years in the military to earn money for college. I studied hard and graduated with a 4.0 GPA (All A's). While attending a community college, I visited the financial aid office in hopes of finding academic scholarships. To my dismay, there were none. There were a corkboard full of scholarship applications, and they were for either minorities or single mothers. I felt like the victim of racism. This is not something I heard about happening to someone else of what happened in my ancestry. This is racism that happened to me personally. I was denied a scholarship because of the color of my skin.

I'm just glad that someone perhaps had the complexion for the connection to say something about being Black in America. Many of us needed that little reminder. The journalist who did the program just came off the bench on the subject, but somebody had to step in. If you feel it could have been done better, do it yourselves with "activism". Thanks CNN!

Here's what I don't get...

We have Black Americans stating they should be taught by Black teachers, go to Black doctors, live in predominantly Black neighborhoods, etc.

Here's an idea: How about we drop this segregation idea and actually integrate our communities. How best to come together and learn from each other than to actually live and work side by side? Black Americans are justifiably fighting for equal rights on all fronts, yet they spend more time fighting to stay apart from society as a whole.

Even more, how about we place a level of responsibility on the individual. Why do we blame "society" for the problems? Children going to unsafe schools are the fault of the dangerous children and their parents, not society. Good parenting leads to good children, which leads to safer schools. Safer schools leads to smarter students, which leads to more opportunities for these children. Yes, there are always going to be bad seeds regardless of good parenting, but that is a small percentage.

Enough blaming everyone else. Be accountable for your actions, strive to be more, work hard, get an education, have respect for yourself AND others, and let go of unnecessary hatred. Stop blaming the people of today for the sins of the past.

Very one-sided documentary...If I had a daughter engaged in an interracial relationship...I would be concerned. This type of reporting re-enforces all myths and stereotypes. Social problems, i.e., HIV, crime and lack of parental responsibility is not the majority, rather the minority. Most black households are split; half believes society owes them something, half are contributing members. Cycles need to be broken and it starts with the family. Balanced reporting can be very instrumental in bringing about change.

Hats off to Soledad for her exceptional work on Being Black in America. Soledad, I hope you are awarded "Journalist of the Year" for your work. You are passionate about this issue and you proved that you are on top of your game.

Being Black in America left me wondering where do we go from here? My husband is from Nigeria and I am an educated African American woman that was fortunate enough to grow up with both parents and I have always lived a comfortable middle class life.

I am deeply saddened by the inequality that exists in education as well as by the lack of options for black men without a college degree. This documentary has inspired me to work with my husband who is a very successful IT professional and inner city schools to introduce technology as fun and hip. When people are strong technologist, skin color becomes less of a factor.

Soledad, we will let you know how we do in this area. Hopefully we will be successful and we can spear head a program that will take off nationally. Your journalism efforts will certainly assist with the success.

My husband and I owe it to young black people to step up and do something. God blessed us and it is time to work for God!!! Thank you for the inspiration Soledad!!

Monica Ajayi in Southern NJ

I think it is important for Soledad O’Brien to balance this conversation by looking at Being White in America, role of class, history, ethnicity etc there. Being Native American in America, Being Latino in America, Being Asian in America. If the goal is to increase understanding amongst us, then we must look at everyone instead of just singling out Black America.

When is CNN going to do a special on Chinese in America or the US have a Chinese American History month? Is there a white history month or any other Race specific history month other than BLACK.Grow up people, forget this foopaw that you deserve more, you only make it harder on yourself for reliving the past.

Yes I am white!

Mr. Marshell, please continue to ask for dialog as this is very important. It will give a chance for me to say things as I just said and be challenged, i hope. I was amased to see another Value placed on my culture because it is believed falsely that the African-American culture must leave off the African part. When in fact that in Africa our culture began with the hunter-gathers which has and still have the Mother as the head of the house hold with full rights to Vote!!!! The older the female the more respected and admired and looked up to.Some thing unheard of in the American as part of our history in America, EQUALITY by our males or females.....

Although I enjoyed watching "Black in America" I couldn't help but wonder what CNN was trying to accomplish with this program. Raising awareness? Starting dialogue? Also, I personally found nothing new in the program. As a black person, I am fully aware of all these issues. What I would have appreciated from CNN is a diagnostic of the problem, i.e. what factors have led to the current state of African-Americans? Finally, I would have loved for your "experts" to spend time offering solutions. In my humble opinion, unless there is active, holistic intervention by the government, civic leaders and the church community, this situation will continue to deteriorate.

I have no problem with the show but what about Asians?, Hispanics, or the most oppresed, the Native American, or what about white in America. As a white person, I suddenly feel like I am supposed to feel guilty and walk with my head down, but instead I feel like these programs are aimed at the villany of white peole and their so-called oppressive nature.In the long run I feel that it will not unite us but instead it will drive an even further wedge because many white people are beginning to grow tired of being painted as evil and will become angry and defensive if these accusations continue.Why are white people villified today, I feel no guilt and I am proud of my ancestors and I will not pay for their mistakes bottom line. We have done more good than bad for the world. If it had not been for European Ideals the world would not have been as good as it is today. We are all guilty of something, no one is perfect. The best thing that we can do is learn form history and avoid repeating it which I believe we most certainly will.

only sice obama is running for pres oident all thia black in america is being on tevelision , every creedd abd race can come to america and make except the black man who blame their laziness on slavery , get over it . black people blame every white person for their failure . look in the mirror and blame that person . obama will never be president , show me black leader in the world who ;s country is a sucess , they are all in poverty, drugs, corruption and looking hand out from the world bank, black people will never have it soo go like they do in america , now grow up ans stop being lazy

If I read/hear the word "slavery" one more time on all these blogs I think I'm gonna puke. It's 2008 stop going backwards on the problems we face and start moving forward.

How many white people have abandoned their culture to become black?

Teles Minega

What is white culture in the US exactly? As a 5th generation American I have no culture beyond the American culture which is vastly the product of many cultures together. Sure there are some white Americans who attempt to act black, but just because I enjoy rap every now and then doesn't mean I'm abandoning my culture but rather embracing it I would think.

Black in America, why was there not a segment on single men trying to find good black women? I would have liked to have seen more middle of the road black men, loving black women and their black children, the true middle class living in black neighborhoods that are not ran and crime infested. This series was good ,but showed two extremes of black america and not the regular black folks who don't stuggle, but don't make figures either. We are more than those extremes.

Excellent Article by MLKIII, "now-not yet" focuses on the chiasm of blacks in america. At first I thought this article would be yet another "poor blacks" in america but rather focused on the success and further challenges that face blacks in america and more important MLKIII emphasizes that all americans and all walks of life face similiar challenges and opportunities. As a "non-black " american I involuntarily get irritated when people whin about external circumstances and am told "you just don't understand" Well one thing I do understand is that a person can control their internal circumstances and take advantage of the great opportunities this great country has to offer regardless of race, color, gender or creed.

Black in America focus was on the pathology of Black in America. There are milions of African- Americans who live norma lives, have good jobsa and good income, I raise three childen on my own after their father-my husband left us. My girls have college degrees and good jobs. I have two master' degrees. I could not watch your show to the completion. Most of the peope on the show do not look like me and my friends. Peope who work hard, have their chidren in wedlock, and work for a living. Black in America did not give its. Jeanne Thomas a fair look at blacks in America

I am a member of the Generation X-“ample”. Hats off to CNN for engaging in a very tedious venture, but it is important to mention it failed to include that the black community is not monolithic and like other races in America, is made up of many subgroups and cultures. It is important to mention that the subgroups that make up the black community are the clandestine blacks A.K.A. legacy members of the black church, black Muslims, black Catholics, Caribbean blacks, & Hispanics of African descent. Many of the pandemic ills in this Special Report are problems affecting the black church/ clandestine blacks. Although, I commend Soledad O’Brian for her hard work, it is a disservice to the subject matter to not mention this important caveat. In conclusion, no outside observer can wield any effective device of change unless the affected members are willing to incorporate lasting change and progress from within. Thanks for allowing me to submit my opinion.

Sen Obama is a product of the work of Dr. King' dream. It is painful to read and listen to other blacks attack him. Come on peope get together and stop being crabs in the barrior

Is CNN going to do a special on what it's like to be JEWISH or LATINO, or maybe what it's like to be WHITE IN AMERICA? Seems only fair to me.

I'm watching B in A and listening to a Black guy talk about job applications and endless rejections. Sounds exactly like my twenty-two year old white son who continues to try to re-invent himself so that someone will hire him. His life, and the lives of most of his friends, all white, are a mirror of the man in the documentary. The jobs aren't there. What's it got to do with race? Nobody will ever make a doc about a struggling young white man however. Who cares?

I'm surprised by some of the rude insensitive comments. No one has thrown Barack’s mother or Grandparents under the bus. If you will recall that is the reason just 15 months ago the statement was made he is not black enough, had no experience growing up around Blacks. Why are comments always made that Blacks get into Ivey league schools due to affirmative action and not because they deserve to be admitted based on their scholastic achievement? I did not hear any complaints about Bush getting into Yale due to his great uncle legacy what was his daughter Barbara's acceptance there about? Bush by his own admission states he was a bad student. No one questions admission based on being a children from wealthy benefactor or influential individual, color is the problem.
Reading all the blogs here and else where tells me what I already know America has a race problem. All Americans must work together to solve it.

"judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin"

A favorite King quote. To be applied universally. Not just to blacks. If we can do that, then we can live the dream.

But to do so, means to be an American. Not African-American, not Scottish-American. One people united, wanting peace.

All the issues being discussed in "Black in America" are the same issues that affect all people of all races in America. Perhaps it should have added other cultures going through the same thing and instead have the name of "Black America". It is not always greener in America. All cultures have the same immorality. Both Men and Women are equally immoral. Both Women and Men abandon their children and their home. Both men and women seek drugs and alchohol. People don't have to be a certain color to go through these issues. Those who have more money and are living well should invest and adopt a family in need instead of spending their in drugs and alcohol it'll make them feel better. You can get a high from planting a mustrad seed and giving to those in need. This also includes all cultures and races world wide. God's one commandment, "Love one another as you love yourself."

I find it interesting that blacks blame whites for all their problems. One black responder wrote that whites put the crack pipe into the mouths of blacks. I bet in 99 percent of the time they purchase their crack from another black. She also wrote that whites are responsible for single parent households by providing welfare to single parent households without requiring both parents to marry. Wow, She also stated that blacks should be allowed three hours a day from work to study english and math. What about the 12 years of high school that they were provided? Wake up black America, whites are not your problem, just your excuse. Responsibity, that is the education you need.

Unfortunately the constant re-occurrences of shows like this one, even under different titles or labels but holding the same general content, have caused serious fatigue on the American public.

There are other races who have suffered equally to black Americans and yet have found a way to prosper morally, psychologically, and economically; all the time while not having the constant spotlight of media on top of them asking "why is your culture in this position? what did you do to get here? where are you going from here?"

We hear the same rhetoric year in and year out. Fatigue has set in... and when this happens, your progress will not only stale but in-fact regress.

You will hear this type of comment from a small subset of the Black community but their opinions wont be published, and moreover if they were it would cause a storm of controversy.

Change comes from within, and if you need the media as a constant litmus test as to where your culture is, then you're not doing anything except prolonging the inevitable.

I have been shocked by hearing lately how many blacks dislike Obama. Jess Jackson's remarks stunned me. What shocked me the most is that the same black stated they support Obama and will vote for him. That is totally wacked. They dislike him, but support him, simply because of the color of his skin. Is that racist??????

To: Dorothy L Brooks

I am disheartened to hear people use these wide, sweeping, ambiguous statements like, "White people's lies", "White Man's Priviledge", etc...

Most North American whites never had anything to do with pushing a lie onto black people. Please stop over-generalizing and over-simplifing the nature of the problem, many, many North American white people never had an agenda to push lies upon black people or to persecute them....

All I am saying is just dont over generalize, please.

I enjoyed this program (and series of subsequent discussions) very much.

I would greatly enjoy seeing a sequel entitled "Being White in America".

Just as black individuals are often stereotyped and misunderstood...so too are modern whites. I feel that in order to continue this "conversation", we need to allow whites to enlighten other cultures about what it is like to be a post-modern, post-civil rights, post-women's rights majority. To demonstrate how whites face similar challenges with education, economics, cultural integrity and social mores.

Whites are just as often written off as generic stereotypes and denied their individuality as minorities (maybe even more so...since as a majority- their struggles are negated).

Plus, it may enlighten minority races to hear how many whites really feel (and not just how polls and political discourse personify them). White America is a diverse demographic and deserves equal study and recognition.

Many whites have tried to experience and understand what it is like to be Black in America...now lets give them the chance to explain what it is like to be white.

Being a white man, I am discouraged by the free rides that are given to African Americans. Everyone I know from University had to go to the back of the line to get into grad school. Two of my friends graduated with honor and a 4.0 GPA. Neither got into law or medical school because they had to fill the quota of African Americans who as you may already know had much lower GPA's. Now if you are in the emergency ward, wouldn't you prefer to be seen by a doctor with a higher gpa or a lower one, just because they needed to get a certain race quota of doctors. A person should be rated on their intelligence not the color of their skin. This is very unfair and should be stopped. This country isn't going to advance and is going to fall way behind the rest of the world because a lot of times the most brilliant minds are excluded.

The CNN feature rightly focuses on African-Americans. However, "Blacks in America" include the many Africans and West Indians of several generations who have achieved academic and career success here in the U.S.A. Nigerians are among the most educated immigrants in the USA today, surpassing even the white population in the percentage with post-graduate degrees, according to the US Census Bureau.

African-Americans might benefit greatly if they adopt some of the attitudes and values that have helped these immigrants attain success and integrate relatively well in American society, despite being "Black."

In general, these qualities include a strong work ethic, strong extended family system, willingness to face difficulties and adversities, a drive to achieve goals, and a refusal to carry racial "chips" that can stifle their progress. In fact, these qualities were embraced by earlier generations of American-Americans in this country, and are prevalent among many other ethnic groups including Asians and Latinos.

I do believe that African-Americans can learn much from Black immigrants and overcome many obstacles they face today, even as racism and discrimination linger in this society.

I just hope that Soledad and CNN will do a follow up show on all the feedback both negative and positive and also include other races in the conversation espically those who had negative comments such as go back to Africa under other blogs about this series. I would like to see more positive stories and solutions/programs that have already been started to help turn our community and kids around. Not all of us wait on or think the govt should save us. The govt does not care about black men and I highly doubt that they ever will. Class should also be addressed more in a follow up series.

I am a Hispanic woman. I watched your series intently and found it to be very well done and informational. Thanks you so much for doing this for Americans. I have recently been listening to a set of cds of the speeches of MLK Jr and was so impressed by him. All Americans have a great historical treasure expressed in the words and delivery of MLK Jr. His words are universal and timeless.

Gangs are also destroying Hispanic neighborhoods they are really a cancer on our youth. Thanks for featuring leaders who are inspiring kids to look in a different direction.

I would love to see a series about the Hispanic experience in America as well.

Again thank you CNN, I find myself watching you more and more in the last year and a half I find your programming even more balanced than other networks.

Mari,
Please know what you are talking about. Obama has on several occasions flaunted his race (or 1/2 of it). Check the Berlin speech.
And to the King family – you have done a dis-service to Rev. King – where is the money? I contributed in the past but will not again.

I am from the cyber age, a keyboard cowboy. I am also a minority due to religious belief. But minority or not, There should be no color, should not be any I am minority I get this because of quota, and the my family was this and I demand repreave payments.

Honestly, Rev. King saw a truly devine dream. I truly believe so but people idolism him. His holiday comes around and people talk about him like a god. He is a great man, with a great dream. Instead of saying African American just try American. Instead of saying I am part of a quota get educated and earn things by your own merrits.

What I am getting at is that regardless of color, religion or creed we all have common problems, we all go through issues, but the people Rev. King saw in his dream are called Americans. Ones that will sit at a table work out the issues, help one another, and continue to grow with each other. Not those focus on paste hatred or past deeds, not those focused on any color. Rev. Kings dream although limited to America, I believe could be a world dream if we humans put away the petty differences.

As another great man once said, "The mind is a terrible thing to waste". We should not judge but focus on expanding our minds. That comes from all walks of life, not by color, religion, sex, or creed. That comes from all people.

It is good to see that the condition of blacks in america is being talked about. But, when you look at the fact that blacks has been in america for more than 400 years. Even the blacks and Indians that were free had there land taken and laws created by whites to protect there own greed. How many black women were forced to gave birth white men babies in 400 years. The black man in america owns nothing even land that he has paid for can be taken for taxes if he has no income. This story of black in america has many angles and deep roots of victimization.
Even after the civil war and the trail of tears many of the so called whites were new to america and took advantage of the laws that weighed in their favor. When the color of a black mans skin was made his enemy for the white mans gain. Even though the civil war ended for the white men from the north. The white mans war with the black man has continued even until this day. The KKK may have changed their tactics but their flag and enemy are the same.
The black man in america will never know the american dream because he is still being terrorized by the white supremacists in every level of society and justice is blind to the black man. Look at new orleans superdome after katrina or the fema trailer formadehyde problem and you will see the american holocaust and the neo-nazis.

Melissa, get real! Clearly you are unaware [I won't say ignorant] of the workings of Family Court. Any family court lawyer will tell you men are on the short end in that court. I understood everything Roy Edwards stated because I've been there. When you stand there and hear a family court judge tell you when you ask for an accounting of how the child support you paid was spent that he doesn't "care how it was spent...I don't care if she buys a Mercedes Benz, YOU WILL PAY."

Of course I paid, and I didn't need a damn judge to tell me my obligations. I paid child support, private school, and plane fares for 15 years because I co-created the child, and I was responsible and took care of my responsibilties [and am not looking for a medal, I was just doing my job]. But on the other side, for 15 years everything I did with my child WAS BY COURT ORDER – even to talk to him – because his mother – afflicted with parental alienation syndrome – did everything she could to make him hate me, and used him as a pawn to hurt me. Lesser men would have said to hell with it, and reduced the child – if that – to a check. And don't tell me and other "good" fathers that we – as you put it – "made the the choice to drop out because it became too hard."

Talk to some of these sick mothers and tell them to stop playing the child against the father because of their sick anger! A lot of times fathers want to be in their child's lives but we're only human. Faced with opposition from the court which sees us only as "cash cows" and and sick mothers, many just fade away.

Now, I'm not talking of fathers like the that disgusting idiot Brandon or his baby momas. I'm talking about real fathers, real men who are men and have to deal with a system that seeks only one thing – collecting money – not the welfare or best interests of the child, because if that court system you seem to speak so proudly of were to really do it's job they would ensure that fathers are in their child's life.

I am Jewish and often I am treated differently because of that. My Rabbi actually met Dr King and marched with him. My biggest hope is that someday this country that we live is known as much for truly treated each other fairly with dignity and respect as it is for being the home of the ipod and microsoft. We must show the rest of the world on this great planet we live on that not only are we capable of inventing and creating technology that has literally changed and transformed the way in which people live their lives and companies do business globally. We are capable of so much, we can send an African American and a women into space yet there are those who treat people differently for such primitive reasons. We must evolve as human beings. We are all different for a reason. We need to get over it and evolve into equal and talented human beings with unique abilities to offer the world. We are our only obstacle. We have to raise the standard of what we expect. We have to show the world we do practice what we preach.

First of all, I salute who ever starts that conversation. You must be really brave,
You can't forget all blacks are not dealing with the same problems. We have blacks from the rock bottom. Those are the ones who have no education or who drop out as early as before graduating high school. They can't get a descent job, they have two or three kids, they more likely have to be involved in drugs or illegal activity to make a living. We also have the other class of blacks who are educated, able to get a good job, but are experiencing income disparity. They working twice harder than a white person, but getting paid way less. The last class are these balcks who have a subtantial amount of money and education, but the white men tell them, well eventhough you have money and education, there is a limit on who you can be(not a president, not a television network owner and so on).
Some times this is the reason why you see blacks are discriminating against one another. They don't have the same experience and certainly not the same problem.

In this country we are taught to think in terms of black people and white people. The conversation we have is in those terms, as if anyone who is not black is automatically white. That the conversation about the plight of Blacks in America is so loud means that the conversation about every other immigrant group who has struggled and suffered is snuffed out and not considered.

I'm not black, and I'm not white and I'm not latino. What that winds up meaning is that I have no political voice in this country, no entitlement programs, no help from the government, no CNN specials. Greeks, Chinese, Irish, Koreans, Italians, Japanese, Indians, Pakistanis, Iranians, Russians ... all of these people have similar immigrant stories, similar tales of difficulty and suffering, prejudice and second-class treatment. It may not be the same story as black Americans, but that doesn't negate their trials and scars.

To induce a pun, the conversation is TOO black and white and disrespectful of the true diversity of this nation. It is far harder to be a non black / non white in this country with no resources, no leadership, no government programs or worthwhile representation that it becomes difficult to constantly sympathize with the "plight of blacks in America."

Blacks in this country have achieved parity with other American immigrant groups, and none of us have achieved parity with the "White Elite." But then again, we're making our way in the world regardless of that fact and most of us aren't complaining too loudly.

As a young white male growing up in Mississippi, I have seen racism my whole life. It is alive and still a very real and serious problem. Although great strides have been made, the reality is, there is a lot of work left to do. Since the majority of my friends are black, I have often found myself in a very confusing and eye-opening position.

The reality is that the black community, as a whole, are victims. They are victims of a nasty and horrible past, one that will not and should not ever be forgotten. But present day, they are are also victims of their own self pity and pain. It has become convenient for every flaw in the black community to be blamed on the ever present "White America". The statistics on homicides, STD's, education, and fatherless homes are NOT made up. There is no "white council" in place to fabricate such numbers. These are real and serious issues that will never be solved until the black community takes responsibility for their part. The blame is not all theirs but the beginning to the resolution is in their hands. If black america demanded from themselves and their leaders, what they demand from white america, the process would take care of itself. Where is the accountability for self. Responsibility for one's own actions.

I know the system is flawed and the world is not perfect. I have been pulled over by police just for being in a car with 4 black men. I see the struggles that my closest friends go through on a day to day basis. I know that in most black neighborhoods, the opportunities are not as plentiful. I know all that exists. BUT... Black america will never move forward until they let go, but not forget their past. Let go of the easy way out of blaming everything on someone else. Let go of believing that every bad thing that happens to them is because white america wanted it that way. There ARE success stories. There are black men who have made if from nothing to something. Black women who raised 3 and 4 children on little more than crumbs. Homes where both parents are there. There are success stories. It can be done!

I know my opinion will probably get blasted by 9 out of every 10 people on here. They will say I am out of touch and have no idea what I am talking about, and that's fine. But I do hold on with the utmost hope and sincerity that one day this discussion will not be necessary. God Bless...

This is interesting reporting. Many seek solutions. This is simple.

No premarital sex.
No children out of wedlock.
Good education (and I mean a Bachelor's degree and good grades)
Have strong family foundations with a father and mother
Honest hard work
No short cuts to money (ie. drug dealing, robbery)
Don't blame others for your problems
Take responsibility of your actions
Respect those around you and most of all respect yourself

You came from Africa. Where Blacks sold you to white slave merchants. Where you are now is having the same racial issues as anyone else. and even being prejudice against othercblacks for being too dark, or too ghetto.
You're going to the same equality as anyone else has. things have progressed immensley for blacks.

Dear Mr. King:

Your piece succinctly and poignantly reveals the continued struggle in our nation. CNN posted your piece as “The Conversation Isn’t Over.” I would suggest, in substantive ways, that the conversation is barely begun.
When your father invited people to join with him in “I Have a Dream” most Americans forgot that he spoke this at the “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” As you noted, “the deprivation is structural.” So many of us yearn to run to your father’s dream and we have failed to notice that, even 45 years later, “the promissory note is returned insufficient funds.” The continued “disproportionate gatherings of Blacks on the high end of the challenges and the low end of opportunities” is not, ipso facto, the responsibility of Blacks. Indeed, all of us who have white skin benefit simply from the incumbent dividends of our appearance.
Your father challenged white clergy, like me, from his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." The “fierce urgency of now” compels those of us who have worked in urban areas and daily witnessed the profound systemic inequities. So many of my white friends, in self-congratulations, believe we have come “so far” in forty years. And so many of my black colleagues, in reflecting over these two score years, say “nothing has happened.” This “inescapable network of mutuality” continues after this election. I pray that, regardless of whom we elect, that we as the “United States” realize that we have barely etched the surface of what your father yearned for, as detailed in his speeches and sermons.
As your father said in "A Time to Break the Silence," when they formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, their motto was: “To Save the Soul of America.” He wrote that we “affirmed the conviction that America would never be free or saved from itself until the descendants of its slaves were loosed completely from the shackles they still wear.” These shackles remain—and it will take ALL of us to remove them. But this will require REAL conversation, for we have not yet confessed of our sins of slavery or segregation. South Africa boldly modeled the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; would that other white Americans hear the stories I have heard. As a Kenyan clergy friend who helped broker peace said this February, “we are talking, but we are not yet speaking the truth.” May we as Americans be courageous enough to speak the truth—and may that finally make ALL of us free.

(sigh) I will be most happy for the day we get to be "Compassionate People in America".

Ours is an inter-racial family, and frankly we are tired of hearing complaints and excuses from both sides about the "differences".

All our inter-racial friends and extended family feel the same. We (inter-racials) feel abused by the society from all angles. However, in about 100 years, we are going to be the norm. So, all you "pure breds" had better starting thinking about what it mean to be Americans, period.

(deeper sigh)

I am a Gay Hispanic male from Small Town USA. I have been discriminated against for sexual preference and my race. Ideally I would like to have equality in everything I do but I am also a realist. I don't let the prejudice get me down. I don't want GLAAD or LULAC standing up for me every time something questionable happens to a Hispanic or a Gay person. I will fight my own fight if needed but most often I go about my day trying to do the right thing and sleeping weel at night for it. Political Correctness has dulled the creative and the free. Enough is Enough.

I was pleased with the first episode of Black In America but I must say the second episode narrowed our men to dead beat dads, convicts, and those who may be viewed by the Black community as white washed. What about the Black man who has been reared from a good family, attended or attends an HBCU (Historically Black College & University) to get closer to his roots? What about our men who are working good jobs, taking care of family and responsibilities and are still connected to the Black community? What about the Black man who doesn't have any convictions or run-ins with the law? What about the Black man who LOVES his Black women and is searching for her to close the circle on his life? What about him? What about them? I know MANY Black men who are OUTRAGED at how they were portrayed. Black men who raise their children, Black men who are great citizens. CNN did a poor job of showing the much needed positive images of Black men.

Ok...it's important to show the struggle, it's important to show men who have been affected by the harsh realities of being Black In America but when are we going to start replacing the stereotypical images with REAL images of our men? So much focus was placed on the other stories that people from other cultures probably believe that if you're Black and successful, you must have drug dealers in your family and you just happened to make it out, or have been accused of "acting white" to make it.

Next time, include more images of Black men who are doing all of the things your program said they are not. They are out there and they deserve an applaud.

I was disappointed in Black in America. It started with someone using so-called black dialect, difficult to understand. My wife attended a pubic Los Angeles high school in the forties which was totally integrated at that time, and blacks sought to speak excellent English. . This two part series could not have been inspiring to the young blacks of today because it did not show the thousands who are successful in all of the professions, and in elected offices in city, state and national government. It did not show all of the successful blacks who volunteer part of their time working with youth groups in the inner city. It did not show the gifted black teachers in the inner city who have inspired their students to prepare for top colleges. It did not mention that the 12 to 20 million illegal Mexicans in our country are unfairly filling millions of jobs that blacks AND whites in our country used to hold as a way of paying for their education and/or as stepping stones to better jobs.

I would like to see CNN run another program on a common problem. Many qualified, experience Blacks (male) have train many novice White which later became their boss and continue to move up the career ladder while the Black is still holding it but can't step on it t all. This is discouraging to the individual and our young Black children who is watching it. hey say, "Look at you. Why should I try. I'll go where I know Black can make it. Music, sports, labor force, and a trade. What did your education do for you." I keep trying to convey the inportant of education, but I can't argue they point from a realistic "Black" point. Can a law be inacted to protect those who can prove that a less qualified individual was chosen?

CNN, Essence and Soledad owes all of Black America an apology for only half-doing this series; unfairly perpetuating stereotypes and myths that have long surrounded the Black community. What she has done has made life more difficult for all of us. White Americans watching, with no prior inside knowledge of Black Americans are most assuredly left with a negative view of us. You are right, Soledad only addressed the second of three very important questions and that is inexcusable since CNN is big and powerful enough to have sufficiently covered all three. Anything less is irresponsible journalism and unfortunately this has been done at a great cost to African Americans.
Shame on you CNN, Soledad, Essence, McDonald's and everyone else who approved this BIA program.

solutions....

Solutions are what we need. It's time to discuss how we can turn many negatives of being black in america, to positives. As an African American living in Chicago, I see all types of roles of my black brothers in the inner city and am very sensitive to thei plights we face and hope that what I offer is not meant to be miscontrued as an overall solution but one such thought as to how we can begin to turn an uglyy situation to a positive outcome.....

Prisons.......
1) Remove all privatization from the prison system. Remove the capitalization of and corporate greed from the scenario and shutdown the new prison slavery system. Convert more prisons into boot camps that teach discipline, morals and character.
2) Require all inmate to enroll in state funded schools which is part ot the $21,000 funding that most states pay for each inmate.
3) Require all inmates to receive testing for aids before entering and exiting the prison to prevent spreading the disease to our uninfected sisters. Upon exiting the prison system, all inmates must report immediately to job training i.e. (for Green construction demolition).
4) Require all inmates to attend 100 hours of mandatory training in basic book keeping and finance.
5) Hold parole officers more accountable; i.e. reporting in times, random visits to parolees home.
6) Provide training to family members of parolees that have immediate interaction with the parolee on do's and don'ts and how to avoid recidivism.
7) All non-violent offenders required to buddy up with another non-violent offender for support

This could help some of our problems as Americans.
God help us all and let freedom ring!

I forgot, here's more:

Stay away from drug and alchohol abuse
No gambling
Stay out of debt
Embrace your WHOLE self, no matter what hue you are and don't try to fit yourself into something you are not
Apostle Paul's admonition: If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, seek after them. Follow good examples from all walks of life, regardless of race.
Know your value. As a child of God, there are no obstacles placed before you that you cannot overcome

I would like to commend Soledad O'Brien for taking on the monumental task of attempting to share with America a slice of what it means to be "Black in America". I am quite sure that it took courage to embark on this journey. Ms. O'Brien took on the task of attempting to summarize in four hours hundreds of years of history of the "Black Experience" in America. This of course is no easy task; however I congratulate her on initiating the discussion about this topic in the medium that she did. By the supportive and critical responses that the documentary has illicited, I conclude that she has been successful. I make this bold statement because I would suggest that as a result of this documentary conversations about its topic have begun in some homes, have continued in others, and maybe taken a different direction in others. I do not view this documentary as the end of the depiction of what it means to be "Black in America" since it would be impossible to cover every aspect of this topic in four hours. Instead we can use it to further our discussions on its topic.

As an older white male raised in South Texas, most of my intersocialization has been with Hispanics except for 8 of the 11 years that I coached football in San Antonio where I had my first experience with Black ( I hate to make that distinction as we are all Red Blooded Americans ) players and students of which I found to have two completely different attitudes. One group, mostly kids whose parents were in the U S Air Force, were much more studious, hard working, outgoing, motivated and popular among a prodominately white student body and then there was the other group who were from, evidently, the "typical" black family as depicted on CNN's Black in America. My eyes were opened and things became much clearer to me after the "Rev." Wright exposure and it was repeatedly told, "Oh, most all Black churches are like that!!" If so, then that explains everything about the second group I observed. In the last 40 years, what Black person in America has been obsturcted from achieving what they really wanted?? Many comments I read preceeding mine are from those who evidently attend a Wright-like church. I spent last September in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. If some Black Americans feel they have an attachment there, I wish they could go take a look. They would not need a month of observation before they would come HOME with a different attitude and ready to get themselves educated and go to work like the rest of us Black, Brown and White Americans who take responsibilty for ourselves, our families and our God Given Nation.

There is too much emphasis put on being black or white or the differences between the 2 and how we should teach and interact socially to appease everyone. There will always be boundries as long as we always continue to point them out. We are all people, things have happened historically to what one considers whites, just as they have to blacks, slaves have been in all colors throughout history.

But because we dwell on this and use it in politics and so many other aspects of society it will always be the same, never change, the differences are in the people not their color, we all have a choice how we act, how we interact, how we choose to be and raise our children. But because it is such an issue, the press is always pointing it out , people looking for sympathy are always pointing it out, so we will always have boundries drawn between races.

@ Dorothy L Brooks...."We bought into white America’s lie that we should abort our babies, love whoever we wanted, smoke what we wanted. "

Nice. You want equality and you want others to treat you with respect. A good way to go about it is to complain about why they don't treat you well and then make ridiculous statements like the one above. I am pretty sure those aren't the values of ANY race, but keep telling yourself it is if that makes you feel better. You have to give respect in order to get it. I guess all whites/blacks/hispanics are the same and grouping them together just gives others someone to blame for their problems.

Racism does exist. However there are some people...yes, even white Americans that want to be able to live in a society that doesn't judge people by the color of their skin.

I am a black American married to a white American. I am from Virginia, and I understand what this is all about. However I don't think we are going to make any progress until we understand that everyone is valuable in God's eyes, and that what was done in the past is the pass. And though I support Obama he is just a man with clay feet and will make as many mistakes as any other. It will be an encourage ment to some, but a discouragement to others. I have taught many and from what I have experienced most people are just looking for a free ride. Everyone would love to hit the lottery, or have a generous millionaire relative.

We as a majority are looking for the get rich quick scheme, which have resulted in a lot of our problems. If Obama wins it will be a little like South Africa. He will in principle be in charge of the government, but finances is what really turns the world. He can say all he wants, but even now he couldn't be where he is without without big sponsors.( Call them what you will.) The course is set and he is another pawn in the game.

There is very little shame or honor in a huge segment of the black community. The same holds true for the white community (if there is such a thing), but not remotely in comparison to the black community. It should be shameful to have a child out of wedlock. It's something that can be dealt with, but it's shameful, nor normal. That said, it should be especially shameful to have multiple kids out of wedlock. Conversely, it's honorable to make sacrifices in order to take care of your family. However, the series (and later black CNN commentator) correctly pointed out that the sense of shame and honor with many blacks simply isn't there. (Street honor OG style doesn't count.) Until many of the blacks (not all) shown in the series get their moral compasses straight, they are lost and no combination of government programs can save them.

I think black people are just people like all people. White, Chinese, Indian, Persian, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Irish, Polish you name it. All of us with a lot in commom except for some of our cultures, traditions, and religion may be different. We are all of Gods children though and equally love our families and want the best for them and ourselves. As an American eachother also. We also enjoy some of the same music, and eat the same food. We all work hard to take care of our families. Love Jesus and thank him for our blessings and all the beauty in the world. Including all different kinds of people like all different kinds of flowers and animals. Each emiting it's own beauty and light.

Talk, talk, talk. When is anyone going to do something besides talk? I consider myself to be a very well-informed and self-educated woman, but yet, I haven't heard or read about one educated and intelligent black person who will address the real issue that lies at the bottom of the whole topic. A person has to WANT to be educated, CRAVE the freedom and prosperity that only true knowledge and hard work can bring to that person. Whether he/she is black, red, brown, yellow or even white, they must truly want that freedom, and be willing to work for it.

Yes, I know that black people were brought over to this country over 400 years ago as slaves. It was a horrible and wicked thing to do, and was done by people who were themselves, desparate and even uneducated. But, the majority of the blacks living in this country today don't even know or care about that history. They use that horrible fact, as an excuse to continually mask their real problems. Hello, that was 400 years ago, you were not alive then, I was not alive then. This is now, that was then.

Stop using that ugly fact of history and start making your own today. Get a job, any job. Start out at the bottom if you have to. Start by wanting to work for what you want to achieve and not get it handed to you through welfare, affirmative action programs or any other government program that is just a crutch or excuse for laziness.. I have seen and met black people who have achieved that American dream. How did they do it? They worked for it! They wanted it, craved it and went out and worked for and achieved it! Stop whining and making excuses. Just DO IT!

quit whining. Your group has so many advantges that are simply unfair. affirimitive action is a thorn that simply cannot be justified. It's hard to believe that you're only 12% of the population...you people are everywhere!

Larry, Barack Obama was a brilliant young man. This was noticed by people all along his path. His success at Harvard was due to his strong mind, and not to affirmative action. Read up on him some.
Is it surprising that Obama is brilliant? Both of his parents held doctorates. His mother did everything she could to further his intellectual development. Also, have you heard of "hybrid vigor"?

Something else that needs to get attention is how the black children that ACTUALLY grow up in a nice home with a nice family, seem to want to be "hood" or "gangsta" when they are not. Black children who are born into a good family seem to regress into wanting to be either Rappers(on the male side) and Models(on the female side). For some insight i am a 22 year old black male attending an HBCU. So i see this mindset everyday on campus. One would think that most students want to graduate collge and get a degree; and don't get me wrong a lot of them do, but for the most part; growing up in a nice home and also with a nice family is looked down upon most of the time when we leave school and see our friends who didn't attend college; they have so many excuses but their are none when you come out of a nice home. I know this was overlooked but i witness this on a daily basis. If CNN ever gets a chance to talk to some black college students about this i would appreciate it; because to be honest every black male that has lost their way in this life, haven't been raised in a bad home, they just lose their motivation and focus in life; so in turn they turn to the streets because trust me, running the streets is a lot easier than going to college or working hard to get a job, its really easy to do wrong in this life, but why does america make it so hard to live right??

being kenyan i have this to say to my brothers; go to school andd get results and do that for your daughters and sons, because you wont go wrong

I am not black, but I have been reading this series online lately. I have read some of these comments and some are good, however I guess I just don't understand.

I am half white and half filipino. So I haven't experienced quite what blacks have experienced, but I have experienced racial profiling and such from both sides of my ethinicity. Needless to say, this doesn't break me...this makes me.

I just don't get some of the comments I guess, for instance one from Teles:

"They are both white and black. It doesn’t work and will contuine to cost us. How many white people have abandoned their culture to become black? Even rap music that is hugely bought by white kids, that is where its ends. it doesn’t become part of them. It is just music and they just see it as such."

I just think that America is mixed with different cultures that will eventually learn from each other and ideally build up from that. Yes, we do have times where races clash, but why can't we learn from that and just live as one. Be different, but not because of the color of your skin, but because of you, how you grew up, and how you learned from the mistakes of the past.

I guess a lot of this is naive and idealistic. When you as an individual complain about the separation of races and how unfair it is, yet say that you are part of a separate culture that only has to do with the color of your skin. What does that say about you? To me, that is hypocritical. But I guess I grew up a little different and colorblind.

Everyone in the neighborhood held their breath . . .? Well pat yourself on the back now that you are so enlightened that you can exhale with one of us "down the way." Thank goodness he is a "mild, quiet one." You are so obliviously ignorant.

Why is it that Obama speaks at a church that happen to be mostly black in attendence………….And the white pundits reports that Obama visit a black church. But McCain can visit a all white church no non-whites in attendence….The white pundits report that McCain visit a church in AZ……………WHY? Why is it that Rev. Wright is deam evil and Rev. Hagee and Pastor Rod Parsley' both have said racist and anti American rants But as I delved deeper into Parsley, I found another insidious story to tell about the culture warrior who fancies his Center for Moral Clarity a successor to Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority.The media need to stop causing division in this great country. I have been around the world, and there is no country as diversed as the United States, and we need to appreciate the diversity that exists here. Just like beautiful flowers, with different petals, various shades of color, and lovely smelling fragrances, diversity is a good thing and we all have something to contribute, if man would stop being selfish and greedy, we could get something done. We need to appreciate and not separate. Peace to all humankind! Black people are all the same in the eyes of some white people. Pastor Wright makes a statement and all Black pastors must answer for his words.....One black church and all black churches have to answer. This is a DOUBLE STANDARD That is wrong wrong wrong!

Discourtesy insulted disrespected, these are some of the feeling that I had looking at Blacks in America". Number one to tell the story of Blacks in America. And not tell that coming in two weeks . Whites in America or Hispanic in America etc.... Is a insult! THERE IS NO BLACK AMERICA!!! Blacks are not a science project nor are we from another planet. Blacks are American citizen with a special history of discrimination and disrespect! Slavery , Jim Crow , Segregation ,Discrimination, White police officers shooting of black police officers! Pure Hatred! Police Shooting of unarmed black men women and children rangeing from 5 years old to 92 years old. UNARM &SOMETIMES INNOCENT! Now when other races can say that they deal with the same. Then and only then can you compare races! Can blacks do better for thereself ? YES YES YES! But so could many others! The worse of all insults is the story of black people told over and over by white people! So I challenge Anderson Cooper & Soledad O'Brien to Whites in America or Hispanic in America etc.. Be fair & balance! Stop the one sided story of a group of Americans! Be honest tell the truth when you do a show on other races! There should not be another program on being Black in America until there is a show on being White in America!

Where is the Fairness?

White men are murdering white women at record numbers . And to date the white leadership nor John McCain has not address that fact.Serial killers that are mostly white have never been address by the white leadership nor John McCain. One hypothesis is that all serial killers suffer from some form of Antisocial Personality Disorder. They are usually not psychotic, and thus may appear to be quite normal and often even charming, a state of adaptation which Hervey Cleckley calls the "mask of sanity." There is sometimes a sexual element to the murders. The murders may have been completed/attempted in a similar fashion and the victims may have had something in common, for example occupation, race, or sex. There are many many famous white serial killers . This looks like the way white America and the white leadership treats negetives in there community! ( DOING NOTHING TO STOP THE NEGETIVE) or glorifying the situation . Like in the case of HBO: The Sopranos. Where white gangs are glorify and made to look like they are the good bad people and non-white gangs are evil! Where was the white leadership and John Mccain ?Why hasn't McCain spoke to the white community. Incest and child molesting has been for years a problem in the white community and there churches. ( CATHOLIC) & ( LADDER DAY) etc... Why have McCain not address these issue in the white church or the many town meetings!