By: macemore

macemore — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:55:55 +0000

I appreciate this effort by Soledad. However, as with series #1, I am left extremely disappointed. I wish this series would go deeper into the trenches to explain the historical FACTS and behaviors that have influenced our current plight. When we mention the dropout rates and the fact that black students are several grades behind whites- explain the deeper “whys”. The crack head mom and the alcoholic father are definitely a problem. But also show the ocean-sized gap in the quality of schools in white neighborhoods and black neighborhoods. Exposure to different things and the overwhelming amount of “second” and “third” chances that white kids get when they mess up as opposed to the “guilty before you even start” reality that black kids live in play a bigger role in what we see today. Otherwise, we can talk to the white crack head mom and white alcoholic dad and get the same story that was just told on CNN. Let’s talk about the effects on a person’s psyche when the only story they learn in school is someone else’s story. Maybe part of the problem is that black students are disconnected because, no matter what class (even math and sciences) you attend, the images and influences are not going to be a reflection of us. Maybe it’s because we have to learn about the “Diary of Anne Frank” as opposed to Henrietta Jacobs (Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl), who survived years living in a cramped slave shack attic, watching her children grow up through a hole in the floor all to escape the slave master’s aggressive sexual advances. Maybe there is a disconnect because, as we are told that we are prone to violence and destruction, we are not told about what happened to people like Nat Turner. He was a brave and intelligent slave revolter who was hung, skinned, dismembered and dispersed to white onlookers for souvenirs. Someone made a purse. Another made an ashtray. Some made jewelry. We are not told about Sara Baartman, a young South African woman brought to London in 1810. She was put on display nude to show off her ample bottom and ample breasts. After five years in London she died of disease and loneliness. For 150 years her brain, vagina and body were on display until 1974. Her body was returned to South Africa in 2002 for a proper burial. For hundreds of years black women have been influenced to feel inferior about big lips, big behinds and big breasts. Now it’s okay because white women can finally get a surgeon to build them. Not being aware of these things allows someone else, much less qualified, to assume a moral authority over us. These stories of what we have endured and what we have accomplished are empowering. This is what our kids should be learning. Yet, in this show issues like that went ignored. So, are black kids behind because we have sorry parents or because we’re slow learners or because we have smaller brains or because we’re better suited for sports or should the system take a huge responsibilty for it’s institutionalized neglect? When it was reported that seeing a healthy marriage in black families was not common, there was a failure to mention where that idea came from and the social and historical factors that play a role. How can you mention problems in black relationships without talking about the history of white people forcing black men to, not only watch their women be raped and treated like a piece of meat, but to also father babies by many different women for profit and labor. When we don’t talk about that, we may as well just say that we have all these problems because of us just being us. How can we talk about black prisoners without talking about the GROSS imbalance of equal and fair justice for minorities? How can we not address a system that is DESIGNED to be a revolving door? How can we ignore the shocking facts and statistics of the most racist tool in America- the justice system? HOW? How can you do a show about being black in America and not go to the countless little towns called Jena where racism goes almost completely unchecked. To tell the story of being black in America you need to visit some local bars where people have had a few to drink and are willing to tell you why their company has 100 employees and only 3 are black. Go to those places in America where, in 2009, black people can’t even visit or live. If I did not know my own history and the social injustices that plague us, I would walk away from this show feeling like it was more of a self- help series for a group of people who have problems BECAUSE they are black and that it has little to do with century long patterns of racism that are still practiced today. Yes, we have our own responsibilities and short- comings and places where we dropped the ball. But this series seemed like it said that being black in America has nothing to do with white America. It does. Or else it should have been called “PEOPLE Who Beat the Odds and Other Bootstrap Stories”. History has been erased from these stories and the blood dripping from the fingers pointing at us is suspiciously being ignored. I think this series was a great idea. I’m just not sure Soledad is the one for the job. I really like her and truly believe her intentions and motivations are with great sincerity, but it seems like she doesn’t want to get her hands dirty. Let’s try this again with some real, raw, gutteral truth. Let’s say those things that we talk about when we get home and shed our controlled and dishonest political correctness. Ask white women and black women how they REALLY feel about each other. Ask black people how they REALLY feel about Columbus and other white “heroes” that have been shoved down our throats. Talk to African- Americans about the bitter resentment many of us have because we have to simultaneously live dual lives because who we are as individuals and a race doesn’t “fit” into our work environment. If we’ve changed so much, why don’t we see just as many white people as blacks show up for protests against blatant police brutality , discrimnation and racism. Wanna know some real truth? Talk to minorities who work in white homes as nannies and house keepers. Let’s tear this sore wide-open and deal with the real issues of being black in America. Many of us want to heal. Many of us want to live as ONE cohesive human race the way I believe it was intended. But I assure you, we will not begin to truly heal if the requirement is for black people to forget and ignore the injustices and disparities that continue till this day. It won’t happen if we have to continue to strip ourselves of “us” to have this dialogue. All who are truly interested in healing America’s racial past and present MUST KNOW that there will be sweat and tears and anger and confusion. There will be inner conflicts and outer conflicts. Relationships will be severed and relationships will be born. There will be HONEST reconciliation. There is no easy way to do this especially if African- Americans demand to not be reduced to insignificance. I demand to be recognized and acknowledged for who I am and the phenomenal history I was born from with all of its heroines and supermen. Why should they be invisible? They carried me here. We are too intelligent to accept the surface and superficial way in which we have become accustomed to dealing with the race issue. Meet me in the alley where myth ends and truth begins and don’t forget your hankies and your voice because I won’t be biting my tongue. These are the ramblings of one who sees incredible hope and potential for what we could really get accomplished if we eliminated the divisions that have separated us for too long. I leave as I came- in peace. macemore

By: Najee Ali

Najee Ali — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:17:38 +0000

Welcome Miki and I co-sign with you 100%
I watched 20 minutes of it and gave up.
I live being a Black man everyday. CNN tell me something i didnt know.

By: jacqi l

jacqi l — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:18:19 +0000

I finally watched this last night –
I agree – this was NOT appointment television

By: Destah Owens

Destah Owens — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:07:15 +0000

Way to hit the ground running, Miki. Your comments are right on point. I caught 15 or 20 minutes of it in the airport the other night and was not terribly impressed. Your point about the marketing definitely rings true for me. I have not been remotely compelled to make some time in my schedule to watch. Spike Lee’s Requiem? I’m all over something like that. CNN? Yawn…

By: gERALD j

gERALD j — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:39:47 +0000

Miki you are right, it is about the journey. Our rich history and the fact that we are the influencers of the entire world – fashion, music, everything — the world needs to know this

By: Nicole Johnson

Nicole Johnson — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:37:40 +0000

HAPPY CNN GOT THE GREEN LIGHT — BUT SAD THEY COULDN’T GET IT RIGHT!

By: TellAll

TellAll — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:46:15 +0000

Kudos to CNN for the attempt like Uncle sez.
I only saw the Black men one.
I didn’t think it was that bad.
I thought it showed balance.
maybe I’m way off.

By: ratty

ratty — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:14:17 +0000

& amen at Miki too and welcome!

By: ratty

ratty — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:13:38 +0000

Mashawn, Faye, Bronze, Renina, amen to all that.
there’s one word to describe what I felt the series lacked.
BALANCE.
It is as simple as that.

By: Coretta Scott Queen

Coretta Scott Queen — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:54:59 +0000

Buut I have to admit I love me some Michael Eric Dyson.

Comments on: Blog Debut! ‘Black In America’ Is Way Too Gray

By: macemore

By: Najee Ali

By: jacqi l

By: Destah Owens

By: gERALD j

By: Nicole Johnson

By: TellAll

By: ratty

By: ratty

By: Coretta Scott Queen