CNN's 'Black in America' Leaves the Big Questions Unanswered

I am a 50yr old black woman and I watched this show with my 20yr old daughter and we both felt that this was not a program for black people. There was nothing new that we learned. It seemed to us that this show was for white people. Some posters note that Soledad O'Brien cannot understand about the black American experience because she is not "black enough".Like I said before,this show was not for black people. White people are more comfortable hearing about us from someone who looks like them,but supposedly has "credibility" in the black community(even when we black folk know that they don't).

This documents what most of us working Blacks know about those unproductive Blacks. Its not a race thing...its a class thing and CNN can do the same documentary on Whites and find the same poor decisions and living conditions. Unfortunately, Black boys need to pull up their pants and go get an education.

I was not impressed by the series -- When I tuned in and TD Jakes was being featured I did turned to another station and checked back periodically to see if he was finished. Mr. Jakes has a vast amount of wealth due to Black Americans, Mr. Jakes could adopt a needy family or single parent family every 4 years if the parents of the family are struggling to survive he could assist in getting to the core reason for the struggle. If the parents need to be re-educated to increase their earning potential he has the ability to support the family for the 4+ yr it would take the parents to graduate [education is the key to what is so wrong with the African American communities that are deteriating due to drugs and crime. When a young black man or woman is first caught up in criminal justice system the effort should be made to find the root of the problem why is this child 12,13,14,1516,17,18 years old facing any kind of criminal charge. Have a court appt advocate visit this childs home, review school records, speak with family members and speak with the child who's live in on the verge of being affected by hitting of a judges gavel. This child may see the inside of a court room 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 or more times until he/she is labeled as a repeat offender - 3 strikes you're out and in jail for the rest of their young adult lives still no education or constructive direction. None of the guest speakers offered any real solution to the problems that still plauge the African Americans. The answer to some of our most difficult issues are right in front of our faces, the problem is not Rap music and how Black Women are degraded we as a people don't take the message to heart it's an expression of a paticular artist not so much how he really feels about women of color it's not a message or verbal text book for young black men to live by or how to treat young black women --- Live and walk in the shoes of another Black man or woman then air this again --

My biggest problem with the progrm was the limited focus and time spent on the black female. Not black women as mothers, singles searching for me or care givers but just as women. It didn't speak to our relationships or lack of relationship with each other and/or how the other issues, (being single mom's, limited desirable men, etc) play into that. I personally felt each time black women was spoken it was followed by something that had to do witih the black man.

I do not know who this program was meant for. Being Black in America, I live it everyday. I do not need a documentary to tell me the plight of Black Men and Black Women in America. Poor Blacks, and educated Black Men & Women suffer the same. It is terrible in 2008 that Black Americans face many of the same problems. The issues are just more covert, but racism is alive and well in America. When we get in the game they just change the rules.

ivan davis, in the first place, soledad o'brien's mother is black. she is JUST as "black" as our next president.

in the second place, i find it pretty sick that o'brien isnt respected as a journalist more. i dont know a thing about her life story, frankly, but she did an AMAZING in the documentary, "when the levees broke." (new orelans is her hometown)

in terms of "diversity," race is SUCH a small part of the issue. if you think it's difficult to get a job because of skin color (ive experienced that; ive also had interviewers say the same, 'wow, you're so well-spoken!' crap that people did to obama @ first. i'm so brainwashed i wasn't even offended.)

but if you think skin color is tough, try skin color, a long, difficult-to-pronounce name, AND a limp...

I find it very interesting that there are people in this country that would even sit down to watch a show with this title and not "get it". There are HUGE issues that still need to addressed not only in the African American community but in society in large part. For whatever reason, people think that just going to school, getting job training or just plain working hard is a "magic wand"!!! Those things only scratch the surface for success. Did anyone pay attention to the fact that a college educated African American man with no criminal record has no better chance of getting a job than a white man with a felony conviction! That fact only should make the rational persons skin crawl!!! How does that make sense and why does it seem to go unnoticed by those that want to say it's all about education, not blaming others, and taking responsibility for your future. YES, education is the key, but what happens when you've done all the right things and you are still judged by your skin color? That's the only thing that keeps an educated African American man from competing for a job vs. a white man with a felony conviction. I'd be interested to hear an explanation of how that is right!!!

Ivan Davis seems to be excessively hard on Soledad O'Brien in a post about a journalistic work. He asks where was Ms. O'Brien in the 60's during Jim Crow. Ms. O'Brien was born in the late 60's. Is Ivan Davis saying that journalists should only cover events they have lived through? Only former soldiers turned journalists should cover wars? Only journalists who have been victims of collapsed bridges should report on the lives of people caught on collapsing bridges? Ivan Davis asks about O'Brien's racial heritage. Soledad O'Brien is very outspoken about her mother being black. Her mom is a black Cuban and Soledad affiliates as a multiracial American and as a journalist who is black and as a journalist who is Latino. Still, journalists are trained to report stories regardless of their ethnicity and regardless of their gender. That doesn't mean that the perspectives of all journalists would be the same. Each person's own experiences often influences the questions that are asked, or how s/he perceives what they hear. That is why it is important to have diverse news teams straight through to management. Soledad was not alone in producing "Black in America;" there was a whole diverse team, including the camera operators and the researchers. There were also the CNN executives who assigned the story to Soledad. Perhaps instead of critiquing the journalist and her personal life, one should analyze the entire process.

this message goes out to ivan davis-

mr. davis:

racism is racism. while i agree with the first portion of your statement i have difficulty with your statements about soledad obrien. hispanics/latinos regardless of their skin color also experience racism. you should also know that on many occasions we experience at the hand of other groups of color. we need to stop hating on each other and work towards solutions.

White people need to stop complaining about the discontent created by the racism they systematically incorporate daily against black people, and nobody else. The difference between indian immigrants and chinese immi. vs. black americans is there is no systemic discrimination against them. Besides all the help they get from the govt. to start businesses, whatever they work for they obtain, no questions asked. On the other hand, take for example the issue of black hair. Only black women are forced to change her natural hair in order to obtain a job no matter what the credentials, and in some cases black men, this is a big discrimination issue. Hair has got nothing to do with job performance or political views (but isn't this suppose to be a free country?) Black people also face discrimination obtaining loans, employment promotions,in sales, housing, driving while black, quality of education, etc. The list goes on and on. Whites need to start taking responsibility for the PROBLEMS instead of complaining about those who want to fix the inadequacies they created and continue to create which is the REAL STRAIN on the country.

I didn't care for the special. It talked about the same stuff they always talk about. After the woman lost two kids they didn't talk about the Rands anymore. What about the woman with 5 kids and was loosing her house. Or the drug dealer turned minister. The only one I had some respect for was the man who was trying to find a job but sent a mixed message when he walked down the street in slouchy jeans and a big shirt. Why didn't they ask about redlining, why whites hold back financing at black schools, why a man from another country (judging by his accent)had the nerve to turn his nose up to a black man, was he saying the dream is for them not for us. Why blacks have to still be questioned by the cops if they are in the wrong neighborhood. Why the police shoot, taser, beat black men in great percentages than any other race. I want to know why are black women depressed, is it because of the lackadaisical attitude of black men towards black women but offer rest and respite (financing and respect) for women of other races but not their own or any other women but not the mother of their children. I wanna hear some hard questions not the ones we already know the answers to, I wanna know how a whole race of people could just be shut out of the American dream and everyone thinks it okay.

While CNN eluded to shedding light on what it truly means to be "Black in America", I was quite disappointed that the majority of the documentary focused on the stereotypical extremes from the drug dealers, unwed mothers and absence fathers to the wealthy successful individuals, living in the big house on the hill, in an affluent neighborhood with the Mercedes in the garage. These extremes are not representative of the day to day lives of the average, hardworking, African Americans, existing in the same manner as other "Americans". There were also other pertinent issues never touched on, such as the unavailability of the Black man not only equated to the incarceration rate, but the fact that many "successful" Black men seek mates outside of the Black race, further stacking the chips against the Black woman. Additionally, when the interracial couple (Black woman, White man) was interviewed, it was quite interesting that the question of "acceptance" was only directed to the man and how his family perceived his relationship with a Black woman and no concern for the reactions of the Black woman's family. Again, this continues to perpetrate the idea that these issues effect only the White race and Blacks generally except and or welcome such interracial relationships, which is a not true. It would be nice to finally see a depiction of the truth about Blacks in America, rather than the regurgitated images that we have grown quite tired of seeing.

Real but lot's of discouraging stats! Everyone knows the problems which face Black America, what's new! Great investigative reporting CNN! Hello!!!! Nothing which CNN presented concerning this series was alarming new news! The Series simply reinforced the negative campaign image of Black Americans which has haunted Blacks since they arrived in the tall ships. More emphasis on SOLUTIONS and the consistent reinforcement of positve Black role models who provide hope for Black Amercians would have been a more interesting angle to approach.I know you guys tried but the presentation of more positive role models could have been better leveraged. Not all successful blacks folks attend Harvard.

Also did you notice most of the positive black guest which OBrien presented were light in color??? What's up??? Remember the perception which you report CNN sets the tone for your viewer's reality! Not enough positve true dark skinned African Americans available? Lastly, O'Brien is an American safe bet for normal nightly news coverage. The role OBrien played lacked "Real" delivery. No offense but how can a Hispanic white skinned, Irish last name Reporter like O'Brien understand the TRUE BLACK EXPERIENCE in America? She tried but fell short. Where was Obrien in the 60's during the Jim Crow, people marching in the streets and the riots which occured in the urban areas of America? Does OBrien have family members who are African American? Is OBrien's husband or children African American? Has Obrien ever lived and experienced REAL racism??? It's tough to report on a sensitive topic such as black racism in America when the Reporter has know real history or close experience with the struggle!

I felt a little decieved by the topic for Part One, Women and children. For a good part of the program, the focus was more on the Rand Family and a single father. Also, felt like it could have highlighted the positive side of being Black in America. The documentary did not touch much on successful doctors, lawyers, scholars, military leaders, business owners, actors, directors and athletes. Although many may have come from the harsh environment shown during the 2-part series, I believe it would have been just as important to highlight how successful individuals succeeded against the odds.

I like Bill Cosby's book and message.

Stop making excuses decade after decade. Take responsibility for you life, your community, your education regardless of skin color.

I can't help but refer to the Boat people who came into the costal areas from Vietnam in the just the 1980's. My experience was that they spoke no English and had few if any job skills for the US. They had no reference point to the American lifestype. Now those students and parents utilized the education provided for free by the US schools, graduated and then continued the learning. Many are much smarter & educated than I am.

Many are now contributing to the US instead of blaming & draining.

The Asians & people from India are out educating themselves far above many of the basic multigenerational Americans who insist on not even graduating from the no-extra-cost High School education in the public schools.

RE: Being Black in America.

Every person in America needs to 1st take charge for their own education, own continued education, own job skill development, own values, own health safety, own follow the laws.

This is a community issue that should be aggressively addressed by each individual and each family and each community without the assumption of blaming others or expecting the gov't to solve the problem.

I think many Americans watching the documentary missed the point a little. No documentary on such a broad topic (Jewish in America, Mexican in America, Short in America, Hungry in America) could hope to bring about conclusions and full understanding of the issues it involves.

But I think the mentality behind this 2-part piece was to address the fact that the in-home and in-public conversation about the genuine situation of the Black individual in America is being laid down, pushed aside to make way for talk about.....anything else really.

In anticipation of the documentary, we all guessed at the issues OBrien would touch on. We discussed these issues during the commercial breaks. We argued with the screen when commentators said what we didn't script in our minds.

But the conversation and solution-finding relevant to being Black in America has died DOWN in past years, making the conversations we have now, after this documentary even more important than the documentary itself.

We know how weary Americans are of tackling the immense laundry list of "fix this already" issues Blacks face. THe fact, however, is that few things are "fixed" - many black-related issues are band-aided or ignored, in favor of addressing another race's issues, which are more relatable, more current, more....nonblack.

I liked the documentary for raising more questions than it solved - that's what we need to pique curiosity, begin dialogues, and ultimately effect change.

I was disappointed with Black In America - after I had looked forward to watching it for weeks. The issues were not new. What was the point? They can't keep doing this type of programming without talking about the causes or trying to come up with solutions. Anyone who watched should be asking how can America be such a great nation when a segment of it's population is living with so many issues.

I can't imagine that a black person viewing the recent report on Black America discovered any thing new. what would have made it more interesting is to talk to school administrators,ceo's, health providers,city officials and get their commentary on what is being done to right some of the wrongs to just report on statistics does nothing but cause furthur despair among blacks and causes whites to relish their white priviledge. Althouth it was ambitious of CNN to do this series it fell short of my expectations.

This show is the true life of the forgotten american living among us. This is a generation of poeple who like it or not have an impact on our way of live. Mrs. Obrien I'm interested in knowing how do you feel about the hispanic population? We are right in the middle of the agenda of white and black. On many occasions we feel with do not count. Hispanics in this great nation are right in the middle of all the disputes. Only during important presidential elections we are noticed. Please call me. I would like to bring to your attention some of my experiences and the experience of my family. I'm a second generation hispanic here in this country. I'm looking forward hearing from you soon.

I felt that the two part series was rushed...which left me feeling empty. Perhaps, Part 1 and Part 2 could have been aired over a two week period, allowing more time to explore each segment. What a BIG let down...

I agree that they "why's" were not adressed and left hanging in the air, where, to those who do not understand, would be left with the notion that all the problems are simply because of race. I saw the episode on the Black Man, and it was the same thing. I feel that it isn't addressed in these shows that much of the problems are not just race, but educationally based as well as simply being American. I see everywhere around me plenty of single, never married White moms raising children and having the same issues of getting dead-beat dads to contribute. And I feel that children of parents who went to college, whatever their race, typically go to college. I don't feel these issues were addressed, and then going further as to how these issues can differ in the Black community.

Interestingly enough Yoji Cole had the complete opposite response to Black in America that I had. That is, good research methodologies often lead to more questions rather than answers. Perhaps the fact that Black in America left the big questions unanswered is the good news. At least the questions are being asked, discussed, and debated by a larger group of Americans than before Black in America. And that, indeed is the good news!

Yoji states statistics that you just kind of already know if you live in it, but were shocking to this writer. Moreover, I think they heard one statistic incorrectly though: 70% of AA children are being raised in single parent, female headed households and not being born to "unwed mothers" as reported in this article. There's a big difference in those two statements.

Nonetheless, Black in America at least unveiled some salient questions for us.

The documentary was interesting and done with good taste. I especially like seeing the postive images of African-Americans, to eliminate some of the stereotypes. However as an African-American female born and reared in the United States of America, I was not surprised or learned any new information. I did not know the exact statistics. It's like singing to the choir. I would like to know what percentage of White Americans (nonpeople of color) watched the series. The policy and decision makers, who use discretionary authority on who is hired, promoted and sentenced to prison or given probation. The next series should be about solutions to fix problems that have existed in this country for years and years. I would like to have seen a separate panel of "all whites" and "all African-Americans" to share their views on this information. Then compare the responses/insights. (i.e. focus group). The primary question is who's willing to do what to ameliorate these problems?

This minister is exactly right. We actually talked about this. Although I commend CNN and Soledad O'Brien for the two day piece, I think it did not get to the root of the problem. It would be a travesty to leave the series at that. Hopefully, this will cause people to action and move and do something. I am kind of bothered by it all, I will just pray on what to do next.

I waited with anticipation to watch this documentary for a couple of months now. I was mostly disappointed. While it was indeed informative, I am left wondering what the goal of the documentary was. The statistics demonstrated African American population is struggling in a variety of ways. We (African Americans) are overrepresented disproportionately in prison, poverty, under-educated, at-risk for certain health issues, etc. All of this and more was presented throughout the show. In my opinion, the lack of depth of any one of the subjects made the entire program seem a wash, a laundry list of problems that continue to plague the Black community. I believe it would have been more powerful to have more scholarship behind the message. A presentation of some historical context would have added greatly to this presentation. Without a point of reference for understanding the stem or root of these issues, the showed seemed more like a survey of current problems and little else.

The highlights for me were the father that was shown raising his two children and the mother of five adolescents. The strength and resilience of the these families (also grounded in a historical foundation) was wonderful, although little to no direct attention was given to it.

I watched both nights of the CNN report. My emotions ran the gamit also, of encouragement to dismay to anger. The heart of the problem is indeed racism-- the controlling and oppressive attitude and actions of whites. By their own admission, during the program, they are hiring Black men because of their belief in the stereotypes regarding them. We are not receiving the best quality education, because of the belief in the stereotypes regarding us as a people, a lack of accountability of the educational system to anyone but themselves, and our continued dependency on them (whites) to take care of us.I have white educators that have admitted to me in private that if the failure of white students was a great as that of Black students, the problem would be addressed immediately. The arrests of our men for any and every reason, again is because of whites beliefs in the stereotypes and our inferiority, and a way of controlling black men. This has been in place since the end of slavery. Do not be fooled by the level of success of some of our people, what has happened to those who have not been successful is deliberate and intentional. As the Bible says, "Our people perish because of a lack of knowledge." Some of us have believed the lies about us, turned the hate inward and help "kill" us physically, spiritually, and emotionally. As you saw in the special they always find the "Negro" that obtains a position and a voice and uses it to help with the oppression. That dynamic is a work in our schools also. Despite the fact that they are Blacks in top positions in our schools, most staff are predominately white, and their attitudes control our schools. I, for one, don't care to see anymore "special" reports on Black people. The critical thing is what we can do collectively to get at the heart of the problems and set our people free to learn the real truth about who we are and the greatness we possess.

I was disappointed, I expected more.

I also would have like to have shared more contrasting. Example the DA married to a white woman, working in a white environment upholding laws that he even recognize (some) as "unfair" to blacks. He simply said, if they break the law they will pay. OK, what about the officers that routinely break the law whose going to make them pay. And what about the black ones the get caught up in the system that has not broken the law...

Another issue that was key but she didn't "get into". The young man that was clearly looking for a job; he was told by the computer to go in and speak to the store manager. It seem like it would have been good to see what would have happen if another person of a different race went in with the same story.

It share how black folks are fairing, but it didn't connect how it "may" impact the behaviors that is often display by blacks.

In the end; I found it to be entertaining/alarming but would have rather been given some more WHYS and what can be done now.

I strongly felt it was like the rapper was saying…Obrien had to "dumb it down" to get it on the air!

I was disappointed, discouraged and disgusted with the portrayal of blacks in this "documentatry". All the typical sterotypes were evident with no explanation (as noted above) which probably confirmed what white people felt/thought all along--and don't kid yourself, I'm certain there were many who tuned in for this debacle. All the wonderful achievements that could have been cited and/or shown were glaringly omitted.

Even those who had "made it" were disgraceful and clearly had not instilled any black pride in their children. I was extremely saddened with this program.

Ditto and Brava!

I was disappointed with the program's content. It provided a vague slice of Black America, highlighting problems that we are aware of. Some of the statistics, especially the AIDS diagnosis, were sad and shocking.

I anticipated issues to be identified, however, I expected root causes to be cited, so that viable solutions could be developed and initiated at a community and National level.

I can only describe this documentary as no new news and disapointing.

Respectfully submitted.

Although everything written about in this article shows truths, in reality, how much time is there "really" to put into any story. The History of the African American is so long and diverse that any program can only touch the surface. Now the challenge is to take a look at this program - Black in America" and find the funding to look at the whys as mentioned in the article. The program was excellently done and brings more questions and yearning to want to know more. Now how do we as a society follow up on that?

I must admit that I was transfixed to the television on both nights. Being an African American Male, who happens to be college educated, retired once and currently working on my second career agree with the author when it states that the question of why was not addressed. My concern was not the why, but whether or not White America avail themselves to viewing the production. In viewing the production, I would hope that it would generate dialogue in the workplace; but I do indeed doubt it. Black folks know the sad story, we live the sad story and we will die knowing the sad story; what we need is for those that don't share our heritage to listen to this and allow it to prick their sensibilities to the point where they would want to discuss and possibly put into place and practice some fixes to the high rate of HIV/AIDS and the inordinately high amount of High School drop rates of young African American boys.

Soledad, you did a great job and I thank you for your diligence, professionalism and care in bringing this documentary into the homes of this world community.

For the very reasons mentioned in this article, I did not watch the series. In my opiniion, News Agencies specialize in providing a camouflage of concern for the Black Situation in America while perpetuating long-standing stereotypes that justify the dominant society's disposition toward American Blacks. It is better not to tell the story than to present a distorted picture.

I wholeheartedly agree that the series, while enlightening to a degree, left much to the imagination. I was looking and hoping for concrete information to explain the plight of Blacks in America but got no where close to that. I thought the documentary would do more to explain why Black people are in the positions they are in but it failed in that respect.

I believe it has been made clear the numerous root cause reasons underlying many of the problems faced by Black America. While we should not lose sight of the reasons, less they are repeated, the focus should be on solutions. Read Mr. Blackmon's book to understand the devastation caused by slavery. Show a young child the positive images of the Rand family so he/she does not have to go to prison to find role models at San Quentin Uni.

I meant to watch this, although the controversy subsequent has been that it pointed out many negatives in our community, no positives, failed to seek the underlying causes and really didn't delve into solutions.

Whatever you want to call it; racism, ignorance or just plain blindness has been going on for years. Knowone wanted to address the issues that people of color have dealt with for years. We all just kind pushed away from the thought that it can't be that bad, until it happened to us or someone we knew. I am a man of color, and I am a witness first-hand to the racism that happens in the country. It's sad to say, but I expect at anytime while driving tht I could be pulled over for whatever reason the police want to. I just have to make sure that there is no reason why they should have to pull me out of car. Shame on the police you say, I say screw all the BS anyone of color has to go through because the person pulling you over has an issue with the color of your skin. And I say screw them even more if you're almost shot in front of your two year old because you're told "you fit the description" of a teenage white kid. Did I mention, Forbes Magazine has rated Hamilton County the Best Place to Raise a Family in 2008? The Town of Fishers was named the tenth best place to live in the nation by Money Magazine in its Best Places to Live issue released today.

I wanted the schools, less traffic, and a great place to raise my daughter. The question should be; Why can't a person want this for his family?

You live in the suburbs with your family, and you always have the suspicious looking (honda civic) car? I am tired, and my wife is tired.

I tried to watch the show, but it was so light weight in terms of coverage that it was boring. Secondly using actorsd in some segments smacked of entertainment, not education.

Trying to define a people using only the negative statistics is misleading.

I think that Soledad is a light weight journalist that was not up to these interviews. It seemed like she was hearing aobut this information for the first time.

Pop journalism, that's what I would call it.

I was disappointed that the audience was mostly black. I know it was supposed to be one familyh, but why weren't Asian, Hispanics, Euro and Native Americans in the audience?

Being Black is not a Black problems.

Being Black is to be part of a culture that has along history in the arts, sciences and humantities. Our lives are more than the "oppressed people".

CNN did a good job in exposing multiple issues that are affecting Black America. However, i would like to see CNN give that same effort in addressing an array solutions that deals with white privilege and systemic racism that's being driven by greed, vanity, and fear.

For the very reasons mentioned in this article, I did not watch the series. In my opiniion, News Agencies specialize in providing a camouflage of concern for the Black Situation in America while perpetuating long-standing stereotypes that justify the dominant society's disposition toward American Blacks. It is better not to tell the story than to present a distorted picture.