7.23.2008

B - Black In America

The much buzzed-about Black In America series premiered on CNN last night. The day-one of the series told the story of the "Black Woman & Family" and covered everything from education to dating "something new" outside of your race. The poignant, but vested Soledad O'Brien guides the story by weaving in a and out of the woes and triumphs of the Rand Family, and other related characters. At times, watching part-one of the series gave me a great sense of pride, re-affirmed the hardships, but most importantly, reminded me of the "community" and the responsibility we have to one another. To say this series is well-timed is an understatement. Catch/tivo part two about the "Black Man" airing tonight on CNN at 9PM ET.
HIGHLIGHTS:
  • The Smith family (of the Rand Clan) raise 6 college educated scholar-athletes who all have something to prove to exceed their role-model parents
  • 10 year old Eric Kennedy Jr.'s goal score perfect grades o help his single father pay the bills
  • "Marry Your Baby Daddy Day"
  • The relentless mission of Harvard Professor Ron Fryer to tackle black issues

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It seemed that that focus was the extremes of the Black community -either the well-to-do or the destitute. I though the goal was to show the diasporas of the Black community with the US. It seemed as if they glossed over generational the causes of the problems that a small population of the Black community faces today. As the Bennett College stated, most Blacks do not have criminal records and work a full time job, etc. Many single-parent homes provide and raise successful, well-adjusted children. My son is one of them... However, I saw the exceptions to the Black community not the norm. I was disappointed that people like me were not showcased...what about the working middle-class? There is a huge demographic of people that they missed. So what can a Caucasian come away with...a further engrained stereotypical perception that there are 2 types of Blacks - the ones in the suburbs that are wealthy, educated, homeowners and the Blacks in the City that are poor, uneducated, living in substandard conditions. There could have been a third to discuss the great majority of the Black community.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully the series will continue and include the black middle class.