Thoughts on Part Two of CNN’s “Black in America”
I know I mentioned this before, but I just found the spoken word artist to be very annoying because he seemed to take away from the seriousness of the presentation. And the whole “Negro on Display” feel.
This episode was more depressing for me than the previous one because it just reminded me of all of the problems that face our community. It reminded me of the many people that I have met just like those shown tonight with similar problems. Many of them are dead now. We were presented (once again) with the crack epidemic, criminality, lack of job opportunities, discrimination, prison and on and on. So many young black men become resigned to a fate that they are doomed to a life of crime, violence and drugs. Many of them will die in prison.
This is the singular side of blacks that so many non-blacks think of when they think of the entirety of black America. It is totally absurd and maddening, but while many of us may not have lived like this, this dark side is very real and must be addressed. Anyone that denies the destructive impact of these ills is not in touch with reality.
A few notes:
- I have seen Kenneth Allen’s story of recovery from crack so many times. In many ways he reminded me of a friend that is a recovering addict and helping himself to stay clean by working in a recovery center. He has been clean for about 7 years now and is doing well for himself. However, he is in the minority.
So many others are slaves to that monster and never make it. I have known men that were once responsible and hard working that became addicts that never recovered. I have seen others that try so hard to recover and want to do good but are overcome by the drug ad infinitum. We’ve seen this story time and time again and it makes us angry. It has been a scourge in our country that has destroyed the lives of many people and crippled the future of an entire generation of children.
- I have to agree with Joseph Phillips who calls for more personal responsibility in dealing with these problems rather than pointing the finger at others. I don’t think that we should continue to outright dismiss people like him. And I also agree that if Spike can’t make a good profitable movie, then he should not cry about not getting major funding for a movie. That is the way business works.
I saw these problems on similar specials 20 years ago and now I am seeing it again. Will we see the same problems on display 20 years from now? Do we want our sons and daughters of the next generation to be trapped in these same disastrous conditions 20 years from now? Whatever the case, we are failing them. With the world being more competitive than ever it is more essential than ever to make sure that our children are prepared for the challenges they will face in the fast changing world over the next 20-25 years.
Filed under: Race
I enjoyed Part II of CNN’s “Black in America” series, particularly in comparison to Part I. I liked that a broader range of scholars and celebrities weighed in on issues highlighted in the series, particularly the drug epidemic, absentee fathers, corporate America, incarceration, rap and the media, etc. CNN also did a good job in selecting a somewhat diverse range of Black men to interview, including those who are successful despite having overcome certain odds and those paying a high price for poor decisionmaking and socioeconomic factors, as well as those who have grown up in solidly middle class families. It was certainly not all encompassing in terms of the range of Black males in the U.S., but to do so would have proven difficult. Tonight’s series also did a much better job of answering the “why” or the contributing factors that perpetuate these disparities such as enduring prejudice, low expectations, media portrayals, environment, absentee fathers, etc, etc. This is not to suggest that “choices” are not also to blame, but we can not ignore socioeconomic, environmental, psychological and other factors that ultimately contribute to negative decisionmaking among Black men. The self-fulfilling prophecy of low-expectations, for example, is very, very powerful when it comes to under achievement in school.
As I think about it, however, perhaps a greater focus on environment would have been good. The chances of young men graduating and a life of success are severely diminished when one has not acquired the educational and other tools needed to succeed. How many young men, for example, who are part of the 50% that graduate who attended under-performing schools will likely succeed economically, etc. based on how success is defined in the U.S.? Not many! It also would have been nice to hear from more young Black males, including those in majority or minority colleges, in under- and high-performing high schools, men resigned to street life, etc. Again, I think there
Thanks Br. Tariq, I can always count on your blog to throughly depress me! I am so far removed from the flight of the AA and out of the loop. My family recently found my nephews long lost mother. She is 38 yrs old and trying to get her life togther (again), she’s in a GED program and then plans on going to Cosmotoglogy school. I congratulated her but in my mind I was thinking…”typical ghetto story”.
I got an email the other day with the subject line “White People A’int Stupid” and it cited several examples of blacks coming to the rescue with the recent addition of Obama cleaning up Bushes mess. I was reading off the list to my (white) husband and asking if he knew that. He said, he didn’t but it did not surprise him that it would be hush hush about black accomplishments and that what the mainstrean would know about blacks are our sterotypical behaviors. My husband does not understand how the person raised in middle class black America can have been raised around both ends of the spectrum. He knows I know murderers and murdered. He also knowx that I know many PHDs and other high acheivers.
I’m glad I didn’t see the program. I already feel teary after simply reading your observations.
I have read some other sites, and I think that this may happen.
I think it is rare for anyone in middle class black America to NOT grow up seeing the other end of the spectrum. It will probably take a couple of generations before you start to see blacks totally disconnected from the dysfunction. But many of them may have effectively married out of the race by then (anyone seen Soledad’s children?) and it could be a moot point
Added. Nice work on this one. Btw, my blog is dofollow, stop by and grab a link. Bompa
I found the CNN “Black America” specials to be waterdown and lacking any hard fast solutions or suggestions that could prevent blacks folks in this country from continuing to follow the self destructive path that we are currently on.
I didn’t need a predominately white woman depicting a reality that I’m well aware of. This special was all about creating the wow factor, and like mainstream rap, geared toward entertaining a white audience!
Tariq, I found the poet to be annoying as well and he did a great job in solidfying the stereotypes that this document should have tryed to avoid.
Cnn, you suck!
What did you expect in or from such a program? How could it possibly please everyone and how could it possibly comprehensively cover the topic on commercial TV? Parts were indeed depressing and I felt there were a lot of things they could have done and people they could have avoided even. Yet when all is said and done, the people like the ’spoken word artist’ are part and parcel of black America. Bootsy Collins, the video vixens, the nasty rappers etc. are a big part of some people’s lives. We complain about a stereotype, but so many people seem to be doing all they can to live up to it.
I was most affected by the segment following the graduates of Little Rock High and what they had to put up with back in ‘68. I remember those days but since I grew up in a predominantly black section of town and a predominantly black school, I never had to hear the kind of invective those people had to endure. That is stuff that cuts very deeply. The point it made for me was how close those times really are and how ignorant black youth and others are to a lot of that which is reflected in the super materialistic values so many seem to have which clouds their judgment and sense of decency. I don’t know how those women in those videos or the rappers and those who produce them can look themselves in the mirror. It is appalling.
The other segment on black fathers not being responsible irked me too. Perhaps what irked me most was the lack of any commentary on the responsibility of those WOMEN who had children by several ‘baby daddies’. Maybe I missed something.
Finally, even when parents, especially daddies ARE there and do their best and try to instill decent values and offer protection and their insight into life, they have to work so hard to make ends meet and are up against a lot of deterioration and decadence within the environment and their children simply DON’T LISTEN to them and end up doing the same stupid things that get them into serious trouble. I did not notice any significant comment on THAT one either. Again, what should we expect from such a show on commercial TV?
@ Abu Abdillah
I understand what you are saying. I really don’t hear anyone calling these women having the babies to account for their share in creating their situation except people like Joseph Phillips who are totally dismissed in the black community because they are conservative. There IS a lot of coddling going on.
On the spoken word artist, I just felt like it was kinda patronizing.
Abu and Tariq:
What exactly are you IRKED about?
Yes, those women who had children by several baby daddies are held accountable everyday when they have to foot the bill on everything concerning that child(ren) and have to take the responsibility of that child
I agree with others on the poet. I could have done without him. He did detract from the seriousness of the issues in the series.
I also didn’t have a problem with Joseph Phillips. He has a right to his opinions, and there are many African-Americans who would agree with him. I agreed with some of his points. My only concern, however, is when we start to talk about “personal responsibility” that assumes that one has the tools to make reasonable choices and decisions. I think that is exactly what is missing for alot of young Black males in the communities where they live.
DC Muslimah:
I agree with you entirely, but that still goes back to the personal responsibility. If mother and father were taking care of their personal responsibilities as parents, it would be automatic that the child would take care of theirs because the parents would see to it that they were doing so. Parents, single or not, are becoming too lax in their parenting style and therefore are not instilling the right kind of values into these children which holds them accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
DC Muslimah:
I realized you said
Tariq:
Of course women are not blameless. In fact, they are typically blamed, shamed and looked down on, more than men when they turn up pregnant. Often it
Indigoblu,
I agree 100% that parents need to take more responsibility for their children. In fact, this is largely at the root of the problem. The issue is that alot of the problems are cyclical, particularly when parents grow up in dysfunctional conditions and perpetuate that dysfunction in their own families. The behavior is certainly not consciously perpetuated. There are examples of individuals breaking negative cycles, but having seen the number of families firsthand that fall through the cracks, I can say that it’s very, very difficult and only a few actually make it. And, there is still the issue of environmental circumstances such as community violence, poor performing schools, etc., etc. We are largely products of our smaller and larger environments. In some cases the obstacles are numerous. That’s my main point.
Indigoblu, I also agree with your second point. A lack of responsible parenting can absolutely make or break a child!!!! No arguments from me on that one, nor your other points!
As far as the being irked, it is what several other posts have mentioned and the fact that black people seem to suffer more detrimental consequences for their mistakes than their white counterparts who do the same or worse. That was made crystal clear in the statistics on high school drop outs, incarceration and recidivism rates, the ‘uneployability’ of ex-cons and children in single parent households living in poverty. Therefore, Indigoblu, my being irked is multifaceted. Not just about blaming or pointing fingers but the ills and shortcomings of society seem to have twice the bad consequences for blacks.
All of society is constantly fed a steady diet of glorified violence, gratuitous sex, material greed, etc. by popular culture and from all sides. For example, how could the vilest gangsta raps and all that even get produced, get so much exposure and and make so much money? Russell Simmons and big white execs too. He and they constantly
use the argument that the voices of these ‘artists’ reflects their realities and is a legit form of expression. Dr. Tyson (the light-skinned, bespectacled author and professor who was the preacher and whose brother was locked up) has a lot to say about that too as does Dr. Boyce Watkins. They love hip-hop. However I think they have to acknowledge the price some black youth especially are paying for emulating the values being expressed in those ‘artists’ works. That one rapper was very honest “sex and debauchery sell and as long as it sells so will we”. So sad.
I know others who were irked just by the fact CNN made a special show about black peoples’ plight when in fact they could have done a special on ALL poor underprivileged, undereducated peoples’ plights. They were like, ‘Oh no, not another documentary putting black folks in a bad light’.
Why don’t they do a show that purely focuses on successful black achievers and achievements in the black community who are not entertainers or athletes? That may go a long way in helping people realize that black people can be as successful, driven, hard-working, family oriented, etc. as anyone else if given the chance and the ‘tools’ despite the reality that many are on the bottom rung. That was the whole psychology behind ‘The Cosby Show’ right? It turned him into ‘America’s Dad’ but was blasted for being unrealistic. What do black people look at now as positive uplifting entertainment and how do non blacks see blacks portrayed these days? ‘Negro on display’ as was mentioned earlier?
what is irksome to me is how the “personal responsibility” platitude gets thrown around like “Qur’an and Sunnah” you can say both all day but if you don’t add sustance that deals with reality then at the end of the day nothing changes.
Though it can be staring people it the face people “ignor” it. Blackamericans have some serious self esteem issues as it relates to race, skin complexion, and stability, this is at the root of bad decisions. I’ve seen college girls sit in a dope house with their dealing boyfriends, so its more than a matter of simple education
A woman has a child just turning one, without a supporting father, and she’s already pregnant with twins by a different man and the father gets the blame? Get real, obviously she and both the men have some esteem issues. They need help first to feel good about themselves, thats ground one in making better decisions.
Furthermore, everyone seems to acknowledge that absentee father syndrome is often generational, but where did it start? I’m guessing if you trace that absentee american Y chromosome more than likely you will end up in europe not africa, “founding fathers” indeed, anyway thats another subject. Allahu Alim
Poverty and education have a direct impact on ones life, however self esteem, plays an more important role, one of the very sad things today is the way verbal abuse is used buy some of the younger parents as a form of displine for their children, when a child is torn down mentaly and spiritual there is no way they can succeed. Allahu Alim
Lastly even when we go beyond the black-white issue in america, Blackamerica still has a pigmentocracy with in the black community that helps to crush a blackamerican child selfesteeem so when the young sister did the “Black like me” video a few years ago we see the same problems now, that we occured 50-60 years ago. more often than not people get high to ease a pain, and thats real
Oh also I don’t want to hear these beneficaries of affrimative action talking this “pull yourself up by the bootstrap” when they know that only a few of us will even be allowed in these positions in the first place.
@ AbuUsama,
I understand on the platitudes, but someone has to teach that there are consequences for making bad decisions. And this needs to be taught at a young age. The lack of father figures in the black community is a serious issue. The boys AND girls have no role models. The girls additionally have no protectors that recognize game when they see it and swat away all the bad men trying to get at them.
BTW, I took one of those Y chromosome tests and mine did go back to Europe
Abu Usamah al-Aswad,
Good points!
One point on the single parenting issue discussed on this post: I think the reason you don’t hear more about the lack of responsibility on the mother’s side is that once the child is born, the focus then becomes the well-being of the child(ren). And, that’s usually when people start pointing fingers at dad if he’s irresponsible because mom is left holding the bag alone. I certainly agree that young women have to do a better job of safeguarding their reproductive health, absolutely including practicing abstinence, but once the child is conceived it’s a moot point. It doesn’t help anyone to point a finger and say: “what were you thinking, etc.”
Unfortunately, teen moms actually have a very high likelihood of a repeat pregnancy in the first 3 years following the birth of the first child. I can’t answer why, but the stats aren’t good. In 2000, nearly 25% of adolescent pregnancies in DC, for example, were to teens that already have children. I believe this figure only accounts for live births. Only about 1/3 of teen parents receive a high school diploma and only about 1.5% have a college degree by age 30. In addition, males born to teen mothers are 13% more likely to be incarcerated and daughters of teens are more likely to become teen mothers themselves.
There are programs, however, that work with young women to try to prevent repeat unplanned pregnancies, as the likelihood of finishing high school, college and gaining substantial employment diminishes with each child. Certainly, it’s difficult enough with one.
Someone also asked about solutions. CNN has a list on its website of organizations that work primarily with minority communities to combat some of the issues highlighted in the series, http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/07/18/bia.resources/index.html. There are also other local, community-based organizations around the country.
@ DC Muslimah
Thanks for the link. I will post it
DC Muslimah:
Blessings to you. I appreciate your objective feedback and link.
One short comment. Being an African American professional female, I loved the part of the series when the students would speak about how “amazed” non-African American people would be when they were able to complete a full sentence without using “profanity” or sounding like a rapper. [Nothing is wrong with rappers, I am just making a point.] I had to put my hand over my mouth and laugh! My Grandfather used to tell me “Your education and your memories are priceless and no one can take them away from you!” As I age, I see Grandfather was 100% correct, a very powerful, wise, African American male. (For the record, Grandfather was not on crack or the drug of his day, no prison/jail record, in fact he was the first Black/African American licensed electrician in Topeka, Kansas——but of course that is NOT in the history books in Kansas???)
Team I can tell you all how many times I have called someone on the telephone and “HAD” the job, “HAD” the apartment, “HAD” the speaking engagement, uh………… uh-huh………….until I showed up in person, and THEN it was noted I was an African American!
Yeah, I could have been mad, upset, or bitter. But I deal with this EVERYDAY; it is just a part of my life. Kinda like a job I have to report to everyday, per se; [put on my shoes, put on my clohtes, be prepared for some sort of racism/discriminatory practice]. Over the years I have built up a self-defense system, and I do not allow negative thoughts/actions of others to affect me for long.
However; I can not even imagine being an African American male. Honestly, I have spoken to my Father, my Uncles, and other African American males and it is just “crazy” the mess some of them have to go through. (I can not imagine going through this mess!).
Example: four African American males get on an elevator in a nice office building, and there is a Euro American/White lady on the elevator, when the four African American males enter the elevator. All five people were well groomed, professionally dressed, etc. The Euro American/White woman states “I felt I was going to be robbed, their [African American males] presence was very intimidating, and I could sense they wanted my purse!”
Uh……all four of the African American males were all in senior management, earning six figure salaries, all had at least master’s degrees, and all four African American males were meeting with the CEO, to close a business deal for their company!
I have never had that type of thing happen to me, but several African American males have told me similar stories. I can’t even imagine!
I want to tip my hat to all the “positive” African American males, so often all we see are negative images on TV, the newspapers, on the blogs, etc.
I liked the CNN show, sure in hindsight there could have been some things done or presented differently, however it was good to just SEE the issue of “Black American/African American” discussed on a National level for ALL to see/hear/absorb. It would also be good to see a series on Hispanics/Latino, Native Americans, GLBTQ community, people with disabilities, etc. The sheer awareness from all of the different culture groups would be great for all of us.
Thank you all so very much for your time, team (even IF I do not know the people here personally, trust me we are definitely connected!)
Very Sincerely,
Cheryl “StillStanding” Fields, MBA, Ph.D. (ABD)
E-Mail: emporia962000@yahoo.com
PS: Excellent website, I am glad a friend forwarded it to me. I LOVE intelligent discussion, like what I have seen on this site. Wow!
Hi Cheryl
Thanks for your comments. I feel you 100% about your grandfather. My maternal grandfather was one of the kindest men I knew (bar none). And my paternal grandfather was known for being a hard worker and died when I was about five while he was working.
This is what makes me so upset about people stereotyping us as all as lazy and immoral
ASA Tariq. Thanks for posting the list from CNN.
Mashallah!
[...] And of course CNN’s much discussed,
Thoughts on this show from a black conservative that I think will interest you
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/blackrepub/2008/aug/02/black-in-america-the-war-against-fascism-i/
OK, I found this and found it very necessary to share:
Macon D’s blog, which is excellent, by the way…
http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/2008/08/focus-on-race-by-focusing-on-non-white.html
It filtered my post and it only had one link.
I LOVE THIS COMMENT AND IT SAYS ALOT:
[Why don
IM WAITING FOR A SHOW ,CALLED BORING BLACK MALES OF AMERICA,60% OF BLACK MEN ARE NOT RAPPERS, RAPISTS, MURDERS, CRIMES,WIFE BASHERS, AID CARRIERS,DRUG DEALERS ,PIMPS,ECT,ECT,
THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THIS SHOW IS THAT NO ONE WOULD WATCH IT.THERE IS A SILENT, MAJORITY THAT IS IGNORDED, THE OTHER SHOW YOU WILL NEVER SEE IN AMERICA IS A SHOW CALLED THE LIBERIAL MEDIA LOOKS AT ITS OWN LIEING NATURE,
AS A WHITE MALE , PLAN TRUTH IS THAT MALES ALL OVER THIS WORLD WORK ALL DAY LONG FOR THE GOOD OF THERE FAIMLYS, WHAT EVER THERE COLOUR?AND ANY THAT DONT WORK ARE STILL THERE FOR THERE CHILDREN