Like many of you all I tuned into CNN to watch the CNN special "Black in America" which was hosted by corespondent Soledad O’ Brien. Am I the only one who felt that this special was a bit pointless as it only reflected on things that Blacks who watch CNN and similar networks already know! What are your thoughts? Read the article below to get a take on the show from Karen Hunter:
“Who is watching “Black in America” on CNN? I ask the question because it was raging inside of me as I listened to pundits and experts, educators and pastors, business professionals and actors—all attempting to make sense and give shape to what it means to be black in America.
I asked the very same question after Tavis Smiley produced the “The Covenant with Black America” a few years ago. That book sold millions of copies, and was the topic of quite a few talk shows.
Is Shaniqua living in a tenement in Brooklyn with five babies by five different “men” watching? Is James, who stands on a corner in Baltimore selling crack cocaine to his community watching? T-Bone, a Blood from South Central and his boys and rival Crips from cross-town, are they watching? Janice, who dropped out of Somerville High School in Massachusetts, will she be tuning in?
I doubt it. And here in lies the problem with shows like “Black in America,” and books like “The Covenant with Black America” they don’t reach the people who need to hear and read it most. The people who need to change, probably won’t be tuning in—which is why years after the Million Man March and years after The Covenant with Black America and years after Black in America, nothing will change. ”
She took the words right out of my mouth! But we are only two people how did you all feel about it?
1 comment:
well said-- could not have said it better. it will miss the very people it should reach. the only thing this documentary has enlightened me on thus far is 80% of the blacks in D.C. carry HIV/AIDS. the fact that a city in the U.S. can be compared to Uganda, where HIV/AIDS was a serious epidemic is truly startling. i ABSOLUTELY disagree with the portion of the program where a gentleman was part of an organization that pays kids to go to school-- doesn't set well with me. the key is to make every black child want to take ownership of their education because the many who died before us. black people, for a time, couldn't get an education. afterall... it is written during a period of this country's history that a black person would be whipped or even killed if it were discovered that they could read. that alone should inspire us all to fight for our education. the library and the bus are always accessible if your school lack in materials. insist that the book mobile program be revitalized if it is no longer in place. it left me no excuse to say i couldn't get to a library-- i took ownership because i respect and appreciate those who came before me.
So shame on CNN's producers for the lack of real vision, shame on Solidad for consistantly interrupting Ms. Malveaux during her time on the panel and shame on Ted Turner for selling it the first place.
Karen Hunter-- i too have been saying the same thing about the Million Man March since it came and went. a chance to do something extraordinary and more significant was in a word-- MISSED.
Post a Comment