who is this show for if not for blacks? i could care less about black in america...the host is some sorta black and the stories are about some sorta blacks. seems like something cooked up at by some liberal arts graduate with a degree in african american culture.

I watched the cnn report. Blacks in america. And, I thought it was good to see that the coverage was being done. To shed light on the fact that black american has come along way.And, that we now have better opportunties as citizens of the united states to accomplish whatsoever we put our minds to.And,we still have a little ways to go.And it saddens me that proverty is so high in the black communities. To know that there are many black men who has choosen the street way of living,which is illegal. Whether than keeping their families together.So,all the fault is not on the system of unjustice.Because some of the proverty of many black american are their on faults. They've made the wrong chooses.

As I posted on my blog... I didn't watch the broadcast. All the marketing for it that I had seen previously, left me unenthusiastic about what it had to offer. And based on comments I've read from those who did watch it, it seems that my assumptions that it would be nothing more than a paper-thin "exposé," if we can even label it as such, weren't entirely false.

I wonder who CNN intended its audience for the series to be. Is it a program meant to educate non-blacks about the plight of blacks in America, or is it an attempt to appease blacks in America by supposedly openly discussing the so-called "black experience" in America, or is it an amalgamation of both and other possibilities I didn't mention?

Also, there's a kind of exotification happening here that uneases me... or like we're rats in a maze responding to stimuli beyond our control, as we're observed by the curious alabaster faces of the "master race." I'd love to be a fly on the wall in one of their homes just to observe their responses to the program, and in a way, turning the all-seeing eye of the TV camera on them - in essence, as the song goes, watching you watching me. So, maybe CNN should do a follow-up special in that regard.

Will it be followed by a Latino In America special, or an Asian In America series?

What's the end goal here? Will it see its intended impact realized, or will it soon be forgotten, rendering it ultimately useless? Is it only adding to the divisiveness that's already prevalent in American society?

I know I'm asking lots of questions and not providing solutions. But I suppose my overall point is implied in my questions - I'm skeptical about the whole thing, and it stinks of white liberal guilt. I suspect CNN will pat itself on the back more than once, for the effort, even if it has zero impact.

Carmen you brought up two points;

a) the happy black woman, smilingly holding up a picture of her slaveholder great grandfather.

b) the rappin’ intro man,

First I don't think this piece was directed at Black America, I think it was directed to White America.
How many of us have a great great grandfather lurking somewhere in the background behind the family tree trunk? We have two, and no one in our family speaks of them. There was no pride in their presense. I'm also not going to slam someone for their family pride, but that image soothed only one group of people.

The rappin' man, nothing like the imagery of happy Black folk dancing and singing......

Am I being to cynical?

Why isn't BET or TV-ONE simulcasting this?!?!?

The Intro Man was stupid. Why would CNN introduce such a serious topic with a minstrel. I found him quite annoying. For the most part, I enjoyed looking at the diversity within my culture. I found it most striking that the young black student couldn't be persuaded, not even with money, to finish his senior year of high school. And, yes, that $50,000 fact knocked me off my seat. What didn't they calcute the inflation rate, because $50,000 for a family is about poverty level in Washington, DC? Professor Dyson talks to much sometimes, but he really tells it as he sees it and it was quite interesting that so many black people don't want to talk about the color issues within our culture as he laid it out. All one has to do is look at how lighter skinned blacks are portrayed versus darker skinned in commercials, movies, talk shows, etc. What about that darling little girl on the ad for Military One? Her "sister is a snake" and will take her money. Please!!!!

You would like to see more outrage. Well, I must say that most people are apathetic. If they weren't, we wouldn't be in this situation. People don't feel their power and feel helpless and hopeless if someone doesn't "give" it to them. If not, oh well. The Constitution is being stolen from us, but is there an outcry? Black people are used to thinking there will be a better day. God will see to it.

Hi J, welcome to the conversation. I agree with you 100%, I like that there was a diversity of profiles included on the show. I forget sometimes and take for granted that everyone knows the depth of the mosaic that is 'black in America.'But that's just not true.

I applaud CNN's effort to show this to America.

Hey Inkognegro! You know I caught that, too. I didn’t do the math, but I caught that Soledad said nothing about the amount in terms of real/inflation adjusted dollars. And was it for a family of 4?

I tend to live in big cities. NYC and Los Angeles. 50K for a family of 4 will barely provide food, clothes, utilities and shelter. Public transportation would be the only option.

And another element is on my mind. I am curious to your and others reaction to the happy black woman, smilingly holding up a picture of her slaveholder great grandfather.

Please understand, I am not swinging at her pride of family. But if a white person went on television and acted the exact same way regarding a slave holding white relative, I think most black folks would be mighty peeved. 'Black in America' didn’t even explore the heart tugging aspect of being a descendant of rape. And no, you cannot have a true marriage if one partner OWNS the other one. Come on now.

In all seriousness, if you or anyone else has insights about the rappin’ intro man, please share them with me. I just don’t understand that choice.

Of all the random annoyingness that pervaded the screen, (enough for almost 10 posts If I can maintain focus)one thing in particular stood out.

this stat:

32% of black families have a household income of over $50,000 versus 18% in 1970.


Now...WHile I lay claim to having an exceptionally insightful mind...i dont lay claim to any kind of degree that would usually prove such a claim.


But even college dropouts like me know that 50K in 1970 is a HELL OF A LOT MORE than it is in 2007.

My online Inflation calculator says about 279K.

I wonder what percentage of Black Families have a net income of 279K...


bet it aint quite 18%.

I liked how Soledad covered a variety of perspectives and walks of life. We heard from the upper middle class family of business owners with all 5 or 6 kids in college and we also heard from the mother whose 17 year old son got caught up in gun violence. It showed that the experience of being black in America is not monolithic and the same for everyone. While there are of course certain ties that bind us together as a people, our community can be just as diverse and individual as others. We can't be stereotyped.