Groups > Black Americans: Aged 40+ Connection

The media is the principle offender of racial stereotyping and profiling - negativity sells, and no matter how much they wave the flag and scream freedom of the press - it's freedom FOR the press - to influence public opinion and make money.

I agree - the timing is suspect and I believe the ethnic background of one of our presidential candidates has a lot to do with it.

Either that - or CNN is celebrating Black History month REALLY late. *Smirk*

Perhaps some of you received this email this week also - I found it most appropriate.

"Thanks for nothing, Soledad!"

Dear Soledad O'Brien,

I watched the recent "documentary" Blacks in America and was left with the thought; "which third world country is this?" There was nothing new presented to the public who waited for months with bated breath to see how far Blacks have progressed since MLK Jr. was assassinated.

With all due respects Soledad , that was the worst depiction of a race of people I have seen since 1980 or was it 1970? The bottom line is this documentary showed nothing different and as a matter of fact it made it look as though Blacks are still living in the abyss of the inner city and still progressing backward.

I am a Black Man in America , married early and raised 2 young men in a stable family environment. Not the exception to the rule! I am a product of the early years when Black people maintained pride in themselves, family, community and education. Believe it or not there are Black Men who are married have advanced degrees, work and take care of their children.

After watching the program, I'm left with the unanswered question; "Why, after 40 years of affirmative action programs, economic opportunities, job programs and access to higher education, are we focusing on young Black males who don't graduate from high school?" What happened that they are turned off from learning the basic skills of personal development? Why have they lost HOPE in attempting to improve and arm themselves with a diploma rather than an AK-57?

Why do we continue to glorify the drugs, teenage pregnancies and bigger prisons ?

CAN WE SEE SOME POSITIVE NEWS PROGRAMS ??

Fyi Soledad; there are positive images of Blacks in America ! Blacks have certainly progressed in the last 40 years but watching your program last week one would be left to think...what happened to the Black Drs./Lawyers/Teachers/Engineers/Pilots/Politicians/News Reporters/Insurance Professionals/Nurses/Accountants/Entrepreneurs/Sales Men/Women/VP of Corporations; obviously I can go on and on. The fact is everyone in the Black community is not on drugs and a high percentage have graduated from high school and all of our Black women are not promiscuous and yes, there are Fathers who take care of their children.

I have always been a big fan of your work Soledad but, my suggestion and many others whom I have spoken to is, we need to see more positive images on TV in the year 2008. The first 10-15 minutes of any newscast in any city in America is overwhelmingly saturated with images of crime and hopelessness. I do not turn a blind eye to reality, I was born and raised in the inner city of Buffalo ,N.Y and have certainly experienced everything that you portrayed in your video but I decided to improve my lot with education and taking advantage of the opportunities provided to everyone.

We need to impress upon our young men that everyone can't play basketball/football/golf or be a record producer. It starts with a solid educational background and then the choices are easier to make.

Try it again Soledad ; "Black in America , the POSITIVE Remix"

Felicia, thank you for sharing some of the feedback that has been all over regarding the 'series'. There were so many to choose from that I couldn't possible decide which one(s). You have a fine selection here.

I to agree that there are so many positive things within our culture,more that are ever reflected on the (tell lies vision) the majority of the time.

I may have sounded real crass in my first comment,I aplogize,It's just for this reason, most of us are familiar with the situations within our culture be it good or bad.Although it seems that the good parts are fiction,when there are Neilson ratings involved.There are numerous ordinary people who do so many wonderful things in their everyday lives to help change and address issues they are passoinate about,but I guess there is no drama involved,or anything considered stereotypical as to what the infastructure has developed so long before our time,to supress the idea that you can and will remain useless,unless you were told otherwise,Those of us that choose to have a willingness within ourselves to not adhere to the fact,to help empower,and to uplift our people make other's outside of our race real nervous.History has proved this on more than one occasion.The point I guess I was trying to make is just I get so tired of the conversations around the water-cooler,and behind closed doors about our youth,crime,ect.and then it stops there.My (adult)children tell me all the time that I need to stay away from all the lounging teens in our neighborhood and mind my business,this response is due to the fear that something is going to happen to me.It very well could,but you cannot help,change,or uplift anyone without first knowing what took them to these places.I think for everyone of us who has all this positivity I see reflected on this site,let's not wait for the media to keep on keeping on,but instead,EACH ONE,TEACH ONE.Find someone who just may need someone's opinion,someones interest in that person.Most of these problems when it all comes down to it is because someone,I cant place blame,just gave up.You help and share information,some may even think of it as criticizm,but when you notice and share it,it tells you are concerned.It might not even sink in at the moment,but when you no longer care,that's a bad place for the one on the receiving end to be.we all can help.