Posted Date: July 2, 2008

CNN Series Tackles What "Being Black In America" Means

By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide

   If a one-to-two-hour documentary could sum of the experiences of a whole group of Americans, then CNN’s July 23-24 Black America series might be called a good start.
    Designed to look past the ho-hum stereotypes on nightly newscasts, the series is hosted by Journalist Soledad O’Brien, whose first segment was titled Black in America. It aired in April.
   “As we developed this series, it was critical to go beyond what viewers believe and already know to introduce them to the real people behind the headlines,” O’Brien said, in a March 12 (online) interview.
    Many viewers noticed there was nothing ho-hum about either the first or the upcoming segment titled Black Man. It is scheduled to run July 23 and 24 at 9 p.m.
    It is designed to look at more than the stereotypical convict, gang member or absentee father. Instead, it will examine the 1968 Little Rock High School grads, as well as their sons and grandsons.
    The third segment is titled: The Black Woman and Family. It will examine the usual topics, but new voices and new analysis may add up to something fresh too.

“It occurred to us that so much of what we report is drugs, gangs, (failing) families, welfare, crime and prison,” said Mark Nelson, CNN’s vice president and senior executive producer, when the show was launched in April. “It’s got to be more than that.”
    The upcoming segment in July will seek to answer a fairly simple question: Is Life Better for Black Men (40 Years After Little Rock)? Woven through the answers are the usual obstacles and roadblocks such as disproportionate rates for prison, poverty, education, and incomes.
    Feedback has been provided by experts such as Andrew Young in the first segment. Meanwhile, experts for the upcoming July 23 and 24 segment at 9 p.m. will include Harvard Economist Dr. Roland Fryer, Princeton Professor Dr. Devah Pager, Journalist Ellis Cose and others.
    Clearly, bloggers have mixed feelings about the show. “While I don’t think this is going to be a monumental event,” noted one blogger, “it is worth watching and taking note. Rome was not built in a day.”
    Another blogger wrote: Racism may never die, but it can always be reduced.” Another one added: “This is just another American bedtime story.” Another wrote: “See black people are normal just like you.”
    Whatever.
    The new series made headlines on black college campuses when it toured HBCUs in late April. Essence magazine set up a booth and answered questions with CNN reps.
    At a promotional tour at North Carolina Central University, students were allowed to text shout outs and e-mail photos through CNN’s LED screen. Gift cards worth $25 were awarded by iTunes to poetry contest winners, according to Black College Wire.
   “We really want to deepen our relationship with the African American community,” said Lara Hurst, CNN senior marketing manager for the U.S. “We are investing a lot of resources and really talented people in producing this series. We decided we wanted to engage younger African Americans in the experience.”

 

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