I broke into two parts for ya. You’re welcome.

These are some things people have been saying, and my reactions thereto. You like that word, right? I know.

That series was too negative. Let’s go march.

Seriously? This is what we choose to march about? With all the ills facing the Black community (health disparities, educational inequality, the AIDS and HIV epidemic, poverty, unemployment…need I continue) you want to march because CNN talked about it? The statistics they presented…sorry to be the one to break it to you…were largely true! I have lived the life, bought the t-shirt, and read some of the research that confirms some of those numbers mentioned in the show. They aren’t making it up folks.

They are reinforcing stereotypes about black people. They only showed the negative.

Shows that state reality (not to be confused with reality shows) don’t reinforce stereotypes; people’s action and reactions do that for us. Stations like BET do that for us. Instead of being mad that CNN aired the truth, albeit a portion thereof, be moved to take action. Come up with solutions.

And yes, they showed a good part of the negative. But if you think about it, while it would be nice to show all the good stuff that Black people do in this country (any day now, BET), I think we need to put the good and bad out there…White people need to see images of pain. Let’s face it folks, we need their help in this struggle too. But its starts at home. Black people who have “made it” need to be reminded as well, that there is so much left to be done.

The show wasn’t for black people.

I feel safe in assuming that the majority of the CNN’s audience is White. For this reason, you’re right, it wasn’t for us per se. As I watched, I reminded myself of this. White America and many of my own people I’m sure, live in a world that often ignores, “forgets”, and, excludes the realities of pain that many Americans face each day. Or sometimes, people just don’t know what’s up. I think this show was an attempt to educate.

What about all the positive stuff Black people do? Damn, CNN!!

While I hear the issues people have with the series, we have to remember to put it all in context. CNN’s is a White network that attempted to explore Black issues in ways that our own channels have not, and do not. Their efforts did not stop at the airing of this series. Black scholars, celebrities, and media personalities have appeared on the channel since the initial airing, offering their reactions to the series and talking about the good and bad that can come from it. If you visit their website, you’ll see that they are highlighting the positive stuff Black people do too. I watched videos last week about the first Black woman to reach the North Pole, and the first Black Grandmaster. Pretty dope stuff.

I attribute adverse reactions to the show to a few things. Firstly, we were mad that they put our business on the street like that. That’s pretty self explanatory. Second, many of us were mad because we expected something else. We tuned possibly expecting to see our people being praised and all that. Some of us feel like we got got. Instead, we were met with painful realities that hit home for many of us. For me, watching the show was a little tough. I saw a little of myself and my family in every struggle addressed, and in every family represented. This represented, in my mind, a part the beauty of my people. We are a pained, yet dynamic. We struggle, and still find ways to progress and be fly.

If nothing else, this series was one step in the right direction. Hopefully the step will lead to serious conversations between community, scholarly, economic, and political entities of all types that can generate some real solutions. BET, will you be there? ::insert sarcastic chuckle here::

Sidenote: I am very interested to see what White America has to say about the series. If you come across any articles or links positive or otherwise, please leave them below.