Black Steps Backward In America

1. o.k.

Willie Williams Jr at 8:36AM on Jul 24th 2008

2. I am a 22 year old African American woman and I am very concerned about the future of my people. We had digressed so much in the passed 20 years and we don’t truly see it. And those of us who do see it do nothing to help and stop it or turn it around; or there just aren’t enough of uses to stop it. Almost all of the African American students I graduated high school with are parents but none of them are married and none of there children have the same mothers or fathers. I am a college student maintaining a great GPA and a full-time job with a wonderful construction company and yet I can’t find a date on Friday night. Due to the fact I refuse to settle for any type of guy. What is happening to our race? I listen to my mother tell me stories of her childhood and I wish I could go back there to enjoy those times. Yes we can sit anywhere on the bus and we own a few large houses and big expensive cars but what else? Nothing.... We finally have the chance to put a Black man in charge and we don’t even have enough backbone and common sense to back him but we can stand up a rally for a white woman.... There is a problem here and I hope the special CNN is doing will open someone’s eyes.

Ebony at 8:44AM on Jul 24th 2008

3. brothers and sisters need to implement 'a more serious dialouge with each other before physical intimacy evolves. Is there is no (or little) discussion about their relationship in case there's a fallout [between them] and concern for the child's welfare afterwards.

Ali Abdul Perez at 8:46AM on Jul 24th 2008

4. Yea, like HOW ABOUT A SHIFT in FOCUS?

Like about "THE PAPER STACK".
I GOT MY FOCUS

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'GET YOURS'

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PAPER STACKin' at 8:54AM on Jul 24th 2008

5. Look I think I understand what you are tring to do but for me it's more of the same bs as always what to about nothing. I'm a 44yrs. old BLACKMAN born in the ghetto of L.A. California I've seen it all,and now what makes me so upset is the so called black leadership in our community is not hearing the voices of those whom they say they are leaders of.The good Rve.AL Sharpton,and Mr. Jackson are self promotion driven not community promotion driven and for this they can look to eachother for some of the problems we face in our so called leadership we have today.This is sad when we've come this far and still have the same undelt with problems in our community.

Michael F. at 8:59AM on Jul 24th 2008

6. So BV along with CNN, Essence, Soledad O'brien have all decided to play this game huh? Black people are so stupid. If these people want black people to improve (blacks do have any problems that others do not have) then why isnt it until you stick a camera in the face of these black people, that they decide to run their mouths. Everyone things that they are some black guru if it can get them a little publicity. Slamming blacks and expoliting our problems as a community, for the entire world to see, is big business now a days.

Jermaine at 9:03AM on Jul 24th 2008

7. So BV along with CNN, Essence, Soledad O'brien have all decided to
play this game huh? Black people are so stupid. If these people want
black people to improve (blacks do not have any problems that others do
not have expcept extreme racism but this isnt talked about by colonized Negros) then why is it not until you stick a camera in the face of
these black people, that they decide to run their mouths? Everyone
thinks that they are some black guru if it can get them a little
publicity. Slamming blacks and expoliting our problems as a
community, for the entire world to see, is big business now a days.

Jermaine at 9:06AM on Jul 24th 2008

8. These ten issues seem like a dated list of symptoms of what ails the black community, rather than a comprehensive assessment of what REALLY needs to be addressed. How about looking at the root of what has manifested these dilemmas?
For example:
* Lack of involvement in our own communities
* Avoidance of addressing concerns in mental health
* A dearth or consistent education on money
management and personal economics
It's time we look beyond the obvious and focus on how we actually go ourselves here. Perhaps then, we can figure a way out.

Kathy at 9:29AM on Jul 24th 2008

9. What I want to know is any of this the fault of black women or is all of the U.S. evils on the backs of black men? I went to visit my cousin in N.Y. and do you know that every other hour while walking down the street some strung out black prostitute came up to me. Not Dominican, Puerto Rican, White, Jewish but black women. Can some of this be why HIV is so bad in black women? CNN's showed Harlem, but the reason why Harlem has no fruits is do to banks not allowing blacks to open businesses in order to shift the demographic of Harlem to whites. Harlem is a minority black area of Manhattan but Soledad was working an angle and I guess this doesn't make for "good television" to tell the truth. Only bashing black men is good television in America.

Kendall B at 9:40AM on Jul 24th 2008

10. I saw the CNN piece think noticed that the successful people were more concerned about the process and less successful people were more concern with the end results. We as Blacks in this country have to be more concerned with setting up standards, systems and processes for wealth, education, and families. Also, if you believe that this documentary is just the media exploiting black America (and I say this will all respect) create and alternative. There free blogs and web host so you tell the story how you see it. Because the way I see it as a 34 year old black man, this it's the media and the white man is getting old. We know the resources we have. We know who and what's we are up against. We know what we need to do. Now we need to get organized and do it.

Chris at 10:00AM on Jul 24th 2008

11. This week and last week's commentaries on "Black America" focused only on what's wrong in Black communities. This is what white media always does; shows only negative black images. As a result, this perpetuates the continuation of racism by many Asians, Hispanics and Whites towards Blacks and the continued lack of support of Blacks for each other; i.e; BLACK BUSINESSES AND BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. Shouldn't the media also show what's right in Black America? Also what's wrong in "White America?" The media is the primary cause of continued racism.

Anthony Pen-Darvis at 10:01AM on Jul 24th 2008

12. Great post Ebony, and your concerns are not without merit. WE have to be responsible for healing our community, we cannot rely on outside influences to shape our world. We've already done that with the drug trade and to desire to get rich quick on a coe up. Be encouraged about your current dating status, as my momma always tells me, this is only a temporary situation. Your're right not to settle, set your standards and stick to your guns. While I believe the man is the head of the household, many young men in your age range aren't properly prepared to be a MAN. I see our youth becoming slaves or acting with a slave mentality. They're becoming a slave to having a good time......ALL THE TIME. And that does not leave a lot of time to be socially aware. Keep doing what you're doing little sister an dyou'll reap the benefits of your labors.

Peace

Aaron at 10:05AM on Jul 24th 2008

13. Why must the media show black men in the worse terms and black women are showed in the best light? They didnt show the over weight, loud mouth, ignorant acting, triflin heffer that is today's black woman but showed the skinny professional well put together one, the one with the white man, the one who wrote a screen paly(which was horriable) but when it comes to black men-we all have to be "slow", "cant read" "violent" "dumb." CNN and Essence already went so far on "Reclaiming the Dream" to say that black men do not allow black boys to read books and then on "Black in America" they of course had one of those loud mouth black radio host sayinng "black men need to read a book" I know plenty of black men that read real books and not all of this literary crack/cocaine like Terry McMillian but real books. This was just typical and biased. So, lets sit back and see if the white writers and booses at CNN did their job-lets tear each other apart while other communities can worry about keeping their homes, sending kids to college and making it through this low spot in the U.S. economy. This is why black men shouldnt date black women-dating a black woman of U.S. born orgins gets you caught up in this drama and slave acting song and dance for white America.

Bobby at 10:14AM on Jul 24th 2008

14. Black people need to wake up! I'm not going to even address this BV story, because its pure comedy to me. Are those really our issues? Hmm, maybe a few... but overall BV is off base. The first half CNN's attempt to portray what its like ti be Black In America was a well teased ploy to get ratings. It doesn't even begin to address WHY we face these issues as Black Americans. People want to point fingers at Hip Hop all day for issues, but the video vixen is just the surface of the issue. Talk about the fact that there are substantially less roles for Black women in entertainment. As in all forms of music and media they're are some racey lyrics in Hip Hop, but lets not forget the powerful uplifting lyrics that motivate... "Nigga" is another term they try to pin on Hip Hop, the reality is that we as Black people have been using that word to separate ourselves from other Black people for generations. The use of the word Nigger didn't start with Hip Hop. It started with grandmom saying niggers this, niggers that. WE KNOW that we've been saying it amongst each other long before Hip Hop. If you want to talk about the real issues in the black community, talk about urban marketing campaigns. If you want to talk about black health, question why there's a McDonalds every few blocks in the "hood". There are so many things still set in place to systematically oppress us, why aren't we addressing those issues?!?! CNN did us no justice by not telling the whole story... the thing I find sad is that many Black people will sing its praises. Somebody should get angry with poets John Goodes spoken word "salt, grease, pork [question?!?!]", which ushered in each segment. Im sure i just pissed a few people off... GOOD! Pleeeaaseee WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE!!!

Jus Words at 10:45AM on Jul 24th 2008

15. This can not be good for Obama. While I strongly strongly agree that the agenda will always remain one of demonizing and isolating black people, they highlighted some high points in black men but all you take away from this is that something is worng with black people and the way we are always out there on television, it could be a gentic defect. Neo-Nazism 101 and Jim Crowism 101.

Jake James at 10:48AM on Jul 24th 2008