You saw it already? I'm in NY and it didn't air yet....at least I don't think it did yet. I have my tivo set for tues and wed. 

"In 1981, during the first year of Mr. Reagan’s presidency, the late Lee Atwater gave an interview to a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University, explaining the evolution of the Southern strategy:

“You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘Nig,ger, nig.ger, nig.ger,’ ” said Atwater. “By 1968, you can’t say ‘nig.ger’ — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now [that] you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites.”

Glittering generalities

From SourceWatch

Glittering generalities "was one of the seven main propaganda techniques identified by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis in 1938. It also occurs very often in politics and political propaganda. Glittering generalities are words that have different positive meaning for individual subjects, but are linked to highly valued concepts. When these words are used, they demand approval without thinking, simply because such an important concept is involved. For example, when a person is asked to do something in 'defense of democracy' they are more likely to agree. The concept of democracy has a positive connotation to them because it is linked to a concept that they value. Words often used as glittering generalities are honor, glory, love of country, and especially in the United States, freedom. When coming across with glittering generalities, we should especially consider the merits of the idea itself when separated from specific words." --ThinkQuest Library.

Method

• "Use attractive, but vague words that make speeches and other communications sound good, but in practice say nothing in particular.

• "Use linguistic patterns such as alliteration, metaphor and reversals that turn your words into poetry that flows and rhymes in hypnotic patterns.

• "Use words that appeal to values, which often themselves are related to triggering of powerful emotions.

• "A common element of glittering generalities are intangible nouns that embody ideals, such as dignity, freedom, fame, integrity, justice, love and respect." [1]

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............................................What are the stories about race we tell now?

I think there are a number of stories. I think one is individuality, that we're all individuals. I think another is a culture of poverty. People are uncomfortable now with the biological explanation for racial difference, so now people talk about the culture of black people to explain why those people don't do well.

There's also the language of personal responsibility, which suggests really that there's no institutional and structural responsibility. There's no collective responsibility. If you're not doing well, it's not because of anything that we in society have done. It's not because of our history, our legacy of Jim Crow, segregation, exploitation and subordination; it's all personal. So it all gets translated into, "We're not responsible."

I think another really powerful story that has been prevalent in the United States since the mid-1970s, is white innocence. If you go back and read the Bakke case - which was a court case about affirmative action - Bakke started off as a case about blacks being excluded from schools, about the subordination and discrimination of blacks. By the time the case ended, it was about innocent whites, so the whole language now about doing anything to address inequality in this country always runs up against the question - what about innocent whites?

Gawd why do black women hate on black men so much? Black men aren't any different than white men. These white guys are on Meth, having babies out of wedlock and not finishing school. I do think that the U.S. has destroyed black families through racism in the jail system. I know a white boy right now who has killed someone and only did 4 years. I know a black boy who sold drugs to an undercover and got 8 to 12 years.

The white families and drug problems are worse than the blacks and I do not care what polls say. If blacks would stop repeating this trash and look at the real problems then the entire world wouldn't think that blacks are more messed up than others. Barrack Obama is such a fruad. I mean whites know when someone is jailing blacks or kicking black men when elections come around. Who is he fooling?

I just think that black women aren't victims like they want us to think. They are all having babies for one guy in their hood and then want to go to court and act like the guy was supposed to be their husband.

I do not think that I will continue to watch CNN. They really tried to start some mess by taking that woman out of the audience (messed up speech and all) and saying that "black men were not allowing black boys to read books!!!"

I can see the head lines now "New Trend in black America-black men say reading a book is acting like a female"

White people are sitting around the dinner table thinking that this is some new black trend and saying "typical of those savages" If this is a new trend in black America like Solidad O'brian, CNN and that one tooth female idependant film maker were saying then how come no one in black America knew about it?? I give props for TD Jakes for kinda calling that absurd. The guy that pays black kids to study is a product of the system. He had no idea of what he was talking about.

It offered nothing new or positive. The entire show and most of the guest were just pandering to this anti-black male element in the media.

As a black man it upsets me too that black males are being bashed time and time agin.  Sisters need to be held just as accountable as us.  And if you're talking about the media bashing us well, they know something we know: that if the black man is a strong man capable of so many feats, been through so many struggles then why should he not be able to take care of his family. 

Bob-"Oh honey there is this nig**gra show on CNN called "Black in America" lets see how bad these people really are."

Sally-"I am sure this will be 100% accurate"

Ebonic Film Maker Blk Female in New Orleans CNN/Essence Audience-"There be's a trends of blacka mens taking books from the little black boyz"

Sall-"Oh honey-did you hear that!!!!! These black men in America are kicking in the doors of their baby mama's cribs and wearing doo-rags with blues and reds and not letting little black boys read books. That woman on CNN just said it!!!"

Bob-"Well, ya know how those people are. It must be a new trend if CNN and Essence said it."