CNN’s Black In America 2 Special Tonight Is Nothing Special

Soledad O’Brien returns with her series “Black In America” 2 on CNN tonight.

I find it interesting that CNN has a “mixed race woman” as the host.

Why is O”Brien the host anyway?

The CNN series is patronizing and racist it’s basically a race 101 seminar for white America.

CNN hired O’Brien because this half white woman is considered more palatable for their audience.

I prefer the host of a series about the black race to be a bit more “authentic”.

O’Brien doesn’t have the “racial experience” to understand what it means to be black anyway.

The quandary is, O’Brien is not “really” a part of “black America”, she’s on the outside “looking in”.

O’Brien is not a part of the private sphere of the black culture.

What the  hell does this half white woman, know about “what” it means to be “black” anyway?

O’Brien is so pale she can almost pass for  white.

I think it is interesting this “half white” woman O’Brien is the host for a program about

the black race in America.

Yes I am cognizant of the fact  O”Brien’s mother is black, but she is also part white.

The CNN series treats African Americans as though there is something “pathologically”  “wrong” with them.

My perspective is there is an “undertone” of “negativity” against black Americans in this CNN series.

Everyone knows there are problems in the African American community such as poverty, lower social status, crime, single parent families,

and drugs.

The documentary does focus on the “achievements” of blacks but tonight’s series could of been more cohesive.

However, what do people know about other communities in the United States?

Why doesn’t CNN report on other minority groups such as Native Americans, Muslim Americans,  Asian Americans, or  the white majority?

I am certain Asian Americans, white Americans, and Native Americans have their own problems within the private sphere of their

communities.

So why is CNN just focusing on blacks?

I would love to see a documentary on other communities on CNN.

The reason CNN documentary focused on “African Americans” is because blacks are considered the “ultimate other”.

Black Americans are viewed as “controversial” and “explosive”.

The documentary did highlight some important issues  though, such as  black youth achieving and the rising black upper class.

However, anyone that has bothered to study African American studies would know the “black elite” have existed for over a century.

The black elite are a paradox they say they “love” their ” blackness”, yet embrace  “apartheid” based on class.

It’s the same tired aspect of human nature some people want to feel like they are better then someone else.

The section on “future” black leaders was the strongest and most exciting part of the program.

One young black woman Mia Jackson was very inspiring. Mia is from Atlanta, she is only 26, and she owns her own home and car.

Mia is a successful engineer,  she makes over $70,000 a year but Mia wants more.

Mia got accepted to an eighteen month internship program for young minority leaders of the future.

Mia is very tenacious she wants a better future and  I commend the sister for her perseverance.

It was nice to see young blacks, Hispanics, and Asians youth all striving to achieve and breakthrough the glass ceiling.

O’ Brien may be “part” black but I have a problem with CNN.

Whenever I turn on CNN there is a paucity of black journalists.

I have seen  black male reporters such as TJ Holmes and Don Lemon.

Even Holmes and Lemon aren’t “dark” skinned.

However, there are only “three”  “black” female reporters on CNN besides O’Brien there are  Fredricka Whitfield and  Suzanne Malveaux.

It is interesting that CNN is so “colour conscious” though yet claims to be “progressive”.

CNN has a predilection to hire mixed race female anchors to be on  the air.

Again, where are the dark skinned black female reporters? CNN is hypocritical, they claim to be “race conscious”.

Why does CNN have a propensity to hire light skinned black female journalists?

The light skinned black women are not just hired for their “professional skills” they are hired because they have a “European appearance”.

Once again, the subliminal racist message is that in order to be palatable to the “masses” a black woman has to be “almost white” to be a TV anchorwoman.

woman. When CNN starts hiring “real” black women then they can be taken seriously. Right now CNN’s hiring standards are bullshit!!

Montreal Gay Arts Festival Denied $155,000 Grant From Conservative Government

Well this is no surprise Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s conservative government has denied the Montreal Divers/Cité gay and lesbian arts festival a grant for $155,000 dollars. Montreal is a tourist attraction the city is very cosmpolitan. I don’t understand why the Harper government denied the funding? The federal government can certainly afford $155,00 dollars and generate millions of dollars for the economy. The festival may be cancelled this year.  I believe this is dirty politics by the homophobic Harper government. It’s such a shame because the festival is open to all people regardless of their sexual orientation.

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2009/07/22/montreal-diverscite-funding.html