I’d love to venture deep into my soul to discuss how deeply moved I was by CNN’s Black in America 2 presentation, but much like the first one, it just wasn’t that deep. In fact, I didn’t even expect it to be. It’s CNN. I only watched it because I know people expected me to watch it because people expected me to say something about it.
I do this for my culture.
And just in case you weren’t sure, we’re still Black. Same sh*t, different toilet.
Anyway, despite it not really being anything more than a surface level look at the fact there are indeed Black people in America (who knew?) who do different things, I still managed to learn some things from this special.
Buckle up Susie.
1) Apparently, most of us are still stuck in quite craptastic circumstances.
Okay, I didn’t really learn that from the special. I mean it was broadcast front and center, but still, I been done knewed that. Still worth mentioning in case you just so happened to have done forgot that.
2) Malaak Compton-Rock looks much better than I remember
Including me and my girl, there were 4 other people at my house watching the special and everybody, save one person, was shocked by how much better she looks than we’d remembered. Of course, I also noted that her profile is quite froggy. Take that as you want.
3) Apparently there are still a lot of Black men with waves in their head.
I was never one of those guys who could get the waves and was always jealous of those chumps people. Ole boy who run’s the Capitol Prep school in Connecticut (his name escapes me), well, his waves were on like 100 percent TCB meets Duke status. Quite impressed was I.
4) Very well to-do Black people are very protective of their circle.
It’s an almost defensive, we’ve earned this spot so step up gangsta, stance. But don’t think you’re gettin in here. I don’t have a problem with this on its face, I’m just not part of the club and probably never will be. Though I guess you are probably forced to defend your status to other people who haven’t quite made it. Crabs in the barrel I suppose.
5) I also don’t care to hear the problems that wealthy people have, black, brown, yellow, or Haitian..
That might be an unpopular stance as I realize everybody has problems, it’s hard for me to feel bad for anybody whose sole problem is actually caring what somebody else says. I’m broke and I pretty much give two sh*ts what most people have to say about me. Then again, when you’re worried about paying bills, other folks problems with you seem a little less than important.
6) Getting into college can be a very emotional moment for some people.
Much like many other people like me, I took getting into college for granted. I mean hell, for me it wasn’t ‘will I get into college?’, it was which college won’t I get accepted to and where am I going. It was a very privileged standpoint I was in. To see the young lady from CT cry at getting accepted into a college I’d never heard of was kind of humbling for me. Just one of those things I realize it’s easy to take for granted when I didn’t have to struggle for my whole life. That was a moment I was pretty glad to have seen: somebody who’s been through hell finally see some light at the other end.
7) Despite being exactly who’s apart of the group, I’ll never be apart of the upper-echelon Black America circle (piggybacking off of number 4).
Save being Greek, I’m the type of guy who’d be in the Jack and Jill’s and would be apart of the book Our Kind of People (one of the most eye opening books of my life, then again, I never even heard of Jack & Jill, Boule, Links, etc until I got to college), except I never will be because until I got to college, nobody I knew was apart of that world. It’s a weird feeling realizing that en entire Black population of people just like you exists…without you. Very weird dichotomy.
Those are just a few of the observations I made while watching BiA2. I mostly saw the second half since during the first half, me and two of my boys got into a very loud debate about whether or not Michael Jackson was really the greatest entertainer of all time. And much like the news of the past 3 weeks, Michael Jackson trumps all.
And yes, he is.
Anyway, good citizens of VSB, what did you learn, if anything, from watching Black in America 2 with Soledad O’Brien, perhaps the whitest Black woman in history?
-VSB P aka THE ARSONIST aka TANGLE JIG P aka GIIIIIIIIIIIIRL, HE A 3
Related posts:
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
hmmmm… lemme see….
wait… i almost had it….
i know there had to have been something i learned….
oh well. maybe it’ll come to me after i sleep on it. nite nite!!!
Reply
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 am
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan,
“maybe it’ll come to me after i sleep on it”
***filed under “statements that the champ would have prefaced with “no homo” if he uttered them sometime between 1999 and 2001″***
Reply
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan, girl you know you learned something, even if it was that Black men still use Duke and rock wave caps to sleep religiously.
Reply
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
@Panama Jackson,
i actually see lots of brothas in pgh that do. so… it wasn’t anything new, ya dig??
Reply
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan,
4real west coast too not so much in the summer but yea niggs still stay with the brush in tha back pocket
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
LOL whenever i’m home in cali and a guy friend picks me up in his car, i always gotta watch out as to not sit on his damn brush!
Only saw last segment of Black in America and Iunno bout y’all but I dug it. That was super positive. Don’t know what the rest of it was like though.
But question. Does MLT seem like another Black elite club (like Jack & Jill) or can us reg’lah folks get our feet in that door?
Reply
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 am
@Thuggie Luvvie, Most people in MLT already come from good colleges with good grades. Regular Black folks CAN go to good colleges and get good grades (me, for example), but typically what type of Black person usually does? ….The elite ones.
One of my friends from MLT said it best to me: “Keep in mind they let in people like [them] who probably don’t need MLT & reject others who do, so MLT can keep their averages high.”
Reply
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 am
@Liz,
““Keep in mind they let in people like [them] who probably don’t need MLT & reject others who do, so MLT can keep their averages high.”
And THIS is what I’m asking. If MLT folks are the ones whose parents could probably get them the same connects as being an MLT alum would, then what about the rest of us who did go to good colleges and got good grades but don’t have any top connections?
Reply
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 am
@Thuggie Luvvie, I don’t know, I still think MLT is merit based just as I believe the elite school admissions are merit based. I think MLT exists to whip young professional kids into shape to compete at very tough business schools (notice in the segments they talked about Kellogg, Stern, harvard, uChicago and they were all people in their mid-20s.)
At the end of the day it’s STILL hard to get into the elite b school’s as a black person, wherever you come from (rich or poor). Furthermore, the higher up you move in any industry, the more likely you will 1) be discriminated against and 2) need affirmative action programs. Due to this, I think programs like MLT can help you keep a competitive edge.
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
@Liz,
mlt? jack n jill? i guess i got kicked out before those classes
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
@Thuggie Luvvie, the last segment was positive. except it still highlighted the fact that everybody ain’t going to make it, even if you do have the “credentials”.
hell, i went to school with some of the most well-t0-do Black folks in America and i still don’t know about half of the sh*t these folks are talking about. AND I LIVE IN DC, HOME OF THE BOUGIE NEGRO. politics, power, and black people are around me 24/7 and like brandon st. randy, i personally know a gang of the ninjas that were shown in varying shots of the tuxedo ball…
…yet, how come i’ve never even heard of it?
access is a motherf*cker.
Reply
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 am
@Panama Jackson,
“access is a motherf*cker”
A T-shirt I’d rock
Reply
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
@Thuggie Luvvie,
with cute heels and big silver hoops.
MizzDustNoffDaHatahzSince96Hall Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 am
@Panama Jackson,
“…yet, how come i’ve never even heard of it? ”
Maybe you have to be listed in the Green Book to receive an invitation.
oh and…
**side-eye for the “bougie negro” statement…Hater**
Reply
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 am
@MizzDustNoffDaHatahzSince96Hall, side-eye deez.
but yeah, i find it telling that i cavort with everybody who’d be at that function (i work with all the low-income, powerful Black professionals in DC…lol), and i’d never even heard of it.
that just ain’t me i guess. and in some sense, i’m kind of happy about that.
Uhmmm… I learned that I don’t like Soledad much as a reporter… her segment of the show upset me… it was more “poor” in america as opposed to “black” in america… kudos to Perry, tho.. the 2nd half of the show was good.
Oh, I also learned that lil kids living in poverty have blackberrys. Which confuses me. I didn’t even have one til last year. And I’m grownish. And not living in poverty. LOL
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:18 am
@Selah, Soledad igs me too. Did you know she’s part Black? I had NO idea. She often speaks from a perspective as if she isn’t.
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Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 am
@Liz, is she? Coulda fooled me. Oh wait. She did fool me. lol But really, she had me feeling some kind of way *shrugs*
Reply
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
@Liz, her NAME igs me.
“Soledad O’Brien” is just all kinds of mismatched nomenclature. It clangs in my ears
**channels Smeagol** It hurtses ussss!
Reply
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:22 am
@Liz,
about Soledad
To quote the great Willie D of the Geto Boys…”you still a n*gga”
Reply
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
@Liz,
I think Soledad often speaks from a perspective of someone who is part black but who is often mistaken for someone who is not, if that makes sense.
She has never denied her black side. Given her multi-ethnic background, I doubt she was raised in a ‘typical’ black environment. And I think, because of her ethnic ambiguity, she has been privy to some racial commentary that white folks try not to make public.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
@V.E.G.,
yeah, i def agree with you Veggie. just becuz Soledad doesn’t LOOK black or was raised in a stereotypical black environment, to me (another mixtie), doesn’t mean she isn’t in touch with her black (or even latino) side.
i know quite a few ppl who work in broadcast and journalism who have had nothing but good things to say about Ms. O’Brien and that she has always been well connected in black (and “hispanic”) orgs for journalists. the fact that she is actively involved in such groups says a lot to me about how she views herself.
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan,
I agree. I have a lot of respect for her. She could have denied a lot about her background. But she embraces it even when folks don’t voluntarily give her her black/Latina card.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan, I don’t think people are disputing her Blackness. I’m not even claiming she’s not “Black enough.” My problem with Soledad is her REPORTING (not even how she is on her personal time) comes across like she’s a white woman on Safari who is just discovering Black-kind for the first time. Literally her narration is what annoys me. Soledad we know you are Black too, why this Christopher Columbus tone in your voice?
Scott Hanselman Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
@Gemmie’s Got A Tan,
I agree with Liz…she nails it. *Hi Liz*
I have a problem with Soledad’s Reporting. The fact that she is mixed and elite from birth is what it is. You don’t choose your parents.
But during the Africa segment it was like she was one of these “poor-folks tours.” Folks with money like to take vacations to places without money then give away some money so they feel better. I appreciate what Malaak is trying to do opening kids eyes up, but do they need to *focus* on the shanties in Soweto? I’ve been to Soweto, I’ve lived in South Africa (my wife’s family is there and we stay with them for a month each year) and there is a Black Middle Class in Africa that in underrepresented in the media. Rather than taking those kids to buy pencils for a lucky few, why not introduce the kids to some folks who’ve come up in Soweto and accomplished something. Show them that it’s possible. Don’t just take them on a tour of ‘look how some folks got it worse than you.’
I gotta say, as someone whose been deep into African culture for a decade (I’m white) I’ve just about had it with the simplistic few that America (White *and* Black folks) have about Africa. It ain’t a country, people. Not everyone lives in a shack. Diversity wasn’t represented in that segment.
BlackBerry Molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
@Scott Hanselman,
I love what you said. Thank you.
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 am
@Selah,
“Oh, I also learned that lil kids living in poverty have blackberrys. Which confuses me. I didn’t even have one til last year. And I’m grownish. And not living in poverty. LOL”
Hell, I don’t have one now….lmao
Reply
Complex Simplicity Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 am
@miss t-lee, Co-sign! Where do “poor” people get money to buy Blackberries? I work everyday, and I STILL don’t have a black berry.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
@Complex Simplicity,
Hahah!!!
I got a few cousins who don’t even work and got much nicer ish than I have. I ask myself daily WTF am I doing wrong.
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 am
@miss t-lee,
lmao you and me both!! i mean, i am living just above the poverty line as a grad student (which my dad points out to me regularly). there’s got to be an easier way to make the pennies i’m earning.
Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
@Complex Simplicity,
“Where do “poor” people get money to buy Blackberries?”
ON that note, one of the women in S. Africa had a tv screen bigger than mine. I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
@Ivy St.,
“ON that note, one of the women in S. Africa had a tv screen bigger than mine. I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.”
Yea cuz u kno how Africans cant possibly have a place to get big screen TVs since ain’t no BestBuy’s in the Sub-Sahara. o_O GOH w/ that.
JBSKFSF
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
@Ivy St.,
“I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.”
When I was in Kenya, my friend’s family had not one, not two, but THREE big screen plasma tv’s in their seven bedroom house.
Not every body in Africa is living in a hut, hon.
No offense, but comments like this are one of the reasons there is tension between Black Americans and black folk from the rest of the diaspora (and, honestly, America and the rest of the world)…we constantly show how much we don’t know.
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
@VEG,
“No offense, but comments like this are one of the reasons there is tension between Black Americans and black folk from the rest of the diaspora (and, honestly, America and the rest of the world)…we constantly show how much we don’t know.”
Thank u. File it under “Things that piss Luvvie off quick”. When educated Black folks are asking “Where did a South African Woman get a big tv from?”, how do we expect white folks to realize we DON’T all live in shacks and have lions in our backyards?
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
You are Nigerian. WE ALL KNOW there is no wildlife there. lol.
Tulia, simba!
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 pm
@VEG,
Well, seems we don’t ALL know. Folks still hold barbaric & archaic assumptions about African countries, developed or not.
Oh, and thats Nala to you
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@Ivy St., I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.
http://www.einnews.com/southern-africa/newsfeed-southern-africa-business
I don’t expect folks to know or even drop terms like import/export or GDP, but I do think common sense and looking outside worn out generalities is important. South Africa is one of the most developed countries in Africa with a thriving telecommunications system, are you kidding me??
If anyone is confused as to how Africans have access to tvs and such, please peruse the above link at your leisure, and get to know your play cousins and how they really live. its not all Keep A Child Alive and genocides.
This is why I said it’s important to know a world outside our own borders, especially people of color.
Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
@VEG and Thuggie Luvvie,
Both of you should RELAX. Maybe I worded my comment wrong. Let me rephrase, ” WHY is a woman with a large tv seen as poor or needing of extra aid?!?!” Maybe what she needs is to reorganize her priorities. I wasn’t asking where so much(UM DUH)! I didn’t think Best Buy ONLY existed down the street from me. I think it’s sad that you both jumped on my comment the way you did, suggesting some already festering internal conflicts.
As for the tension between African black and American blacks, I feel like all of your replies to my comment, cause it. I’ve had more than a few Africans tell me that American blacks are lazy and I get the feelings a lot (NOT ALL, relax) of Africans come here and think they are better.
Take how you want.
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
yeah, seeing a 40 inch flat screen in the living room of the fam that couldnt afford school uniforms was a bit jarring.
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@Ivy St.,
If I need to relax, you would best be served by getting a clue.
And, in case you were confused, I AM a black American. But I am also a child of the world (no hippie) who has stepped outside of the pictures painted for us so that I can see how others around the world live. I suggest you do the same. Northwest has great deals on flights.
Nice try at trying to rally all the black Americans with the default “oh yea…Africans think they are better” response.
Let’s be real: most people from other countries have a poor opinion of Americans. That said, I have several friends from around the world and, once you have a meaningful conversation with them, you realize they are no different from you and they definitely don’t think they are better than you.
I suggest an expansion of your social network. Perhaps you would have benefited from the trip with Malaak and the kids. The more you know, the more you grow.
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
@Ivy St.,
So many things wrong w/ this statement so I will do it in bullet points:
1. You can’t be serious. YOUR original statement of “ON that note, one of the women in S. Africa had a tv screen bigger than mine. I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.” did NOT include all the analyzing that you’re doing now so please don’t act like someone put words in your mouth. Your comment was 1 sentence and ur “explanation” was 15. WOMP.
b. You projecting our replies to you in disagreement as “festering internal conflicts” is a bit of a leap ain’t it?
Oh and VEG is American so what disconnect is SHE causing?
Yeah. Your SADDOWN gift basket will be delivered shortly. With a “Visit the place before you spew nonsense” body lotion.
BlackBerry Molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
@V.E.G.,
I’m chippin in on the crepes Luvvie is getting for you.
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
personally i think all of y’all need jesus, a two-piece from popeyes and some jamba juice.
there have been much worse comments (and actually given the context of the woman with the big screen TV the comment made total sense) that didn’t garner so near a freakin’ response.
ivy st. i dont even feel like you worded it wrong. i feel like it hit a soft spot.
no diss luvvie, cuz you know i love you like a fat kid loves falafel, but this sounds like isaac hayes snuffin’ out south park b/c they went at scientology when he played along when they took shots at other people because it was close to home.
hell in this same comment thread it was commented how them lil poor ninjas get sidekicks or blackberries. how come no sourpuss over that comment?
clearly folks who otherwise wouldnt seem to possess such technology did indeed, possess it.
i think they all got it like i did…the la riots.
Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
@Panama.
I could ALWAYS go for some Popeye’s.
And 2. Ivy’s comment was the only one without context. Errone else wondered how po folks got sidekicks. SHE wondered how an African woman got a big TV. There’s a difference.
But like I said below, iQuit. Have a good day & may your yella skint not get sunburned in the DC heat.
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
*being messy*
@Ivy St., PJ,
oooooooooooooooooh…you got served!
….and she forgot ‘cho biscuit.
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
@Southerngirl, serve deez.
and Luvvie, i feel you. i’m all about peace and not war.
especially since i’m such a damn G. i dont play fair. i step on ants. i smuch crickets.
i even took out a praying mantis once…hope she prayed for salvation!
p-unit.
(btw, p-unit sounds like a urinal)
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
@Panama,
“i even took out a praying mantis once…hope she prayed for salvation!”
*gasp*
How you gon’ kill a PRAYING MANTIS? It is a gentle and wise creature. And it was PRAYING.
*throat punch*
Now I (double-dog) DARE you to say, “throat punch deez” because it shant be pretty.
Chas Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@Ivy St.,
umm….i missed spotting the big screen tv…but if it was in the house where they couldn’t afford the uniforms and school supplies, that as well as the kid with the BB/sidekick or whatever gets a side-eye from me.
anyone who can’t “can’t afford” essential items but can somehow attain the unessential, regardless of what continent they live on, seems off to me.
@V.E.G. ,
and tho your african friends may not believe they are better than you, i’ve had discussions with africans and haitians whose parents do feel that way. that’s just my experience tho.
im mad i missed all this today. damn job and responsibilities and sh*t.
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
@miss t-lee,
I’m gonna need you to step your phone game up. iphone? How ELSE are we gonna be able to watch youtube videos of the Black Olympics, white girls & Gucci Mane, and share the Mp3 of Gucci Mane’s ghetto smash “Photoshoot”.
AYE!
Bond. BlkBond
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
@BlkBond,
*sniggling*
I can always count on you to come through with the ridiculous!
Me and AT&T had a fight about 2 years ago, so I’m boycotting. Unless I get a ‘unlocked’ version of a iphone…it’s not happening.
AYE!!!
N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
@miss t-lee,
girl, i thought my fight with AT&T was over until I saw my credit report still said I owed those bamas money…money i paid a year ago… i want an iPhone, but I’m waiting for Verizon to make that happen.
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
@ N.I.A. naturally ,
I told them to go ahead and charge that early termination fee to the game.
Punks.
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
@BlkBond, lmao at the AYE! you always crack me up.
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:24 am
@Selah,
Oh, I also learned that lil kids living in poverty have blackberrys.
lol, that actually wasn’t a blackberry. it was a sidekick lx
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Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
@The Champ,
well shut my mouth and call me corn pone! Looked like a storm to me. Maybe I should just step my phone game up. lol
Reply
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
@Selah,
dnt trip i jus got a cam phone last year ima caveman and fuq geico lol
Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
@BLUNTBLAZER,
LOL! the sad thing is, I have a Blackberry – the world biz edition. You’d think I’d be able to spot another one.
(oh and the edition I have doesnt even have a camera on it. lol)
Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
@Selah,
I agree the second part was the best. I like to see black people doing well. I already knew there were poor blacks every where in the world. It is uplifting and inspirational to see blacks that are out there succeeding and making it to the top. For some,once they make it to the top, they find a way to give back.
Reply
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
@Selah, it was a sidekick.
but let’s be real. them kids live in the hood. you can get anything you want in the hood at a discount. heck, when i was running the club, we used to have folks stop by selling us computers (real ones, not crackhead computers), phones, some dude bought a car, and i like lamp.
if its one the thing hood isn’t short on, its comeups and technology is definitely the area where come-ups thrive.
i know people who have entire DVD collections of screeners.
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Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 am
@Panama Jackson,
i know what you’re talmbout. I just feel like his mom’s priorities are kinda out of order, IMHO. it being at a discount still means she, or whoever, still had to spend something on it… and as Soledad was oft to point out, they didn’t have much money in the first place.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
@Selah,
true that. and you dont have to pay for a lot of technology gadgets after you buy them. if you want that sidekick/blackberry/iphone to work, you gotta continuously pay a phone bill (and unless you got boost mobile or cricket you gon be payin quite a bit)
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
@Panama Jackson,
I saw a a guy get car jacked at a stop sign pulled right outa his drop top stang and that car got sold 4 times before sundown real shiiii erytime i saw it, it was missin more an more shi
Reply
Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:54 am
@BLUNTBLAZER,
you need more people. lol
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
@Selah,
you want phone #’s, addresses, emails ? i got witnesses
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
@Selah,
yeah, he can start with the standing army of the People’s Republic of China.. and he may need the armies of Ottoman Empire.
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Selah, i don’t feel he does. i really believe everything he says, lol.
NEGRO YOU ARE NOT BROKE! Quit frontin!!
I only bring this up to say–mo money mo problems. don’t count the affluent as not broke becasue they have assets. I think everyone can work on the spending management for the income they earn.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
@Liz, though every can work on money management, i’m still living paycheck to paycheck.
i was doing that when i didn’t have a well-paying job.
and i’m not throwing money away.
i guess my main point is that life’s a b*tch and then you die…
Reply
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 am
@Panama Jackson,
paycheck to paycheck dam bruh bruh i feel ya
am i a hater cause i hate on people that got shii like tha “Luniz” said “broke ninjas make the best crooks ya best look ova ya shoulder if you a high roller”
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
@Panama Jackson, right, but whose to say rich folks aint living paycheck to paycheck too? theyjust hve bigger expenses. I still don’t think you are what most people consider as broke. Yes there are pleny of white americans who are living paycheck to paycheck but in most people’s minds they are not broke, living on govt assistance.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
@Liz,
i cant get govt assistance and ima single dad that cant get child support cost of livin in cali is crazy sect 8 list is 15 yrs long affordable housin aint affordable an shii
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
@Liz,
“NEGRO YOU ARE NOT BROKE! Quit frontin!!”
I love how…in a lot of circles, being BROKE is frontin’. It’s so real. You will get side-eyed real quick in some circles if you talk about your condo and not your parent’s basement.
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I just wanna say “booo” to all the peeps on the we owe it to ourselves to watch Black in America 2 especially with all the “coonery” on tv.. umm how exactly did the special combat that?
I dont know, i mean at the end of the day we see the struggles of the lower class, and the uppityness of the upper class. but plain ole regular folks like me? halfway between here and there, who meet at the intersection of stereotypes?
I dont ever see that.. I mean I guess it was a better attempt but like fat Luffa’s jerri curl…it just didnt quite go all the way over…
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shay_d_lady Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 am
@shay_d_lady, hit send to soon
but overall it was okay..
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 am
@shay_d_lady,
are you talking about the curl or the special, or both?
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
@shay_d_lady, I dont know, i mean at the end of the day we see the struggles of the lower class, and the uppityness of the upper class. but plain ole regular folks like me? halfway between here and there, who meet at the intersection of stereotypes?
i kind of wonder if any news story is really ready to address this. i mean what do you do when the population looks like the rest of mainstream america? where’s the story to them.
they’re are black people who are like white people? heavens no. its a much easier story to focus on the extremes b/c people expect those. though i’d guess that quite a few white folks were surprised to see the lady (carlotta myles, i think) with familyspanning generations with grad degrees and old money, etc.
on a totally unrelated note, i’m listening to After 7 right now…”heat of the moment”
when’s the last time ANYBODY pulled out an after 7 album?
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
@shay_d_lady,
The Single Black Female living in Atlanta was a realistic portrayal of the middle. I think her segment was misplaced though–they could have spoke about her experiences as a Black Female in a traditionally male dominated field, they could have spoken about how her ambition affects her social life, etc. Showing her attending MLT was misused time and focus that could have otherwise been more productive and enlightening.
Bond.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
@BlkBond,
i completely agree!!! well said. i was mentioning this very thing to my homegirl. i thought the MLT segment was a snoozer and thought all the good material about Ms Mia was misplaced and ignored. i mean, i’m glad girlfriend is following her dreams and goals in life, but how did she get to where she is today to be able to have the luxury to up and quit her nice paying stable job (when many americans are being laid off) that bought her house and car and will help pay for her MBA??
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
@BlkBond,
they could have spoke about her experiences as a Black Female in a traditionally male dominated field, they could have spoken about how her ambition affects her social life, etc. Showing her attending MLT was misused time and focus that could have otherwise been more productive and enlightening.
i agree. i think the cnn specials overall have had good content but bad angles. their hearts are in the right places, but their brains arent
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
@The Champ,
their hearts are in the right places, but their brains arent
Lmbao!
BTW, Steve Perry was the name of that fine specimen of a man who had the deep waves. LOL.
I need him cloned. You know, for the betterment of education in America. yeah…
*fans self*
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JamaicanGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 am
@Liz, Yes Steve Perry is a handsome man and he’s educated. I will be on the waiting list behind you for his clone.
Only for for the betterment of education in America though…..
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 am
@Liz, http://www.myspace.com/manup4us
holla!
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 am
@overit, LOL! thanks for the heads up!
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devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:09 am
@overit,
Please tell PrettyBoySteve that even MySpace pages need to be edited properly, for the betterment, of course! To wit:
“Steve Perry is a phenominal author and high school principal. He founded the Captial Prepatory Magnet School in Hartford, CT, which sends 100% of all its students to various colleges every year. Recently, Steve has stirred the murkey waters of the Black Community through his best selling and controversial book entitled, “Man UP, Nobodys Coming to Save Us.”
(really? for real?) *chuckle*
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Scott Hanselman Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
@overit,
Wow, I’m actually a little disappointed that Steve Perry has a MySpace page. I thought he was focused on being a Principal and not on self-promotion. I’m not sure what to think about that…I guess someone can do both, but still. Does he want to be a pundit or a principal? Is it about the kids or the cred?
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 am
@Liz, BTW, Steve Perry was the name of that fine specimen of a man who had the deep waves. LOL
beyonce’s line from the destiny child song “soldier” popped in my head: “low cut ceasars with the deep waaaaaaaaaaaaves(deep waaves), so quick to snatch up your beyonceeeeee( beyonceeee)”
and on that note, i ‘m going to bed.
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
@overit, lolol.
lawd, good gawd how shamed was i* for the thoughts that ran through my head once the next segment showed that man was married with two kids? *sigh*
*not very
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K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
@SouthernGirl,
love the footnote
devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:58 am
@Liz,
word.
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Intellectual Hedonist Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
@Liz, EWWWW! Lizzie, just EWWWWWWW!!
I went to undergrad with him, he was a Yerk!!! yes I said it… he probably still is, not hating, he was just not a nice person.
Im sure he is doing good works and all, and he wouldnt be into you, in part because of your Greek Affiliation (hes anti greek)
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@Intellectual Hedonist, LOLOL. I figured he would be a jerk actually. lightskinned, dont think ur sh*t tinks, etc etc.
and the antigreeks can go kick rocks.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
@Intellectual Hedonist,
I went to undergrad with him, he was a Yerk!!! yes I said it… he probably still is, not hating, he was just not a nice person.
you know, i got a bit of a russell simmons vibe from him: basically, a gaping asshole that does really good things.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
@The Champ, I don’t get that from Russy. I just get gaping asshole….who likes to make money.
Chas Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
@Intellectual Hedonist,
sadly enough, when i saw him…i knew it was too good to be true….seemed too perfect.
i instantly jumped to oh he must be gay/a woman beater/cheating on his wife/a B.A.N….etc etc.
am i the only one?
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Craven Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
@Liz,
Not trying to hate on my man Steve, but I could smell the texturizer in his hair through the TV screen.
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Beez Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
@Liz,
mmph! Black male educators are what’s hot in the streets right now. Not those superfluous dudes, but the ones who wake up at ungawdly hours to take chirrens to school, and become Uncle Ruckus (janitor, bus driver, coach, lunchlady) for a day and don’t complain about it. All in the name of making someone’s future better.
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That was tonight? *yawn*
Sorry.. I watched Revenge of the Sith for the eleventy-billionth time… and fell asleep.
Don’t you dare call my Black Card on the carpet. I’m an originator of this ish you call Blackness. Yeah. I said it.
BWAH! G’nite!
(can you tell I’ve had 3 glasses of wine? wine sleep is some of the most peaceful sleep EVAH!)
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shay_d_lady Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 am
@blackberry molasses, girl your black card is in no danger.. I mean the special was good, but I think umm if you black in America, it failed to provide any new insight into the life.. but it was cool…
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Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
@shay_d_lady,
“it failed to provide any new insight into the life.”
I agree. I was going to change the channel to watch something else and the person I was watching it tried to get an attitude. I felt they thought I wasn’t into my “blackness” because I wanted to watch something else.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
@Ivy St., you know, quite honestly, the only reason i watched it is b/c of what i said. i felt obligated to do so b/c i feel like i have to write about it as a “pop culture” style blogger.
i really wanted to watch Alf.
Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
@Panama Jackson,
I wanted to watch Real World Cancun. LOL!
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
@Panama Jackson,
quite honestly, the only reason i watched it is b/c of what i said. i felt obligated to do so b/c i feel like i have to write about it as a “pop culture” style blogger.
me too, actually. i really just wanted to have sex.
T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
@blackberry molasses, I watched TORCHWOOD: CHILDREN OF EARTH Day 3 and flipped over during commercials. I get the same feeling about BIA that I do when I watch that self-congradulatory authentic frontier gibberish of a forum that Tavis Smiley puts on on C-SPAN every year, as if they’re just there to put on airs.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 am
@blackberry molasses,
i didnt feel watching BiA2 was necessary to gain insight or learn something new (a la Peej’s post). but i watch it to see what kind of thing’s CNN is highlighting that 2520 folk might be watching. i do feel an obligation to see what is being said about being “Black in America”. becuz if they miss the mark, they should know about it from me. i’m not afraid to write a letter*…
*which may not change much but at least my opinion has been voiced elsewhere besides fb, twitter, and vsb
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I will never understand groups like Jack and Jill. And just like you I never heard of groups like that until I got into college either. Nor did I know anybody associated with such groups. I don’t understand why only “privileged African Americans” can participate in these groups. They also turn down single mothers which urks me to no end! It would probably do some inner city kids a world of good to experience another side of black culture that they wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise. But because of their economic status they are denied and looked down upon. SMH
They might as well deny 65 black kids the right to swim at a pool
But back to the question… I learned that its BIA2 and CNN is still serving us some lukewarm material.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 am
@GEELA, I think Jack and Jill exists so Black people in them can network and find and marry into other Black families like them. To an extent it’s elitist, but to a different extent it’s not much different from the olden days of marrying/socializing within your economic status, ie so many other cultures do this as well, but in different ways (arranged marriages, marrying within your religion or race). Does this mean it’s “right”? I’m not sure, but I think to a degree I understand.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
@Liz, i don’t knock their existence. bc of going to morehouse/spelman, i know a GANG of folks that were in jack and jill. and they’re by and large a cool set of folks. i do think though, that its intended goal is to make sure that elites have access to other elites in order to maintain that elite circle, and i suppose that’s no different than what happens in white America. it just seems SO odd in Black America b/c it’s almost like elite Black are a secret society who want to make sure that nobody else gets into the club.
i guess i feel like if it were possible, some of those individuals (and usually the older generations probably) would only deal with folks of their class or whatever and never take a look back and the rest of us. which gets back to, we made it, why can’t you?
i tend to think thats what causes problems in the black community. not even from a sellout standpoint, but when some of us do happen to make it, we view it as the rule and fail to acknowledge what it took to get us there and start to view ourselves as above the fray.
i dont know how wrong or right that is, either. i guess the rules of capitalism require there to be haves and have-nots so perhaps its just par the course for life.
either way, i like lamp.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
@Liz,
I agree with you on this, Liz. While Jack and Jill may be elitist and I can’t say that it is “right” I understand how it started and why it keeps going: black folks want to be around others like them: educated, etc. It is no different from the Creole enclaves and debutante balls and paper bag tests that ran rampant in New Orleans at one point. Folks wanted to ensure they could keep the ‘elite’ going and, to do that, you had to marry someone with a background like yours.
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Stuff Ghetto People Like Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 am
@GEELA,
They also turn down single mothers which urks me to no end!
Seems quite obvious who they want to paint a certain portrait to….and the two numbers are multiples of five.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:55 am
@Stuff Ghetto People Like, You think the J&J do this to appeal to white people? i think they do it to preserve themselves and their circle, especially these days. I doubt white people, of all people, even KNOW (or care) about J&J. i think J&J folks do it for J&J folks and that’s it. You might can argue they do it to throw shade at other Blacks, but for the purposes of being assimilationist, I don’t buy it.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
@GEELA,
I had never heard of Jack & Jill until I read Our Kind Of People.
I know they have chapters round here, it’s just we aren’t the kind of folks who would even be bothered with that.
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Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 am
@miss t-lee,
I found out about Jack and Jill in middle school. There is a similar group here called Tots and Teens. The average black folks don’t even know these groups exist. They had parties and everything. If you weren’t in that circle then you wouldn’t know.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Humble_One,
Hmmmm…I haven’t heard of that group either.
*finger on chin*
Lil'T Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
@miss t-lee,
I had a J&J group come for a tour we were giving of a historical site recently. I was clowing them, of course, but one of the other black folks working the event put it to me this way (after she punched me in the leg with her man-handed self): she grew up in VA in an area where she very rarely saw black kids who were also middle class. J&J really did help unite the “only ones” so that they didn’t feel so alone in their bouginess. I, however, grew up in PG County, where there is a thriving Black middle to upper-middle class (despite what you hear from, oh, everyone who doesn’t live or step foot here). No need to go hunting for “people like us”. So, while I find them to be pretty pretentious (cuz the folks usually are) I can almost see the necessity.
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
@ Lil’T ,
I mean…I guess I can understand why groups like this exist. I grew up in a mostly Hispanic town, my high school only had 50 or so Black kids outta 1500 students. 7 of us in our graduating class.
The whole city is mostly middle class with a few upper class folks thrown in.
I get the Jack& Jill aspect, I just wasn’t aware of it until I was grown. Even if I was aware, I’m sure we wouldn’t have been considered.
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 am
@GEELA,
welcome and sh*t
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 am
@GEELA,
*dusts off the welcome wagon*
*rummages around. finds nearly empty bag of gold stars*
welcome!!!
*shooting gold stars*
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
@SouthernGirl,
yay for you resurrecting the welcome wagon. **ponders getting her Diva Dust ™ Action goin’ again**
@GEELA
Welcome!!
**Diva Dust ™ Original Formula**
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
@GEELA,
It would probably do some inner city kids a world of good to experience another side of black culture that they wouldn’t be exposed to otherwise. But because of their economic status they are denied and looked down upon.
this is exactly why my mom would have no parts of J&J or other “bourgie” groups. and she wanted me to have no parts of it, though i had the opportunities to.
i thought my mom was going to keep over into a grave when i told her i wanted to be a debutante for one of the sorority’s in the area. elitist or not, i loved gettin dolled up in my gown (read: wedding dress) for the ball — we had a great time!!
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MaiTai Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
@GEELA, As a graduate of Jack & Jill, I have never heard of them denying single mothers, my mom being one of them. Shoot, I think we had 1 or 2 folks who were on public assistance in our chapter. In Fairfield County, Connecticut no less. But I have heard of other chapters in other states having terrible practices, so I could see where you could get that perception.Anywho, much like when mostly black folks used to show up to race related discussions at my college, I thought the special was very much a “preaching to the choir” thing. I do appreciate that there was much more positivity than the last one, which made me want to just go back to Africa like Nas in “Belly.” Seeing people who offered solutions such as the (fine ass) principal in Hartford, was encouraging.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@MaiTai,
welcome and sh*t
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After being thoroughly disgusted and disappointed with Black in America Part One, I could not bring myself to tune into part 2 and apparently I missed nothing. I most certainly did not feel compelled or obligated to watch this program just because I’m black. I think the first program was poorly done and wasn’t really made for us black folks. I hated it almost as much as I hate BET, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared towards? Can anyone help me out on that?
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shay_d_lady Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 am
@Naomi, I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared toward…
my thoughts exactly
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 am
@Naomi, I thought the first one definitely was for white people. I think some segments of Black America may have learned something new about other Black Americans (good or bad) in Part 2. While I feel confident they didn’t touch upon anything I personally didn’t know about already, I definitely think and know some people I am related to or friends with had no idea some of the things reported on existed.
I’m really interested in tomorrow’s report on Blacks and healthcare/science research. Definitely something I think gets overlooked.
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
@Liz,
Blacks in healthcare/research science? and they didn’t interview me?? HMPH! **crosses arms in the huffiest of huffs*
I really need to go to bed. I’m just getting stoopid now.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Naomi,
I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared towards?
to shed light on some issues going on in the black community…for white people.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
@The Champ,
ooooooooooooo now i get it
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
@The Champ,
“to shed light on some issues going on in the black community…for white people.”
Yup, exactly.
Too bad that light is shining on nothing.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 am
@Naomi, I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared towards? Can anyone help me out on that?
i keep asking myself this question even though i know its pretty much for white people. i keep trying to find a deeper purpose, but really, i think its an opportunity for cnn to pat itself on the back for doing something to shed light on the black community…and also to give soledad an opportunity to remind people that she’s black since it’s so easy to forget or never know in the first place.
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Right Her Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
@Naomi,
I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared towards? Can anyone help me out on that?
According to CNN leadership, the purpose of Part 1 was to “start a converstaion.” Part 2 was supposed to be about solutions. But I didn’t really get that from watching.
BTW, the EP of BIA is a white man. So that may answer some questions.
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
@Naomi,
Black Bond approves this message; however, I did see the second half once I received a text about the school in connecticut with a 100% college admission rate. Truly impressive, I got choked up.
Bond.
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Intellectual Hedonist Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
@BlkBond, its easy to have a graduation rate of 100% when you only have like 40 students…just keeping it real
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
@Intellectual Hedonist, they had 40 slots open for next year, not total students. there are around 250 students all together, i believe. and even if it was 40 students, based on the stats they mentioned about CT, that would still be 40 kids who might not have gone previously, right? *shrug*
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
@SouthernGirl,
Thx. I didn’t feel like pointing this out. Any activity that involves others resulting in a 100% success rate should be lauded.
Bond.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
@Intellectual Hedonist,
But that’s what EVERY school in America should strive for. Small numbers and higher rate of admission in college… What good is education if a major part gets left out?
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
@Naomi,
I’m still trying to figure what the purpose and goal of Black in America is and who it’s really geared towards? Can anyone help me out on that?
That’s my main question. Is it Soledad working on her own personal project of discovery? Because I really don’t get it.
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I ain’t even watch it, I got shyt to do. Only God can judge me, who the f*ck is you?
I just felt like saying that. Did they talk about how hip hop and BET is destroying the Black community? If not, all praise due to CNN.
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Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 am
@Monk,
LOL! .. i’m SO stealing that line.
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Monk Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
@Selah,
I can’t even take credit for that line. It comes from the Rhythmic American Poet Jay Jenkins also known as Young Jeezy as he explains why he’s not going to court.
He raps, “Why, he keep sayin’ ‘Yeeaahhh’? I don’t even know / I got court tomorrow, I don’t need to go / I don’t even show, I got sh*t to do / Only God can judge me, who the f*ck is you…”
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Selah Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 am
@Monk,
“Rhythmic American Poet Jay Jenkins also known as Young Jeezy”
i cackled at this. Somehow I think my life is better now that I know this information.
charli skipper Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 am
@Monk,
Only God can judge me, who the f*ck is you?
ugh! this hilarious, ignorant mess right here…lol. i need to work this into my sparkling breakfast conversation tomorrow.
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
@Monk,
Yeeeaaaaaah! (jeezy voice)
Bond.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
@BlkBond,
yeaaaaaaaaah *in gucci’s voice*
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I feel you, man. I could never get my waves quite right either…lol. I dug the end, because it was more positive but the elite folks were pretty self-absorbed. My folks had me in J & J, etiquette classes and cotillions. In the end, who gives a fuck? Plus when I’m out at night, it doesn’t matter that I’m a n*gga who knows which one is the salad fork… Cops won’t care about that…lol
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 am
@J, LOL true!
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AkShone Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
@J,
“Cops won’t care about that…”
That’s what Prof. Henry Louis Gates said…
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am
@AkShone,
You’re right…they shol’ didn’t care about that.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 am
@J, i have a somewhat real question for you about J&J. as an outsider from pretty much that entire world, what did J&J add to your life or provide for you that you dont think you’d have gotten without it? if you don’t mind my asking…
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 am
@Panama Jackson,
I wonder this as well… like seriously. No snark.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
@blackberry molasses,
I third this emotion.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@Panama Jackson, I don;t think you can really answer that objectively. that’s like asking someone who is an identical twin what do they think they’re life would be like if they weren’t a twin. They’ve always been a twin and probably don’t know where to draw the line between where twinness begins and ends because they’ve been that way their whole life. I think this is esp true since from what i know J&J is all about the kids.
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“a very loud debate about whether or not Michael Jackson was really the greatest entertainer of all time.”
this type of thinking is prevalent among hater subgroups. anyone who attempts to detract from MJ’s legacy will be jumped at the vsb bbq.
JBAAPOBF!
onto BiA2, I did not get to watch all of it, that said-they did *better. What I don’t understand, is why they did not discuss HBCU’s, greek orgs, the Black church, or anything that shows the cultural and religious diversity of black america.
a friend of mine remarked that she was shocked there was nothing on black immigrants or their children, esp considering soledad’s background, i was not. if their view of black in america is already that narrow, i could not imagine what a production that touched on all the facets of black america, esp black immigrants and their children (a growing population) would look like…cnn would probably blow up mid-taping. soon as the camera panned to kofi, his wife sarafina, and his 7 kids, BOOM! black suits would fill the room.
in short, while they did better, the fact we feel that way about what still was a lacking production, shows how much the first one sucked.
*for a CNN production.
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Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 am
@overit,
They can’t hit ALL the aspects of Black culture. It IS only 2 hrs afterall. If they were to REALLY do a comprehensive special on Blacks in America, it’d be tome. One that could be worth watching, but a tome nonetheless.
Oh and i’mo punch you for “JBAAPOBF!”. I know it’s a “Jeebs be…” phrase but what does the rest stand for? We do not reside in ur head. Explain!
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 am
@Thuggie Luvvie, Obviously they can’t hit on ALL the aspects of black life. i feel the topic/angles were poorly chosen, and because they were not telling a majority of black people anything new, they were just reinforcing the downtrodden negro image.
i’m already not impressed, but if i was speaking from a media/journalist perspective i’m be utterly dissapointed. i just think certain angles were poorly addressed. if you want to talk about wealthy black folk, that’s the ONLY way you could have CNN? really? you have black families who are 3rd generation AKA, wealthy…i’m sleepy and getting annoyed. soledad needs to do better, and if even THINK i read there’s gonna be a BiA3, i’m cutting some paper.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 am
@overit, that was supposed to read, i’m already not impressed, but if i was speaking from a media/journalist perspective i’m utterly dissapointed.
i’s sleepy:(
Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
@overit, ” i read there’s gonna be a BiA3, i’m cutting some paper.”
Nope, she’s moved on to Latino In America.
I’m personally waiting for her to do Irish in America that should be hilarious just for the looks white people will give her if she tells them she is part Irish.
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
@Thuggie Luvvie, i forgot. JBAAPOBF!=Jesus Be An Accurate Portrayal Of Black Folk!
lol, you’re supposed to at least TRY to guess.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:01 am
@overit, I agree about immigrant Blacks. Heck, I didn’t even know they existed or were populous in America until I came to college on the east coast. I think they also outnumber (or match) african-americans in college these days (esp more elite schools), so it’s definitely worthy of some discussion.
Maybe CNN can do ‘Blacks Who Came To America’
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 am
@Liz,
if they do ‘Blacks Who Came to America’, they gotta include the barbershop argument… Mohammed Ali (nee Cassius Clay) v. Rocky Marciano. And our usage of juices and berries to keep our locks soft
(sorry… couldn’t help it)
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 am
@blackberry molasses, LMAO!!!!! yup, they do
THAT would be entertaining….
Stank-0 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
@blackberry molasses,
Get outta my head! “His mama call him Clay, I’ma call him Clay.”
N.I.A. naturally.... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
@Liz,
they would have to qualify it and call it “Blacks Who Came to America on Their Own Volition.” Otherwise, it would just be the another installment called “Black in America LX…See it Again for the Very First Time”.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:43 am
@N.I.A. naturally…., *dead*
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
@N.I.A. naturally….,
LOL! The Roman Numerals make it art.
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
@N.I.A. naturally….,
lmaoooooooo
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
@Liz,
LOL! how about, “Blacks who came to America by choice or recently and continually separate themselves unless it involves something positive (i.e. free scholarship money, Barack Obama, etc.)”
Bond.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
@BlkBond,
Uh oh.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
@BlkBond, LMAO. Yes see my other comment below about WI thinking the black americans are the uppity ones :-\
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 am
@overit,
hmmmm… tis true. I wonder what part2 of part 2 will have to offer. Then again, I don’t really care all that much. I know what its like to be black in America, to be a black immigrant in America, to be a black woman, etc… so are they attempting to tell me about me? I want to see the Neilsen ratings on this.
Exactly who the eff did they expect to watch?
Certainly not Bubba and Jimbob who can’t even SPELL CNNYou are wise in your assessment o Bambi-like chile of mine with minimal thug-osity. Say hi to Flower and Thumper for me, k?
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 am
@blackberry molasses, You are wise in your assessment o Bambi-like chile of mine with minimal thug-osity. Say hi to Flower and Thumper for me, k?
i have no choice but to report you to e-child protective services. i cannot continue to take this ABUSE.
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:35 am
@overit,
go’head and tell em. You’ll be e-homeless.
Maybe Thumper will take you in with his fiddy-leven brothers and sisters.
(sorry… hormones n’ shyt)
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:37 am
@blackberry molasses, i hate you e-mama, I’MRUNNINGAWAYFROMHOME!!!
is it me or did girls always do that in 2520 shows? like, how you gon let people know you runnin? just RUN!
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 am
@overitANDout,
You hate me and you’re running away….
**goes to your e-room and packs a bag with your Dereon track suits, bedazzled hijabs, Weezy CD’s and Drake emblazoned blankie… then hands you 40 bucks for bus fare and food**
Good luck out there sweetie.
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
@blackberry molasses,
Say hi to Flower and Thumper for me, k?
this made me think of my fave line from that movie… “he can call me flower if he wants toooo”
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 am
@overit, i don’t think htey have the wherewithall to really touch on the majority of issues, or the time to do so. like luvvie said, its basically going to be an 8 hour look at Black America from the lens of a woman most of us didnt know was Black.
i do think that the hbcu vs pwi (as was discussed on Slim Jackson’s blog a few days ago and something i’ve been intending to hit on) would be an interesting look. but so would any million other things. if i had the money and capability, i’d definitely make some documentaries about this type of stuff.
in fact, if anybody makes documentaries, id LOVE to talk to you about potential projects ideas (not that i’d need to have anything to do with it, but great documentary ideas dealing with “the black experience”)
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
@Panama Jackson, taking the documentary world by storm is on my list, i’ll keep you posted.
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Didn’t even know it was on…too busy watching America’s Got Talent, the Obama presser, and digging for paperwork. More later.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:31 am
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
and digging for paperwork
is this a euphemism?
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Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
@The Champ,
No.
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Stuff Ghetto People Like Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Definitely not a euphemism…a reach if ever there was one. Still in search of that damn paper as we speak, so I can save myself some cash.
“I never even heard of Jack & Jill, Boule, Links, etc until I got to college”
Let me tell you I heard of them while I was in high school and they are the most saddiddy, uppity, bougie people in this city. Even the rich white folk aren’t that full of themselves.
As to what I learned…..ummmm…..It’s hard out here for a pimp? No, that’s not it……If you wanna go somewhere, if you wanna be somebody you better wake up and pay attention? No, that’s not it either…………….The man’s always trying to hold me down? Nah. Yes, they deserved to die and I hope they burn in h*ll? That’s not it either.
Look I don’t know what I learned. I’ve been Black in America for years and nobody’s profiled me. I’ll agree I definitely took getting into college for granted since it was always expected of me. Other than that…..I learned that Coach Carter is now a principal in DC.
All right. I’m not gonna sit here and talk about this special I’m sure some random white person in Wyoming got something out of this special. However, there were so many waves in this special I got seasick – Diz-amn!
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 am
@Madame Zenobia,
you waxed philosophic and did it using Hustle and Flow and A Time To Kill? you rock in THX.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
@Madame Zenobia, you know that’s true. though i can’t completely knock the special b/c i know somebody walked away with something from it, and i probably would have too if i didn’t read (specifically if i hadn’t already been up on upper elite blacks from the Our Kind of People book). to a large segement of us black people, we don’t even know that those uber-elite status black people even exist.
that’s probably one of the most eye-opening things i got from going to Morehouse too, i didn’t realize i was poor until i got there, and i also didn’t realize how many well-to-do black people existed. i met actual WEALTHY black Americans. folks with stable wealth, not just hood richness.
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
@Panama Jackson,
I know right? I used to think “where in the HELL did they get all of that MONEY?!” LOL. One day, going to a party, we stopped by the apartment of those ‘rich kids’ and they were looking at a lamborghini catalog, in terms of birthday gifts. Crazy. Like, I thought I knew money, but when I got to school I REALLY knew money.
Bond.
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Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
@Panama Jackson, “that’s probably one of the most eye-opening things i got from going to Morehouse too, i didn’t realize i was poor until i got there, and i also didn’t realize how many well-to-do black people existed. i met actual WEALTHY black Americans. folks with stable wealth, not just hood richness.”
I felt the same way when I went there, not only did I not realize how many black people were that rich but i didn’t realize black parents spoiled their kids like that. I specifically remember hearing a dude argue with his father because he wanted the 745 instead of the 740; I would’ve been happy with anything with wheels at that point.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
@Madame Zenobia, did you really take getting into college for granted? I totally agree that it was what was expected in my house, no ifs ands or buts, but it still was seen as an accomplishment. All my bros and I did well, had ample opportunity to get into the best schools, but we never took it for granted.
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
piggy backing off of overit, i agree and am also wondering the same thing since i’ve seen a few people say this today. did you really take for granted that you got accepted/had the opportunity to go to college? or did you take for granted that you were expected to go?
it was expected/hoped for that i would go to college, but i grew up in the hood. the only reason i didn’t stay there was because i had a supportive family that instilled in me that there are better things out there. but i didn’t take that acceptance for granted because i know i easily could have been on a different path. everybody did not make this journey with me.
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Madame Zenobia Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:56 pm
@SouthernGirl,
“did you really take for granted that you got accepted/had the opportunity to go to college? or did you take for granted that you were expected to go?”
No, I took the acceptance for granted. I never questioned whether or not I would to go to college, it was a question of what school I would go to. I was accepted to at least six schools if I remember correctly. I don’t remember being nervous about whether or not I was going to get accepted. The first one I got was fun to get but after that it was just kind of like “Eh, OK, here’s another one.” There was never any other path in my mind for me to take. I grew up middle class with two educators for parents. My mother was a teacher for 15 years and has been an education consultant the last 15. My father’s a college administrator and I’ve been on college campuses all my life because of him. College was never a strange or foreign thing to me. It was just the next step. Actually the idea of NOT going was weird. I knew kids who decided to take a year off before college or a few girls went to LA to “act or model.” It never occurred to me to explore options other than going to a four-year college. So yeah, unfortunately, I did take getting accepted to college for granted.
I thought it was positive and motivating at times. The part i was truly touched by was the young ladies worries about getting into college.
And the end of the day it was CNN.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
@JamaicanGirl,
I thought it was positive and motivating at times. The part i was truly touched by was the young ladies worries about getting into college.
me too. had me all verklempt and sh*t
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
@The Champ,
maaaaaaaan, cnn was straight testing me with that segment. i held it together though. barely.
i didn’ t see the first BIA so i watched this one. i def didn’t see anything new but i think it was pretty well done for what it was and the folks (2520s) that would probably watch it.
what i liked most in that regard is the fact that it showed an educated black man with a plan to uplift his community and black kids who really do want to overcome their circumstances and be better. i don’t think we see enough examples of that in the media. especially not in media that 2520s watch.
i also liked the part with malaak. that was very moving. i know those kids. h3ll, where i’m from, i could have been that kid. i think the program she has is wonderful, especially since it’s not a one-time thing but commitments and follow up that are involved.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 am
@JamaicanGirl, yeah, like i remarked, that part did get me a little. to see somebody try so hard and have to worry about somebody essentially saying, “yes, i will give you the opportunity to succeed in life” is a battle i’m glad i never really had to fight.
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I saw the first one…passed on watching it myself but was forced to listen to it through the phone cuz my boo’s roommate was watching it hella loud. The whole time I was listening I wondered… What is this whyte dude really learning…
Then I heard it… He aske my boo… What’s jack and jill…and I said a nursery rhyme!
Yeah… I was more entertained by the daddy’s girls commercials.
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The best part of the series was the profile of Steve Perry. That entire segment was very touching, especially about the girl who cried when she was accepted to college. I was always expected I go to college, especially since 3 siblings preceded me to college and on to post graduate studies. In fact, my parents did not give me any other choice. There was no talk of the military or anything else in my house. It was either college…or college. and we had to choose between the 2.
As for the black wealthy elite, or any wealthy elite…I just can’t muster the sentiment to feel sorry for their plight in the world…I’m sorry. I do think the Tuxedo Ball is a good idea in theory…I would just make it open to black youth of all socioeconomic classes. You would be amazed at how having high expectations for all of our youth from an early age (and teaching them to have those same expectations for themselves) can really have an amazingly positive effect in all aspects of their lives.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
@N.I.A. naturally…., . There was no talk of the military or anything else in my house. It was either college…or college. and we had to choose between the 2.
same here.
and having a tuxedo ball open to all kinds of folks would reduce the cache for the tuxedo ball b/c as we all know, and you too since you went to school where i did, one thing uppity negroes like to do is be uppity around other uppity negroes.
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journey78 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
@N.I.A. naturally…., There was no talk of the military or anything else in my house. It was either college…or college. and we had to choose between the 2.
Did you live in my house cuz I had the same options and my father WAS military. My parents were teen parents but always told us we were going to college. As small children when someone asked my brother and I what we wanted to be when we grew up we always responded. “College!” as if it was a profession. After we had graduated my father’s cousin asked him what would we have done had we decided we weren’t going to college and he responded, ” I never thought about it.” When they asked me the same question my response was identical. Didn’t know I had any other options.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
@N.I.A. naturally….,
i’m with you spel sis, Perry’s school segment was my fave part. actually, it was the only part of the show i thought was done well and in completion. for everything else i spent time doing other things after a few minutes.
i liked that the kids took the trip to S. Africa, it seemed very touching and important. but i thought the segment focused on too much BS.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
@N.I.A. naturally….,
I would just make it open to black youth of all socioeconomic classes.
My question is: why??? We don’t associate with everybody, we choose certain criterion to associate with certain people… Why do we expect (or even demand) that they act differently? Or it is because class in America is so taboo? They want to be amongst themselves (Wealth Preservation 101), and I think it’s a valid wish/desire.
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N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@Sula,
why? why not?
I’m not knocking the affluent from wanting to be around their own. i’m talking about providing similar “Tuxedo Ball” opportunities to all children. Etiquette, networking, social graces, a history to be proud of that they don’t get from school texts, etc. These are things that can benefit a lot of middle class, urban/rural poor children, as well as the children of the affluent blacks. It’s all about exposing our youth to things that raise their awareness, and get thinking towards a path of excellence. I don’t give 2 flying figs about the elite wanting to keep to themselves…it is so not about them….
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I learned that…
For some reason they never take black american kids to West Africa: I tutor in a program and they have a similar program where they send the kids to South Africa, I’m not quite sure why that is.
Even well off black people can put together ghetto combinations, umm… Barbershop and winery, really?? Just don’t drink while your cutting my hair.
Some black folks (Malaak) put too much stock in inspiration, you can inspire “D” students all you want but at some point someone has to teach these little ninjas better need study habits.
And I learned I might need to see Chris Rock’s new movie about black hair.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 am
@Omar, +1 on the movie.
I was REALLY disappointed to realize Malaak’s program just seems like a free trip out the ghetto for 2 weeks program. There didn’t seem to be any accountability for improving grades or anything, even though they have a 6 month checkup on families. They need consistent tutoring and mentoring the whole time, not just some attention when prepping for their trip to Africa.
I think in the end Malaak just fed them some fish rather than taught them how to be fishermen. Being a “global citizen” at age 15 is not getting you into college, solely. She cleaned it up on her live interview tonight saying one of the boys got his grades up from Fs to Cs…..but is this enough to keep her program funded?
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devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 am
@Liz,
actually, i was thinking this too but i feel that Malaak’s program probably got the shortest shrift. I happened to catch her interview with Anderson Cooper and the Principal afterwards. Although it is only a year-long program, they do actually do followup. She noted that the shy young man did receive the award that year from school for ‘most improved’. One would think that she really does do follow up for these kids…what I really want to know is why did they blow up these kids’ grades but not those of the young brother at Haverford…?
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:21 am
@devessel, thing is, i don’t think they need following up, meaning a check-in to see what happened with them as an experiment. I think they need consistent mentorship and probably tutoring. Not to knock her program but in general kids in these situations need consistent support, day in day out in order to fight whatever consistent problems are holding them back, day in and day out. I think that is in part why Steve Perry’s program works. He and his school make it their business to be a consistent alternative to the home lifestyles that their troubled kids have. Malaak’s really sounds like an expanding your horizons type program….but really? I think they have larger priorities like….survival. I’m not saying Malaak has to do it all, just seems like an interesting set of priorities.
devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
@Liz, I see it the same way– follow up= consistency in my 4 am mind…I did think that she would have to have more people on her staff to ensure this, like perhaps incorporate some of those student mentors who accompanied them on the trip. In fact, I was also thinking that I’d really like to see a separate special
featuring this program, to fill in all of the blanks.
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
@devessel, liz
i would like to see a separate special too. i missed her interview afterward but i don’t think it’s just a free trip to another country though. every organization doesn’t come out of the box with all the answers and things exactly in place. if i’m correct, that was the first trip/first implementation of the program, right? i think there is room for it to grow and just from what i’ve seen of malaak over the years, i would think that she would be open to making changes or tweaking the program to make it better. but that is just my take on it as i don’t know the woman.
it really could have just been “here’s a plane ticket and then drop ‘em back at home and go” type of thing. i salute her for at least having some sort of follow up and commitment to volunteering in the organization during the first implementation.
my point is, you have to start with something and leave room for it to grow as things move forward. and yes, inspiration will only get you so far and then the work has to come in but it’s a start. it can be mighty hard to push hard work and achievement if the kids don’t have motivation and have never seen anything outside of the 10 block radius that they live in.
and kind of like steve perry was saying, the parents need to get involved as well. malaak could lay it all at their feet, including having tutors go to the school or providing a place for them to go and get tutored but if she doesn’t have a partner in the home it might not work, i.e. the kid that didn’t show up for his follow up appointment.
i can see what y’all are saying but growing up in a place where it was not common place to go to college and not taking that for granted and working with kids and teenagers since i myself was in junior high, i just know that you have to squeeze the help in when and how you can.
PrincessMO Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 am
@Liz,
I was actually a mentor in the journey for change program and I went to south africa witht the kids. Mariah was my mentee:) but the main goal of it was basically to show these kids from bk that despite their soci-economic status here in america, they still have resources and oppurtunities afforded to them that others do not have. The goal was to get them to appreciate the resources available to them in hopes that they will utilize them in the future. and I didnt see the program bc i dont have cable (situation with the grounding optimum is being a loser about the installation) so i’m not sure if it was conveyed the real goal of the trip or that the j4c program didnt end with the south africa trip, they also had other events and took other trips to dc and new orelean and she took them to dif places in the city and stuff to and they did dif things trying to expose the kids to culture and teaching them about the resourese available to them. and we went to south africa becuase malaack has ties there and the group hope worlsd wide (south africa) that helped organize the trip had special connections and resources there. But at the same time, being with Malaack up close and personal, I think she def exploited these kids for publicity for her angelrock program and she could have made the trip more meaningful and useful to them in a lot of ways i could get into details but i’ll hold my toungue at this time lol i got a free trip to africa
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
@PrincessMO,
“But at the same time, being with Malaack up close and personal, I think she def exploited these kids for publicity for her angelrock program and she could have made the trip more meaningful and useful to them in a lot of ways”
your reply wasn’t up before i made my comment so i’m glad to get an inside view of it. and if you don’t want to that’s fine, but i would love to know what makes you say this. i know we only got an edited version of the trip but how do you think it could have been better? and are you saying it is bad to try to and get publicity for a charity or are you talking about the way she went about it? i’m not trying to be funny or knock you down, i’m seriously asking for your opinion.
PrincessMO Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
@SouthernGirl,
we did alot of stuff in the two week span. we saw different cultural things and we visited familes in the shanty towns and everything like that. I liked all of the stuff we did, but we did so much that it was very rushed and i don’t think that the kids were really able to process and appreciate what they were actually seeing and doing. Much of it seemed like multiple photo-ops. I also think it would have been better to spend more time with the famalies we sponsered and really get to talk to them and share with them on a human level. I don’t think its bad to try to get publicity for a chairity but it seemed like everything we were doing was geared to generate publicity for malaack herself. like sometimes we would be doing something and malaack would come and get in front of the camera and then bounce. she would go back to her five star hotel with her caravan of luggage or wherever she went and we would continue to do what we were doing. the people that were with us the most were the salavation army and hope worldwide staff, not malaack. and also the dorms we stayed at were nice accomodations, and the people there were very generous and all, but at night they were freezing and there was no hot water and we were all pretty worse for wear, but despite that we would be run this way and that all day long, it was kind of hectict. there was a way for the children to get more out of that experiance than they did.
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
@SouthernGirl,
interesting. thank you. i’ve been a part of other orgs where i’ve had this same feeling. i often wonder if it’s a byproduct of wanting to do/give so much that you don’t stop to think that a little more time spent on fewer things would be better. i guess spreading yourself or a situation too thin just applies everywhere.
as for ‘wherever she went’ i don’t know if you don’t. lol. i would hope it was off to handle some other related business but who knows. i was just glad to see something being started to show these kids other things, even if there are still things to work out and hopefully change about the program. thanks for sharing.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
@PrincessMO, thanks for your insight! u know i went to her program website and chuckled that when it loaded, because it was all pink and a big giant pic of her is on the front. like as if this was her personal website….
Not knocking her or the goals. I think some of CNNs editing def didn do her as much justice, only because I see their segment on MLT was really dramatized in very odd ways.
I think it just seems like a difficult way to stay funded if you are esentially a field trip company. I am the first one to say our children need exposure and awareness of opportunities but they also need skills and tools to get themselves out of it too. I think it just felt like “look see there are other poor negroes in the world too….how r u gonna get out?” Yes it’s good to know your problems are worldwide but if you don’t give them the tools to get out then you’re just rubbing hopelessness in their faces.
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
@Liz,
I think in the end Malaak just fed them some fish rather than taught them how to be fishermen.
very well stated.
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
@Omar, I agree with you on the South Africa thing. What is up with that? The only Americans I know that can claim their ancestors came from South Africa are Jonathan Butler and Charize Theron…I want Solly (my mom calls her Solly because she Southern mauls everybody’s name) to roll up in Liberia with a camera crew just once. The Amazing Race goes to West Africa more than B.E.T. TVOne, Bill Cosby, Terrance and Rocsi combined
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Intellectual Hedonist Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
@T. Troy Stewart, two things, I love your mom and mad at you “The Amazing Race goes to West Africa more than B.E.T. TVOne, Bill Cosby, Terrance and Rocsi combined” cause you expecting way too much form B.E.T and Rocsi
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
@Omar, Even well off black people can put together ghetto combinations, umm… Barbershop and winery, really?? Just don’t drink while your cutting my hair.
i found that particularly interesting myself. that’s just not a combo i’d ever think of. at all.
and you’re right on seeing chris rock’s movie in black hair. i’m all about that.
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Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
@Omar,
“you can inspire “D” students all you want but at some point someone has to teach these little ninjas better need study habits.”
I was saying thee same thing as I was watching it. I mean get these kids some mentors or tutors. They need some one on one daily attention. Like I was telling my friend, taking them Africa is all good and dandy but it’s not going to change their grades.
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Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
@Ivy St.,
indeed. they need to have Perry mentor her on how to be a CONSTANT everyday force in these kids lives.
i mean Perry and his VP greeted the kids DAILY and made sure they all had what they needed to succeed. you need more than inspiration and a trip to change your whole perspective on how you see yourself as a student. there has to be more than a short getaway to poor nation.
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I think the mot important takeaway here is that for a black man to succeed in America, you need a white mama:
Barack Obama: White Mama
Corey Booker: White Mama
Adrian Fenty: White mama
Steve Perry: White mama
I mean look at Glorious’s black mama: hello, crack. If she’d had a white mama, there wouldn’t be all these problems. As far as the whole upper-crusty segment of the show, I was embarrassed to personally know three of the people who had screen shots in the tuxedo ball or the young bougie panel. Including a dude we all know as “the king of the light-skinned people.” At least two of y’all know exactly who I’m talking about too. But I’m kinda with Panama, like I may be in “our kind of people” but I ain’t of “our kind of people”, dig? And I think there was a huge opportunity missed to highlight regular ass black joe blow. Talk to him about having one foot in the black community but working with white people. To me, that’s the story, not just hitting the extremes of abuse and destitution vs. wealth and exclusion.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:00 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
Panama Jackson: white mama
I’ll be here all night folks!
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Brandon St. Randy Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:19 am
@Liz, Don’t he drive a Magnum, though? I feel like that cancels out.
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
*snicker*
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
The Magnum. The great Black equalizer.
Ivy St. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:28 am
@Panama Jackson,
Better get on that Challenger.
T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
@Liz, my momma tans very easily, does she count?
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
@Liz,
LMAO!!! Dude…she’s on you.
Bond.
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Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
*giving you the side eye for the ’successful’ part in the Adrian Fenty comment*
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Legendary Dash Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
A segment on some cats who have spent all their adult lives being the only fly in the buttermilk would have made the program watchable.
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AkShone Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
“And I think there was a huge opportunity missed to highlight regular ass black joe blow.”
I totally agree with this. I pretty much take BIA for what it is, but in both specials they seem to only highlight the extreme end of both spectrums and tend to leave out the complexities of those in the middle of the “Bell Curve”. I’m well aware of the time constraints they are working with, but I would have thought they would try to show a sense of normalcy in the lives of your average black person and not the stereotypical extremes…good or bad. I plan on watching the Latino In America, too. I wonder how they’ll differ…
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am
@Brandon St. Randy,
I know. The last few years we’ve been everywhere. I thought the goal was to “move in the shadows”. I’ve been seeing alot of the ‘mafia’ in t.v. segments, showcases, etc. Guess Hollywood IS an addictive drug. But for the sake of Benjamin Mays, just stop it.
Bond.
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Ya, Soledad’s Mom is Afro-Cuban and her Dad is Irish. All five of her brothers and sisters went to Harvard and she grew up with money on Long Island. She lives on the Upper West Side, so it’s an unusual perspective that she has being White, Black AND Latina. And, um, Rich.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
@Scott Hanselman,
welcome and sh*t
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PrincessMO Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
@Scott Hanselman,
LOL i know right, i love how she’s cnn’s “black anchor” and she is supposed to give us the real “black” perspective, it really cracks me up bc she just has no idea, and also her husband is white. i dont think she’d know an authentic “black experiance” if it bit her in the butt!
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:56 am
@PrincessMO,
Just what is an authentic black experience?
No, she didn’t grow up poor and she lacks melanin. But, does that make her any less black?
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@V.E.G.,
Good catch. Let’s keep it fair and balanced.
Bond.
Gemmie's Got A Tan Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
@V.E.G.,
goomh, veggie. i was thinkin the same thing!!! in my opinion, a black anchor to commentate this show isn’t really necessary. their perspective isnt whats bein used to fuel the program any damn way. there’s a whole host of other ppl (behind the scenes) who are doing the brunt of the work and research about being BiA.
hell, this could be another learning experience for Soledad, to see the other side of being BiA, a perspective she didnt have growing up.
so i dont buy the whole “she doesn’t look black” or “we didnt know she was black” argument as reasons for her NOT to do this show.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
@V.E.G., Does Soledad have *a* black experience? Yes. As do all of us. I think PMO said ‘authentic’ to mean, stereotypical or even MAJORITY of the black experience in america. I think Soledad’s black experience is very unique to her, but being honest it’s nothing like what most Black Americans have experience in this country. Let’s not play stupid.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
@Liz,
So whose experience is more “valid” than the other? Which experience do we talk about? Because my experience of being black in America is certainly not even the same as my sister’s experience of being black in America…
At the end, should we discount one perspective because it’s different than what WE know? Then what do WE learn?
Chas Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
@V.E.G.,
and that my friends is what i think the point of the show was supposed to be….altho they didn’t quite know how to convey it.
the point IMO was to show the “world” that black people aren’t one-dimensional. we aren’t all rappers, ball players, drug dealers, thugs or even all barack obamas.
but cnn missed, badly. airballin’ and ish.
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
@Scott Hanselman, that is an interesting perspective, to say the least.
thing is, i feel she almost goes way far to maintain that racial ambiguousness.
for instance, i’m the product of a white European (an actual immigrant to America) and a Black man from Alabama, who’s also half Native American. i was born in Central America but raised overseas in Europe and have lived in suburbs of a large enough city.
yet you will NEVER ever get me confused for anything other than a Black dude.
basically, if i ever heard Soledad use the n-word, i’d be offended.
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Legendary Dash Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
@Panama Jackson,
You should have seen how Soledad nearly crapped her pants after she gave the commencement address at my peep’s graduation, when cat’s started stomping their feet and hissing during this chant:
When the dark clouds gather on the horizon,
When thunder and lightning pierce the skies,
When fate is but a glare in the eye of a fallen Rattler,
and hope….a lost friend,
When the sinew of the chest grows weary from those hard charging linebackers,
And the muscles in the legs grow tired from those hard charging runningback,
You must always remember….the Rattlers will
STRIKE!!!
STRIKE!!!
AND STRIKE AGAIN!!!
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Right Her Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Legendary Dash,
That’s how us FAMUans do it!
Man I miss Hump!
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
@Panama Jackson,
basically, if i ever heard Soledad use the n-word, i’d be offended.
you know what…. me too.
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 am
@Panama Jackson,
“basically, if i ever heard Soledad use the n-word, i’d be offended.”
*howling with laughter*
my mama and i were talking about her for some reason a few weeks ago and she was telling me how someone was interviewing her-a radio dj i think? anywho, you know they try to test/have fun with people and they were playing songs for her that just about any black person should know and they played a very popular prince song and she didn’t know who it was! my mama was all kinds of bewildered, like, how could she not know prince? lol
@Scott Hanselman,
welcome!!!
*shooting gold stars*
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
@SouthernGirl,
2520s know Prince, so I am just thinking Soledad is kinda square.
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
@V.E.G., that’s what i thought too. but my mama had me falling out with laughter when she told me that. she was just on repeat like, how could she not know? lol.
MizThickaDenThick Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
@Panama Jackson,
Im co-signing with you on Soledad using the “N” word. And plus it would just be kinda weird…
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
@Scott Hanselman, *waves at scott*
It’s weird how she grates me so much even though I also come form two diff ethnicities. I think i might be her socio-eco statsu that bothers me more than her stack of race cards though. Her entire family having gone to harvard is probably why I feel this way.
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Y’all comedy. Did anyone else notice how Chris Rock was just standin’ around lookin’ scared?
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 am
@devessel,
to me it was more of a “what the hell is this crazy woman doing with my money??” look than a scared one
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devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
@The Champ,
it should have been most obvious to him what she was doing. And he gets the side-eye from me if he was actually thinking that.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:23 am
@devessel, he did look a little bit uncomfortable, didn’t he?
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devessel Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
@Panama Jackson, yup!
when are y’all doin’ another tweetup up here? it’s hot AND boring!
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I watched all of five minutes of the first one and the commercial promos for the second one…I hardly think this series is THAT informative to Black people living in America.
From what I’ve seen and heard from discussions of others (who were amazed for some reason) this series only glosses over being Black in America…ssdd…smh, but like some have said..it’s CNN
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
@Smiley Face, At times I feel this way too…but then other times I am glad CNN hasn’t “figured” me out enough to dedicate a whole segment to who I am. I enjoy being unique and I’ve spent a good amount of my life trying to be the anti-stereotype.
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I didn’t watch it.
I saw the first one and I was none too impressed. A lotta peeps said I should watch this installment since they will have a natural hair segment, but I’m still not tuning in.
Plus, I don’t have cable, so this would take extra effort on my part to watch it, and I’m not giving CNN that kind of effort.
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
@miss t-lee, a natural hair segment? somebody told you that with a straight face? You know what’s gonna happen, some white dude who adopted a black girl will show up to show everyone how he combs her hair with a fork. Dumb S*it.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
@T. Troy Stewart,
I’ve seen all about that 2520 dude. I did have to give him credit because most of them (I’m looking at you Angelina Jolie) who adopt Black kids have them running around looking like Buckwheat, and that’s not the business.
Mainly they told me about the segment because I have natural hair, but…that was still not gonna intrigue enough to watchthe program…lol
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@miss t-lee, Angelina Jolie…CPS has been called for less than what you’re not doing with that little girl’s hair. You got black friends, ask Jada or Dana Owens how to comb that kid’s hair.
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
@T. Troy Stewart,
Really though!
Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 am
@T. Troy Stewart,
Bwahaha…I thought I was seeing things! I knew I saw a dang black plastic fork, lol!!!
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
@T. Troy Stewart, yes he did use a fork. LOL.
but i give dude props for caring enough to really embrace who she is and where she comes from. i’m sure that quite a few Black-kid adopters struggle with that to the poitn they just hire Black nannies and say, do her hair, as opposed to learning it on their own.
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Panama Jackson, okay I give him props too but A FORK??? Come on! Come that kid’s hair and stop acting so ignorant. But I should give 2520s the benefit of the doubt on this one because they did invent the Flowbee
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
@T. Troy Stewart,
Do you know how to care for a little black girl hair? Or do you expect they will always be a female to take care of that?
I know plenty of grown-a$$ black women who don’t know what to do with their own hair… so yeah, let’s give props when props are due.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
@Panama Jackson,
Agreed!
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
@T. Troy Stewart,
“You know what’s gonna happen, some white dude who adopted a black girl will show up to show everyone how he combs her hair with a fork. Dumb S*it.”
Wait, what? In my basking awe of seeing how beautiful the image and her hair was, I completely missed this.
He combed her hair with a FORK? Like, some Ariel the Little Mermaid type ish?
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Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
@Cheekie,
“He combed her hair with a FORK? Like, some Ariel the Little Mermaid type ish?”
BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 am
@Cheekie,
” Like, some Ariel the Little Mermaid type ish?”
Since this is a disney film you know I’m so unfamiliar….lol
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
@miss t-lee,
*side-eye a la Lady Cameroon*
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
@ Cheekie ,
Dang you busted out the Chantal Biya side eye on me?
You mean business.
i feel played that my comment is awaiting moderation and i didnt use a single $*!& word.
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
@ESQuared,
moderation don’t like yo azz. *snicker*
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I think everyone is missing something important. Just look at the naming of the special “Black in America”. If CNN wanted to really do a documentary on us for us and others it would be called “Black America”. Why? because Blacks in America gives them a huge loophole, they dont have to actually focus on black people and the black experience no no. They get to “random select” the bits and pieces of the “African-American” (middle class black folks), “Africans in America” (folks that came from Africa and NOT as a result of a slave ship trip), “Black Americans” (the folks that were hosting the Tuxedo ball) and Black folks (the folks who arent in the rest of the aformentioned groups).
While that segmentation is a little unfair its just to make a point. America has never ALWAYS been racist, but it HAS always been about who maintains economic power. (let us not forget white folks even enslaved their own and called them “indentured servents”)
Its really always been about economics. (Shouts to W.E.B.)
(Since im being modded ill try this again lol)
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Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
@ESQuared,
Cosign 100%. I tell people this and they look at me crazy. White folks were the first slaves and native americans were second. Africans became the main source of slavery because they weren’t from the New World and had trade skills. Basically Africans worked out the best. They couldn’t run away and they didnt get sick.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
@Humble_One,
stronger and could hold up under intense conditions such as long a$$ boat rides an shiii
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
@Humble_One, I don’t buy white slavery as an argument. indentured servitude was not an option for the african slave trade like it was for whites. Indentured servitude was still some sort of humane option. Natives were just killed off because of germs. Apples and oranges.
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Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@Liz,
Exactly, indentured servitude was a choice for the dirt poor. Besides, just because white people are willing to shit on white people doesn’t mean they aren’t racist or Hitler wouldn’t be a racist.
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
@Omar, even if it wasn’t a choice…they could still buy their way ot of it eventually? They had some light at the end of their tunnel whether it was attainable or not. And there were laws in place to help them with this.
Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
@ESQuared, good point
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
@ESQuared, yeah, but if i take your explanation then i’d have nothing to talk about.
so, i’m sticking with, “what the hell where they doing this for?” for 2000 please, Alex.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
@ESQuared,
America has never ALWAYS been racist, but it HAS always been about who maintains economic power.
Word. Life. Stop.
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I’mma just share with you the sheet I put on Twitter last night as I was watching this… (Read from bottom to top, you know)
“Black in America” will only incite more condescending nods o’empathy from white people when and if something bad happens. Is that progress?
The people that benefit from “Black in America” most don’t have cable or a digi box, dumb fockers. Go to the HOOD and the COUNTRY.
CNN wanted to do a “White in America” then they realized everybody knew they already owned every fooking thing and THAT would be stupid.
I’ll be d*mned if I’mma go put out a fire 6 blocks from my house when my wife is strung out, son is in jail&own house is ablaze. $ be damned
Different story and circumstance, yes… But government not giving a sheet all the same.
Truthfully, you already KNOW why ninjas sat by for genocide. Replace Hutu with “Crip” and Tutsi with “Blood”. Did they give a sheet?
I ain’t knocking Darfur or ANYTHING of that ilk… But c’mon, b… You ever BEEN to 48214? No genocide… But help my MOMS, focka.
No offense, but if I give a caveman fire, I ain’t did sheet. If I fix the problems of an established society, I’ve actually DONE something.
I don’t knock building sheet in Africa AT ALL, but how bout you help a ninja graduate from a Detroit Public School, perhaps.
Somebody please tell me why the vacants n Baltimore West Side are @ 80% or some sheet, &the East is like 70%. But I give a sheet about Africa
Oprah built a school in Africa where the kids got raped or something bad or some sheet. Did she even TRY down the street from Harpo Studio?
CNN is in Atlanta, I own a house less than 1/4 mile away from Bankhead and Bowen Homes. Why y’all beetches ain’t go THERE, hmm?
Fockas is LAUGHING at us, b! Call it what it is! “Ninjas ain’t ALL bad, y’all! Watch THIS!”
We have BET and “Black in America”. Will they give the guy stealing Heineken during Katrina a show next for HIS side of the story?
I don’t want praise, I just want somebody to admit Tyler Perry movies and plays suck giant, humungous horse c*ck covered in sheet and vinegar
I secured a grant for $3.5 mil to help get kids fit in Atlanta, and she’s tambout Tyler Perry movies that bring coonery to another level.
I bet her white bosses call her “Soul-Hey…Dad?” behind her back. Sneak dissin modasockas
No offense, but watching people rebuild African villages when I live in West Baltimore & grew up in The D is fooking pissing me off.
Soledad O’Brien could be even more racially ambiguous if her name was Souledad O’Brien. I’m just saying.
Tell me why I was supposed to watch “Black in America 2″ again? Please?
So basically CNN told Soledad to “Go out and show us what “You People” do all day that isn’t covered in Gold and scantly clad.”
When I watch “Black in America” I marvel not at how far we’ve come, but wonder how many black people actually don’t know this sheet already.
Just ONCE I’d like to be enlightened by a show other than one with Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern.
CNN was obviously going for a different demographic from “Black people who know sheet” and trying to reach out to “George W Bush supporters”.
I’mma make a show called “Ninjas 101″ and sell it to CNN, so they can call it “Black in America 3″.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 am
@Dante_Alexander, you know, i think Black in America is what a Michael Eric Dyson book would look like in video format, if he didn’t, ya know, find-and-replace every word with 5 letters with words with 27 letters.
generally, you find out what you already know, except your pissed b/c you paid for it.
which is what SHOULD have happened with Steve Harveys’ book except women acted as if they were enlightened.
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Dante_Alexander Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
@Panama Jackson,
Michael Eric Dysons real name is Bob Smith.
He just wanted to stretch that sheet out and sound more regal.
Fookin poser.
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Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
@Panama Jackson,
“which is what SHOULD have happened with Steve Harveys’ book except women acted as if they were enlightened.”
i think I’m the only female I know who gave his book the side eye..like m’kay no!
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
@Smiley Face,
No…you’re not the only one…
Trust and believe.
Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@miss t-lee,
we *here* miss t-lee..we *here*
journey78 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
@miss t-lee, LOL. I bought the book due to peer pressure, read 4 pages and threw that bish down. It took me two and a half months to finish it and I only did that so I could speak directly to the subject matter every freakin time one of my stupidazz girlfriends wanted to discuss it. That ninja didn’t tell me anything that my daddy didn’t already tell me. You should have seen the hate I got when I posted my FB status message as: “If you grew up with your father securely in your life and this book is telling you something new please call your daddy and tell him HE FAILED.”
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@ journey78 ,
I love the FB status because it is soooo on point.
I also got the PDF for free and have failed to make it through that joker.
iRefuse.
@Smiley Face,
Yes ma’am. *daps*
N.I.A. naturally Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@Smiley Face,
he11, i got the book from a friend in PDF format for free, and I still didn’t read it…
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
@Smiley Face,
“i think I’m the only female I know who gave his book the side eye..like m’kay no!”
I’m with ya. I had no interest whatsoever to read that book. Even when my peers were all up and arms discussing it. I was — by own volition — left out of those discussions. My response to that book coming out can be best described as “meh” a la Bart Simpson.
MizThickaDenThick Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@Smiley Face,
you are not alone cause i feel the same way bout steve harvey’s book.
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
@Dante_Alexander,
Don’t hold back now, Dante. I know there’s more in ya! lol
“Tell me why I was supposed to watch “Black in America 2″ again? Please?”
Right after seeing the first Black in America I realized it was more for people OUTSIDE Black cultures, not within them. It was more so for people who aren’t Black.
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Dante_Alexander Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
@Cheekie,
Exactly… Which is why I wonder why it was absolutely imperative I watch it in it’s entirety on the night it was premiered.
All that would happen was I’d either a) have to answer questions directed at me about the relevance or veracity of the people on the show or b) have to answer questions directed at me about how that made me FEEL, which I fooking HATE.
Pretentious posturing does not groundbreaking journalism make.
Perhaps if the news weren’t so fooking biased in the first place, we wouldn’t need a program such as this. How bout they do a segment like this every day during the evening news? Then it wouldn’t make this such a big fooking deal that really isn’t…
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:02 am
@Cheekie,
Right after seeing the first Black in America I realized it was more for people OUTSIDE Black cultures, not within them. It was more so for people who aren’t Black.
But see, here is the problem I have with that. Outside of people who already empathize with “us” (or have deluded themselves into thinking they do) who did they really expect to watch?
I could walk up to some of my 2520 co-workers right now and ask them if they watched, and they will surely give me the **blank stare/screwface/oops, I should have KNOWN about this, lemme fake it-look**
The people who probably REALLY need to watch it either 1) don’t have cable or 2) flipped the channel right before it started.
I just can’t see Ashley and Brad Suburbanite gathering their 3 kids around the teevee to watch a special designed to help them understand me and my black suburban family.
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Dante_Alexander Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
@blackberry molasses,
“Roots” this sheet ain’t.
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@blackberry molasses,
Yeah, that’s actually the problem I have with it too. That no one outside of the “already informed” actually watched.
But, still, this special comes across as enlightening 2520s and any other person outside the Black home even if their intentions weren’t met. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a huge spiel of “I already knew that boo-sheet!!” from us Black folks.
I can’t imagine they thought we were gonna be surprised by any of this mess. Did they?
BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Dante_Alexander,
i neva got the converter box so fuq tv untill football season atleast
you right real ninjas aint got tvs or cable to watch how they bein misrepresented by cnn the station that really cares in shii
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Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
real ninjas do have cable. they just ain’t paying for it.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
@Humble_One,
LMFAO. Word.
Everybody know that one ninja that works for Comcast.
I thought the Steve Perry segment was decent. Like Panama I was expected to go to college so it getting accepted and going was no big deal. Maybe it should have been and I would have been more serious.
The last segment of BIN really bothered. It brought back all the bad memories of going to private school. I have a chip on my shoulder with these type of black folks. I was forced to go to school with them. My problem with that whole segment was the cliquishness and elitism. I know a lot of people that have graduated from college that didn’t come from these backgrounds that could benefit from organizations like this. But since their parents are blue-collar workers or they stay in a poor to working class neighborhood they don’t have access.
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The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
@Humble_One,
The last segment of BIN really bothered. It brought back all the bad memories of going to private school. I have a chip on my shoulder with these type of black folks. I was forced to go to school with them
you know, i hope that theres at least one or two people reading today who’s participated in jack and jill and sh*t and can speak about the benefits of it. right now there seems to be a latent class war going on in here, but only one side is represented
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Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
@The Champ,
There are benefits. When you are in this circle you have access to people in positions that can open doors for you. So if you need a job straight out of college it’s already there. Or you need a loan to get a business started or you want to run for political office you are connected to people that can give you a leg up. That aside I still don’t like how they act towards black not in their circle. I’m not talking about ghetto ninjas I mean regular black folks.
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Dorian G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
@The Champ,
Well I think I can bring an interesting aspect to this conversation. While I was not in Jack and Jill, my mother was part of a very similar group (and by extension) class in Liberia prior to the civil war (which was a result of the class struggle in the country). One of her good friends, even wrote a book about growing up in that group and their social circles and activities are very similar to Jack and Jill, Links and other “black elite” groups here in the States. Here’s a link http://books.simonandschuster.com/9780743266246
Like has been said above really, its about being comfortable. Surrounding yourself with people who have similar experiences, outlook on life, struggles and values. I think a lot of times we mistakenly believe that we all have the same experiences when in reality that is not true, even if we’re all black.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
@Dorian G.,
I read an article about the book. I’ll need to cop it.
And at the end of the day, it really is about being comfortable around who you are comfortable around.
MaiTai Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@The Champ, Well of course I can only speak for myself, but Jack & Jill was pretty beneficial for me. In elementary school I was one of 3 black kids in my class and in middle school I was 1 of 1. Also being someone of African descent added another kicker into being the odd one out. Jack & Jill was a way to meet black people. Period. I don’t know how other chapters did it, but ours participated in a lot of cultural and community service events. There was no paper bag test, as I’ve heard a few people mention about chapters in their area. I responded to someone earlier to say that while when I started my mother wasn’t single, but they didn’t kick us out when she became so. There were also people who were definitely not wealthy in my chapter. That is just my experience, I know some people have had negative ones and that’s standard with any organization. But there was never a perception of “Keep those others out,” or anything like that.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
@MaiTai,
I find it odd that the majority of people on VSB are greeks and that they won’t understand the benefits of any exclusive group or organization… A group is exclusive thus elitist by nature…
I know some folks who graduated from Jill & Jack, and didn’t experience the whole a$$holishness people speak about… So really, it comes down to individuals and experiences.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
@The Champ,
right now there seems to be a latent class war going on in here, but only one side is represented
Class wars would never end… Sh!t, it’s the reason why America (as we know it) was created in the first place… People trying to flee an elitist Europe.
No organization will be able to survive if there are no purpose… So there is a purpose… From the outside looking in it can seem to be “elitist” but for those who attend and belong there is one… and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
Personally, I don’t see anything wrong in being elitist… We all are in regards to some things or the other. They just choose to do it on something that is deemed politically incorrect in American Society: class.
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Panama, what was his argument for why Michael Jackson…ISN’T the greatest entertainer of all time?
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
@Dorian G.,
Which, in my opinion, isn’t an argument. It’s ordained in the holy scriptures that he is, in fact, the greatest entertainer.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
@Dorian G., let me see if i can get him to chime in here. he’s written a post here before so maybe he’ll come in and present his case.
but it largely comes down to definitions of entertainer. i don’t think his definition really encompasses entertainment so much as influence, which i think has little to do with how great an entertainer you are, and even then, MJ’s influence is all over the place.
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Dorian G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
@Panama Jackson,
I guess what I’m asking is even with both definitions, who did he submit as being greater than Mike Jack?
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
@Dorian G.,
Louis Armstrong or James Brown. he said MJ had a claim to it, but questions whether or not he’s the greatest.
i know you probably just cussed when you read Louis Armstrong…i know i did.
miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
@Panama Jackson,
“i know you probably just cussed when you read Louis Armstrong…i know i did.”
Yep…I did too.
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
@Panama Jackson,
Louis Armstrong? I hope I don’t know this friend. Tell me why the purple one was not mentioned?
Bond.
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@Panama Jackson,
“i know you probably just cussed when you read Louis Armstrong…i know i did.”
LOL…his cheeks were entertaining. And ya know, I would know…*glances at screename*
But still, MJ wins.
Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
@BlkBond, of COURSE you know this friend. lol. and have for a very very long time. y’all go back like comic books. LOL.
its almost a no brainer who the person who’d opine louis armstrong would be. lol.
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
@Panama Jackson,
Enough said. This friend will be contacted next wk in regard to his insane choice for entertainment greats.
Bond.
I didn’t learn anything–cus I’ve been Black all of my life. But this one was better than the last one. Not good, but better than the last one.
What I still didn’t like was the mentioning of our ’secret’ shyt. I’m not one who is pro-putting our colleges and organizations on display to prove to whites that we’re civilized. Cus if we do that, their asses are gonna try to take over. Cus that’s how they do. Naw. I wanna keep my beloved Howard U brown. I want to keep my beloved sorority brown.
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Dorian G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
@Think Pretty Smart,
I’m sorry, what? That doesn’t really make sense, I don’t think Howard U, or whichever divine 9 sorority you’re in is all that much of a secret.
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Think Pretty Smart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
@Dorian G., I’m not saying it’s a secret–which is why I wrote it as ’secret’. Also, you’ll notice that Panama said he’d never heard of most of the stuff prior to university. So it is unknown to some folks.
My point, as was clearly missed, is that I hate for media to use them as examples of Blacks being exclusive to each other. If Blacks are having balls and cotillions, whose business is it? Why do we need to show them those things to prove that we’re civilized too?? As far as keeping things brown, I’m all for it. But I’m not the person trying to integrate a country club (or anything where my taxes are NOT being used). Let’s just build our own or find places where we are welcome.
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Didn’t see the special – had homework. Based on the comments it doesn’t sound like I missed much. How much coverage do poor and wealthy negroes need? What about the middle class? Quit frontin’ CNN – I can take you around the hood in Lanham and show you how a lot of Black folk really do it – married Black people who work and take care of their kids. College and hard work. Backyard bb-q’s by the pool. Foreign cars. Shocker!
This mess is why I will try my darndest not to leave PG. I haven’t travelled the entire country yet, but in too many states I’ve been to you’re either the speck of pepper in the salty suburbs or you’re in the dayum ghetto. As if Black folks blink out of existence anywhere in between. Good grief.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
@Lil’T,
“What about the middle class? Quit frontin’ CNN – I can take you around the hood in Lanham and show you how a lot of Black folk really do it – married Black people who work and take care of their kids. College and hard work. Backyard bb-q’s by the pool. Foreign cars. Shocker! ”
Yeah, it seems like they’re focusing more on the extremes. Either poverty or wealth. They should most definitely consider doing a special on the average joe or jane who is getting by, but also struggles at times. There are definitely more of us. And a lot of the middle class has been extremely affected by the terrible economy. Would be great if they delved into that. But, I’m sure they’ll be a BIA3, BIA4, and a BIA50-leven. Especially during Obama’s term(s).
I’m interested in that panel/debate they’re gonna have with Roland Martin and ‘nem…they advertised it last night.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
@Cheekie, i’m kind of concerned about this panel with roland martin. for one, steve harvey is up there. for two, i just don’t really feel roland like that.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
@Panama Jackson,
LOL, ya know, I did pause when Steve Harvey appeared onscreen.
I’m interested in seeing it, mostly because I know Imma have a lot to say about it.
The Champ Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
@Lil’T,
This mess is why I will try my darndest not to leave PG. I haven’t travelled the entire country yet, but in too many states I’ve been to you’re either the speck of pepper in the salty suburbs or you’re in the dayum ghett
this actually answers your first question. outside of the dmv and maybe atlanta, there aren’t many predominately black middle class neighborhoods in the country. i’m not saying they don’t exist, but i tend to think that because many of us happen to be middle-class blacks, we assume that this…
“married Black people who work and take care of their kids. College and hard work. Backyard bb-q’s by the pool. Foreign cars.”
…is commonplace. it isn’t
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
@The Champ, at all. which is part of the reason i understand why they focus on what we view as the extremes. the majority of black folks are living in less than desirable circumstances.
i think most of us just hate hate that there really aren’t any representatives for the regular folks out there. which oddly enough probably doesn’t include most of us on here. my salary at my job where i’m living check to check, actually makes me “affluent”. so i’m not even the type of person i’d like to see represented.
how odd.
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Think Pretty Smart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
@Panama Jackson, YES! We’re in DC so it’s like those of us with degrees are almost guaranteed to make more than the national average. But this also causes one (me) to find herself engaged in a seriously heated conversation about how six figures isn’t a lot of money. Why? Cus in DC, it’s really not.
AkShone Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
@The Champ,
I totally agree.
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Think Pretty Smart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
@The Champ,
” i’m not saying they don’t exist, but i tend to think that because many of us happen to be middle-class blacks, we assume that this…
“married Black people who work and take care of their kids. College and hard work. Backyard bb-q’s by the pool. Foreign cars.”
…is commonplace. it isn’t”
I forget this shyt lots. I literally have to remind myself monthly that my reality isn’t every Black person’s reality. My opportunities aren’t there for a lot of people. Should be, but aren’t.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
@The Champ,
outside of the dmv and maybe atlanta, there aren’t many predominately black middle class neighborhoods in the country
Do your research again. In all major towns of the country, there is a predominantly black middle class… Of course, il va sans dire that you are not going to see one in Omaha, NE but there is a strong black middle class in America… from my vantage point at least (and it’s a very small one I concede)
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Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
@Lil’T,
That’s the appearance that they seem to give. Maybe because of where I am but I have seen more in b/w black folks than anything.
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WordSmith Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 am
@Lil’T,
“This mess is why I will try my darndest not to leave PG. I haven’t travelled the entire country yet, but in too many states I’ve been to you’re either the speck of pepper in the salty suburbs or you’re in the dayum ghetto.”
Word. life. I was raised in PG County also, and even in other places within the DC area (I refuse to use “DMV,” I think it’s lame), it’s not the same. I work in Arlington, and all my coworkers are like, “why do you live all the way out there?”
Best I can come up with for them is “it’s more comfortable.”
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OrangeStar616 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
@WordSmith, MAJOR CO-signage the term DMV is VERY lame…..
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@Lil’T,
you know a high class black community with non american cars?
old a$$ volvo’s dont count either
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Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
I do…I’ve got a Nissan parked in the driveway *tee hee* ( yeah yeah I know what you meant, lol)
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:18 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Foreign as in german, expensive japonese? Across the street from me.
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I was out scavenging downtown Chi for a white dress for a party on Saturday and I was probably in the fitting room a tad bit too long because I missed the train I was planning on catching in order to make it home on time to catch the airing of this, but I missed it. So, I ended up only seeing the last 1/3 of the special.
But, um, yeah…I had the same weird feeling you had while viewing the upper-echelon Black folk parties, Panama. That I’ll never really fit in that group. Not to say that I don’t believe I’ll have more money in the future, it just didn’t seem like my “group” of people…I even felt a stab of anxiety watching them, imagining how out of place and out of touch I’d feel if I were there. It was so odd.
As for the MJ argument, he IS the greatest entertainer of time. And he does trump everything. In fact, CNN should’ve just flashed a picture of him all subliminal-like during the BIA2 special.
So, in conclusion: We are Black. We happen to be in America. And something to do with the number 2.
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champ’s black in america 2 bullets and sh*t
—even without intensive follow up mentoring and an immediate change in school behavior for a couple of the kids, i think the south africa trip was a great success, just for the fact that it took 60 kids (30 middle school students and 30 college students) out of the country for an experience none of them will ever forget, and exposed them to the idea of service.
—i don’t know why, but chris rock’s wife’s hair annoyed the sh*t out of me. i think im just generally annoyed by women with big hair. this is probably why i dont date aka’s.
—i was amused by the fact that all of the ancestors on grandma’s (i forgot her name) wall of fame passed the paper bag test with flying colors
—the three biggest freaks i’ve ever dated were all involved in jack n jill as a youngsters. do whatever you want with that information
—because i missed a portion of the segment, im curious: who exactly was that who glorious met with from that university? asking because admissions decisions usually arent made on the spur of the moment like that, especially not by admissions counselors
—i love what steve perry has done, but for those who mentioned upthread that he needs to be cloned, settle down. there are steve perry’s in every city, flying under the radar while using every resource possible to educate and motivate young people. hopefully his story will inspire more of us to volunteer and give money to the steve perryesque schools and programs in our cities.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
@The Champ,
—the three biggest freaks i’ve ever dated were all involved in jack n jill as a youngsters. do whatever you want with that information
*loud giggle*
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Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
@The Champ,
The wild thing was that all her ancestors passed the paper bag test, but *she* doesn’t at all. I was looking at those pictures, then at her like “wher she come from?”
Just kidding. My mother and I are the dark ones in a family full of yellow people on both sides. That’s how it goes.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
my mama n granmama high yella
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
@The Champ, —i love what steve perry has done, but for those who mentioned upthread that he needs to be cloned, settle down. there are steve perry’s in every city, flying under the radar while using every resource possible to educate and motivate young people. hopefully his story will inspire more of us to volunteer and give money to the steve perryesque schools and programs in our cities.
shoot, i’m flying under the radar and haven’t bumped into any steve prototypes lol.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
@The Champ, —because i missed a portion of the segment due to a certain person’s insistence of watching the real world, im curious: who exactly was that who glorious met with from that university? asking because admissions decisions usually arent made on the spur of the moment like that, especially not by admissions counselors
isn’ t it possible that perhaps that was the 2nd interview or something where they were just going to ask some questions to make their final determination.
i actually have no clue how that process works. so i’m wondering.
what i found interesting about her wall of fame was the fact that i’m sure she shows it off to everybody who enters her home as a shrine of, “look at us”. seemed to me, and i could be projecting here, as the wrong kind of pride. more of a pride in who we aren’t (the rest of you ninjas) as opposed to a pride in who we are.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
@Panama Jackson, I think that because its such a random school it doesn’t follow normal procedures? Like my grad school was rolling admission and it took me a minute to figure out what that even meant.
Cut the lady some slack on her Wall O Peeps. I got some family photos that are similar (or, had) and I’d be proud of some old photos of MY family if only because it’s your legacy. I think CNN may have embellished it a little as a wall of fame as if she doesn’t put anyone in her fam NOT successful on it. Iono, I’m just sayin my great aunt in Compton has a similar wall of photos of the fam back in the 30s and older in her glass china cabinet and it probabaly has nothing to do with bourginess at all.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:42 am
@Panama Jackson,more of a pride in who we aren’t (the rest of you ninjas) as opposed to a pride in who we are
no, i think you’re right.
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pgh muse Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
@The Champ, **Standing OVATION**
Good Job, Champ!
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
@The Champ, —even without intensive follow up mentoring and an immediate change in school behavior for a couple of the kids, i think the south africa trip was a great success, just for the fact that it took 60 kids (30 middle school students and 30 college students) out of the country for an experience none of them will ever forget, and exposed them to the idea of service.
though i can see how people would argue this trip is not necessary, seeing a world outside your own, esp other black folks, is always a good thing, and prob something they will cite as a major influence later in life.
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K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
@overit,
Exactly. I thought the trip was a success! The first hour of BiA2 was my fave.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@overit,
I agree. Exposing kids to something new can – and does – improve their performance in school and in life.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
@overit,
The South Africa trip was that I was most looking forward to and was pissed I missed it since I only caught the second half. Ah well, I’ll catch some re-airings.
And Mrs. Compton-Rock DOES look prettier than I thought, too, Panama. I read an article about that trip in Essence mag and said that to myself.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am
@The Champ,
“im just generally annoyed by women with big hair”
Just. die.
*queen of the big haired committee*
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@The Champ,
“i was amused by the fact that all of the ancestors on grandma’s (i forgot her name) wall of fame passed the paper bag test with flying colors”
Sadly, my maw maw still puts folks through that test. Without them knowing, of course. She has learned that much. We are hoping that, within the next decade, she’ll get over the test altogether.
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@The Champ,
Those jack and jill girls DO get it in…camera and all…ah, the memories.
Bond.
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“—i was amused by the fact that all of the ancestors on grandma’s (i forgot her name) wall of fame passed the paper bag test with flying colors”
I noticed that too. Growing up I always wondered why lighter blacks always came from the suburbs or upscale neighborhoods. I remember when the private school me and my brother attended had a play and my aunt asked why every kid except me and my brother was yellow. LOL.
“the three biggest freaks i’ve ever dated were all involved in jack n jill as a youngsters. do whatever you want with that information”
Cosign. I use to hear about this in middle school and high school.
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I don’t even feel the desire to covort with those upper crust types. I’m so comfortable within my lane – college educated (mostly good PWI’s and the elite HBCUs), professional, but from a working poor-to-firmly middle class environment (Mt. Airy and Germantown, in Philly). In 2009, there’s a good deal of overlap between my lane and that Black elite world, but the difference is always there and can be felt. It seems that you can’t just join that group nowadays, unless you marry in.
Today, there’s more than enough people like me out there that I don’t feel the need to try to pry into their world and be feeling insecure about the fact that half my family were sharecropping in Cape Charles, Virginia just 70 years ago.
I would imagine if you were a newly minted black professional say, 40 or 50+ years ago, there was probably a really weird and dificult choice you had to make – try to continue to exist in the world of the less educated and poor you basically came from, or try to pry into the world of Our Kind Of People. Thank goodness that choice isn’t as stark anymore.
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BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
great summary.
Bond.
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I’ll throw this out there. There are black people who do not know about such strata of black folks.
I’m a Midwesterner and only really learned about J&J-like organization once I moved to the DMV. I had heard some may have existed in KC (Debutantes, etc.) but it wasn’t an established, go-talk-to-so-and-so-about-it type information.
I agree PG is a good example of black folks doin it. I was at some BBQ and had to remark that it made me feel good to see black folks congregate in their own spot and bring it up. I’m sure there are others (ATL), but PG gets mentioned most of the time.
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One more thing. Do successful West Indians and Africans get let into that upper-echelon world? One of the characteristics of those groups seem to be that you basically have to come from generation after generation of black folks who were highly successful within Americn society. That excludes the vast majority of WI’s and Africans I know who are my age, because most of their families have been in the US 35 – 40 years, tops.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Scipio Africanus, One of the characteristics of those groups seem to be that you basically have to come from generation after generation of black folks who were highly successful within Americn society. That excludes the vast majority of WI’s and Africans I know who are my age, because most of their families have been in the US 35 – 40 years, tops.
That’s been my experience. Some of the most backward, ignorant and foolish comments about Africa and Africans I have heard come from those types.
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blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:31 am
@overit,
That’s my e-child! You can come home now!!
1000000% co-signage.
I feel like no matter how successful my family is (and they’re pretty darn good) there is NO WAY we are making it in, unless we marry in.
Then again, one could argue that successful WI’s and Africans have their own elitist circles/attitudes… whoops, did I just let the cat out of the bag?
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
@blackberry molasses, Then again, one could argue that successful WI’s and Africans have their own elitist circles/attitudes… whoops, did I just let the cat out of the bag?
LOL, yes you did. Wanna be startin something!
yay! thanks for letting me back home, the outside world is scary @ me.
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
@overit,
“the outside world is scary @ me.”
I thought you were a thug?
When are you gonna get serious about this morph???
blackberry molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
@overit,
i feel like that’s a topic all by itself.
brran1 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 am
@Scipio Africanus, Being half Haitian, I can speak on the fact that after my Dad, Uncles and Aunts came to the US back in the 70’s, they worked their asses off. After they reached the middle class, they went home, built houses for and gave money to the rest of the family.
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brran1 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
@Scipio Africanus, (Pressed Enter too soon)
I have yet to see any West Indians in any type of organization like that (save for a few greeks). I believe it tends to stay in the family.
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Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
@brran1,
That’s what I was thinking. The black community at my college was majority non-African American (i.e., mostly the children of WI and African immigrants from the tri-state area.) This was a really good school in New England, but it totally lacked that sort of upper crust feel among the black folks and it was only recently that I realized why. It was because those kids don’t really get let into that world. At leats not the ones from New York. That was my observation and I’ve been wondering how accurate it is.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
@Scipio Africanus, I think the idea is that you have to be old Black American money. I would be willing to argue a WI could marry into this family people on a fluke…maybe. But also don’t act like the tension between Blacks and Black immigrants only comes from the Black American side. It goes both ways on various levels.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 am
@Liz, But also don’t act like the tension between Blacks and Black immigrants only comes from the Black American side. It goes both ways on various levels.
That can indeed be a separate post completely. I can remember the exact day I became aware of this tension. It definitely goes both ways.
I still blame the British. For Everything.
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Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 am
@overit, “I still blame the British. For Everything.”
Oh shit, me too!! Damn near all of the strife in the world can be traced to the British.
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
@overit,
“I still blame the British. For Everything”
And the French. And the Portuguese. And the Irish.
I’m just sayin.
overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@V.E.G., and the *Belgians.
*1994 in Rwanda.
Humble_One Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
@overit,
LOL. If you trace back the issues in the Middle East, Indonesia, etc. they always lead back to the British.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
@Humble_One,
Or the French.
Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@overit,
‘I still blame the British. For Everything.’
me too….
Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@overit, Ha! yes it’s all the british fault in the end. I think it’s unfortunate the tension exists, esp from my POV it seems like a series of misunderstandings really. I don’t think either side is legit for their qualms.
Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
@Liz,
I would never argue that. I lived that first hand while I was in college. I was just mentioning it specifically as regards this topic.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
I know of a couple of second-generation Africans in Jack and Jill… but then again their parents were already “moneyed” before making the move here… So it’s all about what you bring to the table (as it should be)…
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I don’t really think I learned anything new. I knew about the Tuxedo ball, MLT, and Chris Rock’s wife’s program. BUT I was impressed with Mr. Perry, the principal of Capital Charter School. Overall, I enjoyed the program as it showed some of the strides being made to combat the current issues of Blacks in America.
My dad is featured on the show tonight, the Wedding Bliss jawn. Check it out.
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you know Kool-aid Singles are THE sh*t
esp with a bottled water,
you just open the lil single pack, pour, and shake….. ‘viola
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@OrangeStar616,
I would’ve DIED if they had a Kool-Aid segment.
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K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
@Cheekie,
Naw, not on CNN. That’s more of BET’s area..
Can you imagine them explaining why RED is considered a flavor, even though it could taste like tropical punch or cherry.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@K to the…,
I would LOVE to see them break that one down…LMAO
OrangeStar616 Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@miss t-lee, LMAO @ all these comments LOL
singles the sh*t tho
MizThickaDenThick Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
@OrangeStar616,
Yes they are! $1.97 @ walmart!!
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I think I know what the problem (one of them) is, it probably should be called Soledad in America. Most of the positive stories are people that are probably in her network or of her background and this is just juxtaposed against some of the issues that poor black folks have. I guess this isn’t inherently bad but the title they gave it doesn’t fit.
I know on a certain level one’s perspective affects their work but damn…
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Thank goodness I don’t have cable. I don’t think I could bring myself to watch such under-representations of Black America. Tell me how it is ya’ll cause the first series was some garbage!
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Does America really need to hear Tyler Perry’s story…AGAIN!
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
@K to the…,
Oh, right, I forgot about THIS. WHY does this need to be reiterated again? That he was a homeless man who grew up to be a an old crazy lady with flippy-flappy tig ol bitties. It’s like the Pursuit of Flappyness.
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@Cheekie, stop it Cheekie LOL
between Tyler Perry and Skip To My Lou Gates, ninja rich is having the best week ever…
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
@T. Troy Stewart,
the best week ever…
I love this show!
K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
@Cheekie,
Pursuit of Flappyness
iDied!
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@Cheekie, LOL!!! I mean the story about tyler Perry i wanna knwo is he really as arrogant and weird in person? Like I heard people on set are not allowed to talk to him directly. is that true? and him being homeless…why would he impose such a rule?
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CPT Callamity Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
@Liz,
Got to Youtube and look up a guy named Junebug Obama. He has a few videos speaking on it.
Brought to you by CPTCallamity Snacks.
I didnt watch it but I am Black in America and it sucks. my homie lil bruh got gunned down yestaday rip Paris he was only 18. CNN cant teach me shii they aint neva came to my hood the world is a ghetto thas true but CNN aint real to me. Im tryna not lose it Im tryna keep my patnas from losin it. Erybody in the ghetto frustrated right now the economy sux. Ninjas already hada hard time gettin jobs now there are no jobs. Gas high a mugg. Ninjas still gotta take care of biz gotta keep a roof ova ya head clothes on the back food in the belly. Its hard tryna maintain out here. Its hard to keep ya head up. Like pac said “if you walked a mile in my shoes than you’d be crazy too I got nuthin to lose”. Honestly if it wasnt for my son i wouldnt give a fuq and thas sad i think i have post war syndrome or somethin ive seen some bloody shi in my lifetime. Amerikkkas nightmare.
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T. Troy Stewart Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER, sorry to hear about your loss.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
@T. Troy Stewart,
yea life goes on but i preciate it bruh bruh
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
I feel this urge beyond me control to raise my fist in the air.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
@Cheekie,
And the edit monster got me before I could say my condolences, man. *hugs*
And to correct the typo from “me” to “my”. I’m not a pirate.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
@Cheekie,
yea ima step from losin it i gotta lotta self control tho and grapes help alot. but i feel a revolution is comin. in my city rent is to high for people to afford so they move and guess who can afford that shii? not ninjas. cops still profiling i mean its only so much a ninja can take i hate it i mean i hate this shii. we needa revolution. I needa blunt.
pgh muse Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER, we needa revolution
the revolution is here. It’s starts with u and me and the rest of us.
after reading this i may need one too and I don’t smoke lol.
K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Sorry about your loss, BB.
Re: I needa blunt.
Well, if the screenname fits…
pgh muse Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER, This is sad Blunt.
Really really sad. Keep your head up. And don’t forget how much your son needs you. There’s nothing out there that’s more important than you being around for him. Not only does he need you, but the brothas around u need you. They need u to be strong in times like these. I know it’s not easy. But if you crumble and give in – a lot of your peers will to, and then where will we be? There will be more crying mothers, more “baby mamas” who have to wear four hats to survive or will give in – and then who will raise our seeds. Stay strong and have faith.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
@pgh muse,
very true mayne i kno i wanna live to see my sons kids
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
@pgh muse, dang pgh, you gonna make me cry…air hug to you for everything you said, a simple co-sign would not suffice.
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BLUNTBLAZER Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Ona good note /some Ghetto smile type shiii:
I was drivin down the street lil dude got blasted on this mornin afta i dropped my son off at school to pay my respects/ keep the candles lit at the memorial they set up and i got in my car an drove but this old dude’s van stopped in the middle of tha road n he was tryna push it off the street but couldnt cause he was old. im goin one way and this dude ina truck is tryna go to but we gotta wait cause the van is blockin the narrow a$$ ghetto street so dude hops out tha truck ta help tha old man out but the van is hella heavy so i hop out and help. the old man was greatful I met a new coo a$$ ninja. I was trippin like the ghetto is hella crazy but we still like fam we didnt have ta help old dude out but we did im still trippin off that. I coulda been scared fearin another drive by/walk by would happen but im to old to be scared of my own people and in reality WE ALL WE GOT.
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
this is nice.
Re: your friend, i know that experience and it’s hard. remember your blessings and keep moving forward. *hugs*
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER, WE ALL WE GOT.
word. that really sums up how i feel about it ALL.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER, damn BB (what i call you) all the syrup sammich jokes aside, i’m SO sorry. keep ya head up, after every hardship comes ease. word to the Quran:)
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Smiley Face Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
@BLUNTBLAZER,
I am so sorry for your loss, so sorry…
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
@Smiley Face,
Me 2…sorry to hear of your loss.
Stay up.
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One of the things this show showed me is that the word “bougie” should be regarded differently than how it’s currently used.
Looking at it the way Marx popularized it, it sort of makes more sense to refer to those upper crust types as the Black Aristocracy. Sure, they’re not literally dukes and vice-counts and princes, but they are the American version of old world nobility.
What Marx referred to as the bourgoisie is actually more akin to folks who are less than 2 or 3 generations into a comfortable middle class, even lower middle class, life. Maybe even just one generation.
And I think what some of us have been talking about, as far as never fitting in with that group, is sort of what Marx was talking about with the bourgoisie supplanting the old European aristocracy. Maybe that hasn’t happened with us yet, but we are starting to see a real interaction of those two worlds, with more and more black people having college degrees and professional lives, with all that goes along with that.
Just a thought.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
Agreed with this whole post.
The Bourgeoisie (hard-working traders and the likes) never did well with the Aristocracy ==> hence the French Revolution for instance.
There will always be perceived or real dissention between the two groups… It’s a matter of “I got here the hard way” vs. “I was born with it”…. Neither is better than the other, they are just different!
We often hear many middle-case black people aka regular black folks say stuff like “I don’t date hoodrats” and that kind of stuff… but in turns when we hear it from someone about a group we think we belong to, we get mad.
I am not surprised the elites want to stay with themselves… Hell, I would rather not be with someone who is not equally yoked… not money-wise (cause I ain’t got sh!t) but intellectually wise. So I am not about to knock somebody’s preferences!
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I am gonna open myself up to a lot of criticism here but, ta hell with it.
I am slightly disturbed by this whole ’she ain’t black’ or ’she doesn’t understand the ‘black experience’ commentary aimed at Soledad. Yes, she’s multi-ethnic. But, to her credit, she has owned up to her black blood more so than, say, a Tiger Woods.
B/c her fam had money and she went to the Ivy League does it negate the fact that she views herself as a black woman (and a Latina, and rightly so)?
I think we need to get off of the whole one size fits all of what it means to be black.
I come from a neighborhood in New Orleans where you had to pass a certain bag test to live there. My great great great gran, a black woman, owned slaves. Yes, you read that right. My mother and her sisters were all debutantes (well, 6 of the 7 girls were…one was chubby). My dad’s mom, because she had red hair and light skin, was the first black woman to work at a certain insurance office in the city.
Because their experiences may be a little different than the ‘norm’, does this make them any less black? I don’t think so. My maternal grandmother not withstanding, these are some of the most unapologetic black folk I know: they remember what it was like to live in a South where, despite all their Creole-ness, they were still second class citizens and couldn’t work or live in certain places in the city.
My point is that, even though, our backgrounds may be different, the experiences that living in our skin – no matter how pale it may be – are very similar. And we often forget that, to our detriment.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
@V.E.G., to be quite frank, my opinion of her has little to do with her background. until dude upthread posted it, i had no idea her background. i found out from somebody else that she was Black and read it in some article, though the article didnt actually go into her background or heritage.
i’d feel the same way if Tiger Wood used the n-word too. some people just dont seem like they associate with Black people. for whatever reason, that’s the vibe i get from her. i couldnt care less where she went to school or her background.
in high school, there was a chick i knew, vaguely, who ONLY hung with and around white people. now, my HS had beaucoup Black people and she felt mad uncomfortable around us. sure we’re the same color wise, but her inabilty to feel comfortable made us completely different people.
i dont know soledad at all and she could very well be the most “down” (whatever that means, like pr0n, i cant define it, but i know it when i see it), but then she plays the role very well b/c until i’d been told she was Black, i wouldnt have known at all or even suspected as much.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
@Panama Jackson,
PJ, I feel ya on the ‘n’ word. Though my comment wasn’t directed at that. I was just reacting to the ’she’s not black’ or she hasn’t live the ‘black experience’ commentary.
Personally, I don’t want any random fool I don’t know well using the ‘n’ word around me…but that’s just me.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
@V.E.G., it was “authentic black experience” not “black experience” as a whole. I think you may be reaching here, at least from what has been said above. Nobody is saying she’s not black? Just said she doesn’t have the same black experience as what is most likely the majority black experience. If we were not all aware of what the majority black experience is in this country we wouldn’t even be having these problems or discussion.
Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
@Panama Jackson,
For real for real, though, we need to get Anne Curry to stopp bu77sh1tting and just admit that she’s been lying for all these years and is really a Black woman.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
I am with you on that.
Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
@V.E.G.,
We get it – you’re Creole and people give you shit for it. It’s not that deep, really. Teh simple fact, not the way it should be, but the fact, is that peopel like Soledad and Barack Obama will always catch a slight side eye from *some* folks in teh community because they’re mixed adn didn’t grow up in the typical black experience.
I’d say that the Creole community in Louisiana is large enough, established enough, and recognized enough that it sits squarely *within* the typical range of what’s considered Black. Down there, Creoles are not some type of anaomalous exception to what Black means. At least not since your homeboy Homer Plessy tried to ride that rolly 110 years ago.
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Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
That was supposed to say “trolly” at the end, there.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
Perhaps you missed my point.
Maybe I used a bad example, but I don’t think so. The “Creole” experience is unique to a certain area of this country. It is not by any means considered ‘typical’ by folks who didn’t witness it firsthand.
That said, I was trying to get across that the black experience is varied. And just cuz someone’s experience is not like yours or your friend’s or your neighbor’s, doesn’t give you a free pass to dismiss their blackness, especially when they own up to it.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
I ain’t creole or mixed and I am sure my experience of being Black (living) in America is different than yours.
Does it make it less valid? I think that’s VEG’s point. We can’t discard an experience because it doesn’t seem like the “norm” to me…
I am sure in Soledad’s world, she is the norm… As I am the norm from my own vantage point.
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Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 10:50 am
@Sula,
If you look at it that way, then technically every single person’s experience is different.
I’m saying that the Creoles are a distinct subset of Blackness in America. Geographically isolated? OF course. But they are a group with a long history, cultural markers, and established identity, which is regarded by most people as being a branch of “Black.”
Soledad is half white Australian, half Afro-Cuban. I’m betting there’s no a whole lot of people with that exact ethic mix. Tiger is Black and Thai. There’s probably more of them, but they’re not some historical community here. These two are like lone electrons floating in the universe, if you will.
Do I think they’re black? Of course. I believe in the One Drop Rule just like that next guy – I *am* American, after all.
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@V.E.G.,
“I think we need to get off of the whole one size fits all of what it means to be black.”
Hmm, this is a difficult discussion for me.
Ya know, I agree with the above. I don’t like it when folks say a person is not truly black just because they’ve been well off all of their lives, or they decide to pursue higher education or how light the tint of their skin is.
However, I DO have a problem if above referenced folks go out of their way to separate themselves from Blacks and are over-enthused to blend in with 2520s. It’s usually more so about the way they present themselves than their circumstances.
It’s sorta like Carlton on Fresh Prince. I remember he and Will had an argument about Carlton not being “black” enough. I think it was that frat episode where Carlton was excluded and Will was accepted. Now, granted, I was pretty much on Carlton’s side when he said that he shouldn’t be ousted because of some presupposed definition of “black”, but then on the other hand, I could feel what Will was talking about. Carlton DID have a propensity to hang more with white folks and blend in with them as much as possible.
I guess I’m with Panama when he said you can’t describe it. What “down” means. It’s not necessarily because he was smart and pronounced the -ing at the end of his words (because I can’t stand when folks say that’s not “black”), it was his enthusiasm to mirror his white counterparts in other ways.
It kinda reminds me of this season of the Real World (Cancun) and the Black girl, Jasmine. While Jasmine has shown a bit more of her “hood side” when she gets angry, I remember thinking about the “trying to be white” thing when she was channelling the valley girl speak (saying she was ” like SOOOO BFF” with a white castmember) on the first episode. And I’m not sure I believe she really talks like that since it sure ’nuff disappeared when she got angry. You can totally tell how someone REALLY speaks when they get angry. lol
So, my problem isn’t that there is one definition of Black that all Black folks should take heed to, it’s more so when a Black person is obviously trying to blend in with 2520s or separate themselves from us. Sometimes you can just tell. It’s not that I don’t believe they’re Black, it’s that it appears that THEY (conveniently) forget they are, ya know?
So, I was probably rambling because I hyped up on sugar..and leave it to me to reference Fresh Prince as an attempt at engaging discussion. I hope I explained myself clearly.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
@Cheekie,
Being ‘down’ doesn’t necessarily = black. Hell, Clinton was ‘down’ but I didn’t get with the foolishness on him being an honorary black dude. lol.
But I do get where you are going.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@V.E.G.,
“Being ‘down’ doesn’t necessarily = black. ”
Yup, true. It just gets you in with a certain group of Black folks, albeit a large group. But it’s certainly not the only group.
I’m glad you somehow followed my rambling. It’s a toughie to put into words and I’m not in the right frame of mind at the moment to clarify. (read: ‘itis)
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@V.E.G.,
Louisiana is a unique creature when it comes to race, class, and religion (just to name a few). That’s why I gave you the credit up top for pointing out that the “Black” experience is a very broad one and no one is really in a position to define what whole-heartedly what that experience is, nor negate the experiences of others as fraudulent or unrealistic.
Bond.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
@BlkBond,
Your stamp of approval has made my day. lol.
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Legendary Dash Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@BlkBond,
For some reason I read your name as Blk”Blond”. I wonder if there is a such thing as Adult Onset Dyslexia. Continue the discussion like I never commented.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
@Legendary Dash,
LMAO
BlkBond Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
@Legendary Dash,
So noted, carry on.
Bond. BlkBOND. lol.
Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
@BlkBond,
Louisiana is a unique creature when it comes to race, class, and religion (just to name a few).
Blame the French. *smh*
But I agree with your statement. The Black experience is a broad one… or at least it should be.
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Liz Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
@V.E.G., How exactly has Soledad owned up to her background ove Tiger Woods? I knew Tiger was Black way before I knew Soledad was Black. I don’t see her fighting the power anywhere. Not that she NEEDS to, because it’s not like Tiger does. But just saying she’s not exactly on the radar as Miss Black Media either. Not that she needs to be, this just sounds like a reach.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
@Liz,
Do you not think the fact that she identifies as black when she could easily not, counts as owning up to her black blood? You knew Tiger was black because he LOOKED it. That is the only reason why. Soledad doesn’t mind being called black whereas Tiger coined his own phrase to avoid being called such (I know he embraces his multi-culturalism but c’mon).
I don’t think I am reaching so much as people have a very clear definition of what black looks like/sounds like and if it doesn’t fit their definition, they wanna dismiss it.
And, yes, comments above alluded to the fact that Soledad was not ‘really’ black.
Folks can fight the power in different ways, too. Perhaps BiA, as soft and as lacking in depth as it is, is Soledad’s way of exposing white folks to black life – 252os are the audience for the show, anyway. She could go an entirely, different route you know and report on other stories and we would perhaps never see ourselves on CNN, except in a crime story.
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Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
@Liz, “How exactly has Soledad owned up to her background ove Tiger Woods? I knew Tiger was Black way before I knew Soledad was Black.”
That is because Tiger is darker and stands out more on a Golf Course but Soledad never (that I know of) had a problem with being called black, which can’t be said for Tiger.
Also I suspect that a lot of people didn’t realize she considered herself black because many Hispanics who have black in them still don’t consider themselves black. Dominicans are notorious for this. Unless a Hispanic is very dark many don’t consider if they are black or not.
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Scott Hanselman Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
@Liz,
Seems like Soledad is a new kind of media person, just as Tiger is. It’s the Rise of Mixed-Folks. Maybe folks aren’t “claiming sides” anymore? I dunno, although she did called it “Black in America” and not “1/4 Black in America,” so maybe this is her declaration.
I’m going to be interested when my Black sons are in their teens, growing up in the 2020’s to see if they “pick a side” or if the rise of mixed folks lets them just be.
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pgh muse Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
@V.E.G., I agree w/ u VEG. I’ve read a lot about New Orleans culture and history. It’s all a part of the black experience.
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For those of you who had the tenacity to watch…good on you?
Me? I went to the Maxwell concert in Newark, NJ which I paid $200 for one seat.
Worth it. Great seat and I missed out on a hug by *this much*
Then I drove an hour back to South Jersey and went to sleep with no BiA2 drama to make me angry.
Unless there was Single Black Female in the Military segment…then I’m simply not interested in what the mass media produces to gain ratings. Soledad hit me when you kick Katie out of your seat.
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@Siobhan means Woman of Wisdom,
“Me? I went to the Maxwell concert in Newark, NJ which I paid $200 for one seat.”
*sits and waits for miss t-lee to chime in with her braggadocious’ azz*
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
@Cheekie,
You shol’ right!!!
I saw him earlier this month, but my tix were only $39.50….lol
Love ya Cheekster!!!
*gold star for braggadocious!
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
@miss t-lee,
You know you my girl! Braggadocious and all. *hugs*
I’m still green, though…@ BOTH of ya’ll. lol
Siobhan means Woman of Wisdom Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
@Cheekie,
Heck I’m trying to get tickets to the show at the Borgota on Friday…he was beyond sexy…Maxwell was dancing and looking fine…and when people threw panties on the stage he picked up a pair and SMELLED them…*dead*
I typically dont do this BUT in reply to THIS comment by Ivy St.:
@VEG and Thuggie Luvvie,
Both of you should RELAX. Maybe I worded my comment wrong. Let me rephrase, ” WHY is a woman with a large tv seen as poor or needing of extra aid?!?!” Maybe what she needs is to reorganize her priorities. I wasn’t asking where so much(UM DUH)! I didn’t think Best Buy ONLY existed down the street from me. I think it’s sad that you both jumped on my comment the way you did, suggesting some already festering internal conflicts. As for the tension between African black and American blacks, I feel like all of your replies to my comment, cause it. I’ve had more than a few Africans tell me that American blacks are lazy and I get the feelings a lot (NOT ALL, relax) of Africans come here and think they are better.
Take how you want.
So many things wrong w/ this statement so I will do it in bullet points:
1. You can’t be serious. YOUR original statement of “ON that note, one of the women in S. Africa had a tv screen bigger than mine. I want to know where or how she got such a big tv.” did NOT include all the analyzing that you’re doing now so please don’t act like someone put words in your mouth. Your comment was 1 sentence and ur “explanation” was 15. WOMP.
b. You projecting our replies to you in disagreement as “festering internal conflicts” is a bit of a leap ain’t it?
Oh and VEG is American so what disconnect is SHE causing?
Yeah. Your SADDOWN gift basket will be delivered shortly. With a “Visit the place before you spew nonsense” body lotion.
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K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
With a “Visit the place before you spew nonsense” body lotion.
What scent?
*comic relief…tension was thick!*
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Omar Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
@K to the…, “What scent?”
Shea butter, maybe…
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Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
@K to the…,
It smells like Lavender, Potpourri & Logic. A really nice combo, dontcha think?
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
It’s aromatherapy.
K to the... Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
LMAO!!! spectaculous!
I say it almost every damn mornin….F america
My cousin brought up startin some kinda J&J up here….I ain’t really talked much to her since then. I ain’t about makin live hard for other black folks….and that’s all that sh!t does.
+20 for no cable…cause I’m pissed off enough w/ out it.
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I don’t want to draw any conclusions before the actual conclusion of the whole special, but much like everyone else my main problem with the special is the extremes. Why can’t there be any middle ground? Are we middle grounders just not good enough? Its obvious they’re trying to make for good tv, but that just isn’t going to help give people a better perception of being black in America.
I have to say that watching it for me personally was interesting because I don’t come from any of those “categories” of black folks that they described. Coming from parents that hail from two sides of Africa (Liberia & Somalia) who both have degrees, there was never a question about not going to college, just where. Like I said earlier I was a member in Jack & Jill but my visual of black life was seen mostly through my relatives, who are also African, as well as my American relatives who discovered their lineage and sought us out in the 70s. I don’t know if that makes it less black, but that is my individual experience.
I say all that to say, Black life is so complex and I hope that they would conclude with expressing that sentiment.
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@MaiTai, whoa! I’m Somali, I don’t think I’ve met a Liberian mixtie:)
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MaiTai Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
@overit, Me neither, but here I am! *waves*
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overit Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
@MaiTai, *waves back*
V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@MaiTai,
“Black life is so complex and I hope that they would conclude with expressing that sentiment”
This my friend, is what I’m saying!
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SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
@V.E.G.,
*nodding in agreement*
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
@V.E.G.,
Zacktly!
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@ TheChamp,
“even without intensive follow up mentoring and an immediate change in school behavior for a couple of the kids, i think the south africa trip was a great success, just for the fact that it took 60 kids (30 middle school students and 30 college students) out of the country for an experience none of them will ever forget, and exposed them to the idea of service. ”
While I do think the trip was important and enlightening for the kids, in a way, I see this and similar trips as another form of exploitation of impoverished people/nations. The kids did service for 2 weeks and gave supplies to some poor families and through this, gained perspective on their own lives and goals. However, what happens to these people when the finite amount of supplies run out? They continue to live in extreme poverty, while the kids get to enjoy a lifetime’s worth of memories and lessons. At the end of the day, those who are in a better position (i.e. the kids, who come from a developed nation) benefit more than those who are in truly dire circumstances.
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Dang. So much beef btwn the Africans & the AfroAmericans today. Here I am. I lay my spear down and drink palm oil in peace. Put down ur guns and ur kool-aid. o_O
*waves white ankara in truce* iQuit.
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Scipio Africanus Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie, You mean Palm Wine? Unles you’re planning to deep fry your entire throat, I don’t think you want to just guzzle palm oil like that.
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MaiTai Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie, All this can be solved with watching all 4 parts of the classic Nigerian film “Beyonce & Rihanna.”
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BlackBerry Molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
@MaiTai,
Only after watching the Return of Beyonce Parts 1 and 2.
Nigerian and Ghanaian films KILL me. I love them so.
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Sula Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
@MaiTai,
Bwahahahaha!! You didn’t bring up that masterpiece of coonery!
Bwahahaha!
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
It truly makes me
weeppout.Reply
SouthernGirl Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie, awww….i still lurve you.
i’m gonna go ahead and nominate this for ‘the post that shall not be named part 1.5′
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Thuggie Luvvie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
@SouthernGirl,
I’ll 2nd that nomination b/c clearly folks showed their *sses (including me, h*ll). Y’all know I don’t come on VSB telling people to SADDOWN (apart from Overit, VEG, Aif, BBMo, SouthernGirl). But they don’t count cuz they my folks.
VSB: Where people come to piss you off when they respond to you in CAPS & unnecessary exclamations.
LOL I’ll be back w/ IG 2moro.
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BlackBerry Molasses Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@Thuggie Luvvie,
HMPH, I’m still mad that my SADDOWN Gift Basket was MISSING the Good Sense Smelling Salts … Lady Cameroon o_O @ Luvvie.
What u withholdin’ em for? Its not like you’re usin’ em!
Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
@SouthernGirl,
I was thinking the exact same thing.
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Oh yeah, and co-sign on Malaak Compton-Rock’s cuteness. I alwasy had it in my head that she and Spike’s wife were both big time Light-Skinned-Points recipients. She looked genuinely good, though somewhat rodential, last night.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
@Scipio Africanus,
“rodential”
*loud laughter*
I quit this piece!
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WOW…really great post!! You made some really great points.
I was definitely thinking some of the same things.
As far as the emotions that a college acceptance can bring– I took it for granted as well. Although I must admit, I did have that same strong emotion come through…but it was for a DENIED response.
You should check out my thoughts on BiA2(I put them in point form as well) on my blog Alex’s Anecdotes:
http://www.alex-holley.blogspot.com
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I have question or two just from the comments… I didn’t watch the show cause I have been black in america for 35 years now LOL!!
But What is black to ya’ll??? does your blackness equate with a certain “soul factor” or a kind of universal typical black exp??
I’m black, my parents are mostly black LOL there is healthy dose of native american mixed in, as well as some white like most black americans LOL
Black to me is race of course, but more than that, its like its something in the spirit of folk as well….soul glo anyone LOL
Someone said being black in america sucks, well it isn’t always easy for all the known and obvious reasons but there is no other race I’d rather be, who else is as “wikkedly” flavorful and diverse???
……..no other race on the planet!!!
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Cheekie Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
@OrangeStar616,
“Someone said being black in america sucks, well it isn’t always easy for all the known and obvious reasons but there is no other race I’d rather be, who else is as “wikkedly” flavorful and diverse???
……..no other race on the planet!!!”
HAHA…co-sign. I always say this…that along with our struggles, we just have this unexplainable specialty about us. No one can touch it or copyright it. It’s something that I wouldn’t wanna give up, EVAH.
Oh, and melanin. Melanin is dope.
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miss t-lee Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
@OrangeStar616,
“well it isn’t always easy for all the known and obvious reasons but there is no other race I’d rather be, who else is as “wikkedly” flavorful and diverse???”
Can I get an amen?
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MaiTai Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
@OrangeStar616, Well literally black is what “they” called us after its was said Negro was not acceptable. I personally call myself African-American because I am literally, but of course due to the history of this country it makes sense for people to be called black. But black is just what you are to me. It can’t really be defined or denied. No matter how hard some may try, they better embrace and love it.
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“i’d feel the same way if Tiger Wood used the n-word too. some people just dont seem like they associate with Black people. for whatever reason, that’s the vibe i get from her.”
@ Panama
That’s some flimsy way to try to dismiss Soledad’s “Blackness” or how “down” she is. Because she “seems” a certain way to you?!Maybe it’s the Louisianian in me like V.E.G. (keep holding it down!) but I feel as if I must come to Soledad’s defense.
As a personal aside, is it just me or do Black folks from Louisiana have some kind of “Black radar” where we can spot out other Black folks even if they are biracial, triracial, or mamelique (1/32 Black) while other Blacks not from Louisiana can not?! I’m sorry Soledad looks like a light skint (yes “skint”) Black woman to me and always has!
How can you dismiss Soledad her b/c of your own preconceived notions but you and many of us don’t seem to be so quick to dismiss a “no-questioned, phenotypic” Black person that is harmful to other Black folks like a lot of these rappers, Ward Connerly, and Jesse Lee Peterson from the race?
Soledad’s life experience is her own life experience and that’s that. Her experience may be “different” from the life experience of most multi-ethnic/racial people but it is not deficient.
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V.E.G. Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
@Kamala Jones,
“is it just me or do Black folks from Louisiana have some kind of “Black radar” where we can spot out other Black folks even if they are biracial, triracial, or mamelique (1/32 Black) while other Blacks not from Louisiana can not?!”
It’s not just you. We can.
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Panama Jackson Reply:
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
@Kamala Jones, call it flimsy, it is what it is.
get it right though, i’d question ward connelly, armstrong williams, john mcwhorter or any of a number of phenotypically black people if they tried to do this show.
but you seem to be missing my point. how she looks has jack shit to do with how i feel about her. i still acknowledge that she’s black. teh same way folks were taking shots at Condi b/c she was workign for the “other side”. i dont know if you did personally so take this with that in mind, but folks were very quick to claim that Condi lost touch for her policies and ideologies.
Soledad comes across, in her reporting of this like Liz said, like she’s on a Black-tour safari looking into some shit she was inerested in b/c she knows nothing about it. it is what it is.
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I feel if they truly wanted to make a Black in America. They should expose the diversity within “black people” (people we, and they, see as black, identify with being black, and run from being black,). I completely agree with the need to discuss African immigrants & THEIR CHILDREN, because they are African-American, as well as West Indian immigrants. I think discussions of isolated blacks in the suburbs, as well as blacks who live in predominately middle or upper-middle class neighborhoods (PG county) are important. Black people are so different depending on their family dynamics, history, region of the country they reside in, skin color and the connatations attached to it. I would love CNN to introduce me to facts and experiences of black people that I had been ignorant of. I attend Spelman College. I am a first generation Ghanaian-American born in the Bronx, but I lived in Worcester, MA, a city with a large African immigrant population. It can basically be called a “Little Ghana”. I had never heard of PG county, Jack and Jill, or anything like that before getting to the AUC. I also think the debate of HBCU vs. PWI should be looked into. I feel all these experiences can be a part of the black experience in America. Black in America needs a focus, because the production seems pretty scattered to me. If I were EP, I would try to bring attention to the diversity that exists within the Black community. They need several focused minisessions. Heck, they should just make a blog! lol =)
my two cents.
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Im still waiting on the real Black in America – The Middle Class Version. The version where Jack and Jill was a nursery rhyme and although my parents owned a large home, we still shopped at the Salvation Army. I guess our stories are just not newsworthy enough. I guess next time I hear of a documentary like that , ill just wait for the bootleg.
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