What Being 'Black in America' Really Means
The Root recently partnered with Black Web 2.0 to discuss “Black in America 2” with a panel of young professionals and academics. We wanted to know what role race plays in the lives of young Americans and you were there to tell us! Take a look at what can happen when young Americans take the mic and speak their minds.
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A Full HousePhotos by Yodith DammlashAttendees arrive at The Root and Black Web 2.0's "Black in America 2" event. Young, black academics and professionals in the Washington area came out to Bus Boys and Poets to watch the program and participate in an interactive panel discussion about race.
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The ModeratorPhoto by Yodith DammlashSaaret E. Yoseph, assistant editor at The Root, encourages the crowd to critique the program.
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Talking HeadsPhoto by Yodith DammlashAfter the screening, audience members discussed the program with a diverse panel of their peers. Panelists (from l to r) Henry Hunter, Nnenna Ozobia, Jonathan Pourzal, Sophia Nur and Kari Fulton.
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Now PlayingPhoto by Yodith DammlashThe crowd tunes in to part two of CNN's "Black in America 2".
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Interviewing the AudiencePhoto by Yodith DammlashGrabbing the mic in between commercial breaks, many in attendance agreed that this year's program was more positive than last year's "Black in America".
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ShowtimePhoto by Yodith DammlashOne audience member shares her thoughts on how Africa was portrayed in the final segment of "Black in America 2". Why, she asked, is Africa always shown in a negative way?
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A Word from TwitterPhoto by Yodith DammlashErin Evans, The Root's copy editor, reported on viewer reactions to the program via Twitter. Some tweets concerning Tyler Perry knocked the director's appearance on the show, but event attendees were quick to defend him and his movies.
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Taking a StandPhoto by Yodith DammlashAudience members also tried to predict what future CNN segments on race and culture might look like. "Latino in America"? "Biege in America", perhaps?
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The Distinguished PanelSpirtuality in the black community was of major concern to panelist Jonathan Pourzal. Though, part two of "Black in America 2" discussed the influence of the church structure, he felt this was a narrow view of faith practices among African-Americans.
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Comments from the CrowdPhoto by Yodith DammlashSome attendees were skeptical of the impact that one program could have, others applauded CNN's efforts.
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Kari FultonPhoto by Yodith DammlashKari Fulton, an environmental justice activist and leader in the Youth Climate movement voices her perspective on the show and shares what she would like to see on "Black in America 3".
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Women on the IssuesPhoto by Yodith DammlashPanelist Sophia Nur listens as fellow panelist Kari Fulton discusses how "Black in America 2" missed the point. In her opinion, there should have been discussion on the influence black Americans have on climate change.
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Speak Your MindPhoto by Yodith DammlashAnother member of the audience joins the discussion.
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Audience FeedbackPhoto by Yodith DammlashHow much can you cover in one series? Many viewers expressed that there was only so much reporting that CNN could do. A two-hour segment, they agreed, would never be able to capture the black experience.
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Henry HunterPhoto by Yodith DammlashPanelist Henry Hunter, a graduate of Georgetown University's Law School and general counsel of a D.C. firm, suggested that CNN broaden their focus next time around. He also voiced doubts about who the target audience is for "Black in America". Do black people have anything to gain from watching the show?
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Jelani CobbPhoto by Yodith DammlashJelani Cobb, contributor to The Root, is interviewed by Saaret E. Yoseph about his experience as a panelist for CNN.
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Jonathan PourzalPhoto by Yodith DammlashJonathan Pourzal, a graduate of University of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill and facilitator for the IKG Cultural Center.
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Sophia A. NelsonPhoto by Yodith DammlashContributor to The Root Sophia A. Nelson tells the crowd that Soledad O'Brien has joined the event via webcast.
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On the PanelPanelist Nnenna Ozobia, policy director for Latin America and the Caribbean at TransAfrica Forum.
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20 of 20 Sophia NurPhoto by Yodith DammlashPanelist Sophia Nur, a doctoral candidate in Communication and Culture at Howard University, shared hopes of hearing from the African diaspora in future segments. As a first generation American, she feels perspectives like her's were missed in the program. Being black in America, she asserted, is much more complicated than the simple story shown on CNN.
Comments
Your naive...
Blacks will stop talking about race- when whites get over thier aversion to color.
Because of the fact that we were slaves once- our very history is intertwined with this country's discussion on race- and color. Jim crow was based on the white man's fear of miscegenation, fear that black men would mate with their women if whites did not stop them. Try starting from the lowest position on your TV box and flip upwards and tell me how many black or minority faces you come across, for we live in a white country.
Try flipping through a few of the mainstream magazines and tell me again how many black/minority faces you come across. Whites are hung up on color just as much as we blacks are hung up on race. Dr. Martin Luther King alluded to the fact that the most segregated hour of Christian America is still eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. Perhaps when a white girl can bring home her black boyfriend without her father going ballistic, then I might concede race is of less importance. Maybe when a black man can become just as angry and irate to white authority (and not be punished) as the white people we see in these town hall meetings- then maybe I'll admit race relations have gotten better. But right now, even at the most fundamental level race will always be a factor.
STOP talking about race and just wake up everyday and live your life. There is no race, culture or religion that has ever existed that has not suffered. Everyone has a story to tell and hard is hard. The only way to lessen the impact of racism is by going to school and going to work and doing well. The only way Blacks will ever get any respect from other races and cultures is by stop whining and start performing. People will always hate each other. Commerce is the only reason people tolerate each other. Blacks must have products or services someone wants.
STOP talking about race and just wake up everyday and live your life. There is no race, culture or religion that has ever existed that has not suffered. Everyone has a story to tell and hard is hard. The only way to lesson the impact of racism is by going to school and going to work and doing well. The only way Blacks will ever get any respect from other races and cultures is by stop whining and start performing. People will always hate each other. Commerce is the only reason people tolerate each other. Blacks must have products or services someone wants.