African Americans have always lived life in a partial public space–sharing our foods, music, language and style with the world through a popular culture that never really gets it right. That’s why I approached CNN’s Special Report on “Black in America” with some trepidation. Is CNN only airing a series like this because Sen. Barack Obama could be the nation’s next president? Is White America really that curious about what it is like to be Black in America? I mean, let’s be serious…this series is not designed to educate African Americans about our own experience. We know how rewarding our family reunions can be. We know hard it is to get a job. We know how hard it is to overcome exploitive images. So, of course I wondered, would CNN butcher our existence? Would they reduce our experiences to sound-bites and stereotypes? These questions, of course, are rhetorical, but honestly, I did fear the worst…and I thought I was right when I saw that an early segment was devoted to a “Baby Mama” discussion. But I kept watching…and I’m glad I did.

While no collective experience can be reduced to a few hours on television, I found the series to be interesting and a contemporary foundation for people who may have only “interacted” with African Americans at work or through old Motown songs. Were there places where the analysis was incomplete? Sure. For example, not every articulate Black child is said to “act White.” Does it happen? Yes. Is it usually more of a jab at that articulate child’s apparent lack of social skills? Yes. Let me tell you–everyone appreciates a person who can conjugate a verb. Still, despite a few shortcomings, CNN’s Special Report on Black in America is worth watching. You may not be surprised by what you see, but you’ll be reminded of how much the nation has ignored the continuing face of inequality. You’ll be reminded that we still have a lot of work to do before we truly have one America.

Copyright 2008 Monique W. Morris

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