Black In America

I watched Black in America II last night on CNN and I was very happy with it. Black In America II is a thought provoking, touching, and very inspirational follow up to the first. Black In America showcased the struggles that African American women (especially single), families, and our community as a whole faces in America. The special took an in depth look at the racial disparities between students and the devastating impact HIV/AIDS has had on the African American community. Soledad O'Brien also reports on the progress of black women in the workplace and the status of the black middle class.

I was especially happy to see the black middle class focused on because usually that is a part that White America likes to ignore or pretend doesn't exist. Not all African Americans are inner city and lower class. Approximately 52% of African Americans are considered middle class. Yet, the income gap between black and white families continues to remain significant. A 2005 census showed that Blacks earned only 65% of the wages of whites.

Black In America II focused a lot more on African American youth and education. In America it still stands that African Americans attend college at about half the rate of whites, but at a greater rate than Hispanic Americans. More African American women attend and complete college than men.

Part of the Black In America series that first aired back in July of 2008, Black In America: The Black Man, took viewers through the personal stories of graduates of the 1968 class of Little Rock Central High School. This part of the series investigated the state of the Black man in American society as far as disparities between blacks and whites in education, career, and economic achievements. The very high rate of Black male incarceration was also discussed. 13% of black men in 20s and early 30s incarcerated. Nationwide, black men are sent to prison on drug charges at 13 times the rate of white men.

BIA2 highlighted successful African Americans who are making a difference, like Principal Steve Perry. Steve Perry is a principal who with tough love and unyielding encouragement of his students, has managed to have have a dropout rate of zero in his school. Perry is not only the principle of Capital Prep, but he also founded the school four years ago. Capital Prep, a year-round school that is more than 80 percent black and Latino, can boast of sending every graduating member of its senior class on to a four-year college. Now that's the type of impact I like to see.

BIA2 made it a point to show our youth that no matter where you come from or start out, your possibilities are endless. Even though you might have a hard life there is always someone out there with less than you have. Your circumstances are never an excuse for you not to achieve your goals and reach for the stars. I especially loved the air time given to Tyler Perry who is the first African American to own a major film and TV studio. He's doing a lot to make change happen in the community.

I also felt like disparities in healthcare for African Americans was highlighted as well. This is another sad reality of being Black in America; many times we don't receive the care we deserve because of your skin color or economic status. Dr. Lisa Newman's story on TNBC, a rarer form of breast cancer, was a big eye opener to me. Statistics show that black women are twice as likely as white women to get it. Dr. Newman went to Ghana searching for answers on TNBC because very little is known about what causes it.

I like how Black in America 2 focuses on our current leaders and the development of future ones, as well as the positive impact being made by African Americans already in power. African Americans make huge contributions to America economically, scholastically, and socially. It's time that America start acknowledging the accomplishments of Blacks in America, and the great trials we still face living in this country. If we come together as a people and as a nation, we can reverse the negative effects and change America for the better.