The Extremes of Black In America 2

According to the dictionary extreme is defined as:

–adjective 1. of a character or kind farthest removed from the ordinary or average: extreme measures.
2. utmost or exceedingly great in degree: extreme joy.
3. farthest from the center or middle; outermost; endmost: the extreme limits of a town.
4. CNN’s representation of being “Black in America 2″

I’ve learned not to get my hopes up when it comes to the mainstream media. Even though you’re forced fed it every day, the only thing you can do is listen, digest it and draw your own conclusions in the end. There’s the saying, “believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see”, and I definitely think that’s how people should deal with the media.

In the age of our supposed “post racial” society, the quickest way to garner ratings is to keep it ‘racial’ and CNN has done it well with their second installment of Black in America 2, with once again attempting to shedding light on the ‘plight’ of black people.

Once again, it’s done in extremities, as shown in last nights 2 hour installment in regards to youth and education. I’m not going to discount the fact that there are inner cities in America where the school systems are in need of drastic change and the kids who attend these schools are subjected to receiving the short end of the ’stick’.  But not all kids can be lucky enough to have Malaak Rock come and fly them off to Africa to basically say, “Hey, your life could be worse”. Sure, it’s great they got to see Africa, I mean who wouldn’t want to?  A trip to Africa is not going to cure the ills that these kids obviously suffer from.  Instead of sending kids to Africa, send them to counseling, send them to tutoring, get them the educational help that a failed school system can’t provide for them. Let those boys, who think that basketball is their way out, that chances are it isn’t. Take the basketball out of their hands and put two books in each of them.  What about the children in these inner city schools that are actually striving and doing well? Why wasn’t there any mention of them in the Bushwich school?  I’m quite sure they would have enjoyed a trip to Africa as well.

I do applaud CNN for profiling Steve Perry and the Capital Preparatory School in Connecticut. He’s not a millionaire taking on philanthropic endeavors, he’s a real person trying to make a difference in the lives of the children who attend his school.  He even touched upon the fact that a parents involvement with their child has a drastic effect on their success in school. People always say that it takes a village, but I also think, that if a child is not properly cultivated in their own backyard, it’s a recipe for failure.  It doesn’t matter how great of a school a child attends, if a parent(s) isn’t involved, then what makes you think the child is going to put forth any extra effort?

So there, CNN touched on the ‘underprivledged’. With the two inner city schools. But of course it wouldn’t be right for CNN not to showcase an extreme as well.

From poverty to riches.

Sure, there are wealthy black people. Black people with a distinct history that started in the early 1900’s with success, education, and money, is nothing new if people knew their history.  You have everyone from the Talented 10, to the Jack & Jills and The Boule, the examples are never ending.  These groups of course still exist till this day and I understand why they were highlighted in Black in America 2 for white black people to see. But within these groups of people, there is an obvious elitist attitude that has existed since day one.  Sure, the younger generation want to grow up and make an impact, but bring home someone out of their ‘circle’? It’ll be like a sequel to “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” Black in America style.

From last night’s installment, I came to one and only one conclusion:

Black Middle Class, guess what…CNN’s not that into you.

Maybe tonight’s episode on marriage and relationships will be different, but then again, there’s a possibility that it won’t.  One thing I am sure of, the extremes will definitely be thrown in.

Tags: black in america, black in america 2, Capital Prepartory School, cnn, fungke blak chik, malaak rock, steve perry