Black in America Misses The 'Why'

Posted by Stephen Gardner at 5:45 PM | Comment Now | Permalink

(Editor's Note: This was originally posted at Youth Speaks South Shore.)

The cable television program “Black in America” focused on several different socio-economic issues that affect African-Americans in today’s society. Aired on CNN, host Soledad O’Brien takes the viewer on a journey through various neighborhoods; effectively shedding light on dark issues that have plagued Black America for some time.

Issues such as education, marriage, pregnancy, and violence in different communities throughout the country were highlighted, giving the viewer insight into a plight that only the Black community often feels. While O’Brien did a fantastic job telling the stories of various individuals she interviewed, little emphasis was placed on the story behind the story. Not much focus was given to the “why” in these particular scenarios.

In a country where racism is still alive, it is important for White America not only to see, but also to understand our story as well. For too long only a partial testament been given to the adversity that affects millions of our people on a daily basis.

Take an inner-city Houston education scenario as one example: An effort put forth by the community to try and enroll drop outs back in school is a fantastic effort; one which O’Brien brings to the forefront of her program with adept ease. Here she is with television crews, interviewers, and community activists petitioning at a doorstep for a boy to come back and enroll in school.

However, we fail to analyze the context in which this Black boy is placed. A 17-year-old male stands outside with no shirt on, gawked at not only by several people at his doorstep, but also interviewers, television crews and producers as well as the millions of Americans who will watch him through their television screens.

And that is exactly how they see him – a young shirtless male, with an apparent disinterest in returning to school, emphasized by the fact that he turns immediately on his heels and walks back into his house.

Now readers please ask yourself this question – how would you react if complete strangers showed up at your house in the afternoon, bombarding you with pleas to return to your job? Under the gaze of television cameras and reporters that just so happened to be there as well?

Most likely you would walk back into the sheltered safety of your humble abode. Why wouldn’t you? It’s safe from prying eyes, is it not? No one can intrude on your personal space there, broadcasting all of your personal business on the public airwaves for millions to see. Of course we do not consider this, with just the mere fact that the boy is finally persuaded to (1) put a shirt on (2) return to school and enroll a full month late and (3) finally as his story closes, we see that after only a day in school, he drops out once again.

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