Currently, CNN is airing Black in America 2, a "sequel" to last summer's hit series Black in America.
Earlier this evening, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr was in Times Square with Soledad O'Brien to discuss his July 16th arrest for disorderly conduct. Gates walked the audience through what occurred last Thursday at his Cambridge, Massachusetts home, and stated that race played a factor in his arrest.
With Black in America 2 airing part one of its look inside the African-American community (part two airs tomorrow evening), it's interesting to note that not all blacks see the media spotlight as a blessing for both their race and race relations. Last summer's Black in America drew fire from many, as some thought the program showcased negative stereotypes of black life in an attempt to score ratings. While there were viewers who found O'Brien's piece a welcome addition to the conversation of race in America, others believed CNN exploited African-American's (and the rapid ascension of then Senator Barack Obama's popularity) and helped feed into the unsavory image some have of minorities in this country.
This week's exploration into the black community does seem quite different from last summer, however. Tonight will focus on African-American leaders (as opposed to last year's topics of interracial dating and street violence), while Thursday's program will center around black pioneers. Tyler Perry ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman") will be featured in this series, a man who is both equally loved and criticized within the African-American community.
