The CNN Special: Black in America

Beginning in the early 1950s, and on throughout the following decades, a phenomenon occurred whenever a Black person was slated to appear on television: Black people all over the country called each other to make sure friends and relatives know about it and tuned in. Of course Black faces are now commonplace on the tube (too commonplace, in my opinion, when you factor in the buffoonery and minstrel shows sometimes evidenced on BET). Nonetheless, the CNN special "Black in America," part one of which is set to air on Wed., July 23, has Blacks waiting with eager anticipation. I know of no less than a half dozen “viewing parties” slated in Black residences around the county.

This, of course, is not the first TV special examining race or race relations in America and it no doubt won’t be the last. A few years ago an excellent program “Race in America” aired to great reviews. But (and this may be due to the ascendancy of Barack Obama) this current special is drawing an extraordinary amount of attention... at least in the Black community. I can only hope that Whites as well will watch the special in large numbers also.

With race continuing to be our national Achilles Heel, perhaps there needs to be regularly scheduled television programming dealing with the subject from all perspectives. All across the county grassroots organizations have sprung up and are making efforts at bringing people of different races and ethnicities together, and a local group is in the forefront of that effort.

Under the able leadership of Kasey Greer, the Heights Community Congress has been doing a magnificent job of initiating dialogue around what can be a difficult, touchy and oftentimes avoided subject. Last month the organization had Cleveland Municipal Judge Ronald Adrine moderate a discussion titled, "Perception vs. Reality: How Do We Talk About Race, Class and Diversity in Our Own Community" at the North Olmsted Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Sessions like this should be taped and aired so that a wider audience can be reached.

Back to Barack Obama: By becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee in the November presidential election (something no Black would have dared to think possible — at least not in this lifetime) he has not only given America the chance to live up to its stated ideals, he’s also given us an opportunity to confront the subject of race head-on. His candidacy changes so much in America, and possibly opens so many dialogue doors, but we still have to step through them.

Clearly, knotty issues such as race can’t be solved unless they are openly discussed. I encourage every person who reads this to watch both parts of the CNN special and if you are White don’t be shy about asking your Black friends or co-workers any questions the program might bring to mind — they won’t be offended, and, in fact, they’ll be thrilled. It’s a start.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com
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