I’m pissed off at this show and not because of what everyone may think. As black people we already know about poverty, discrimination, equality, the list can go on and on, that’s not what pissed me off last night, it pisses me off everyday, it’s our reality we know it! What got to me was where is the substance, where were the “Whys” Why does this happened? To showcase the same old story where poor old me can’t get ahead because I’m black was so redundant. For instance the single dad with the two beautiful intelligent children. If I had to guess I would think he’s in his late 30’s early 40’s. Why is this man contemplating homelessness once again? I think he said this is the 10th time they had to move and the 5th school his children will be attending. Why??? No one ever asked or answered that question. All he can say is that he takes care of his kids which is admirable but it was never once expressed as to why this man does not have any stability. Is it the way he was raised? What is his background? What causes us as a people to strive for less? Is it generational failure? If so, why?? It is not enough for me to watch a show geared at the state of my people and show me what I already know. This man is like every other man or woman I grew up with and seen in the ghetto, but why, why does it happen to us and not to white people??
The other part that infuriated me was the Rand family and their adoration for their white grandfather. What the Hell??? While I admired the closeness of this family and how they were able to trace a good part of their history in the same breath I was mortified at how they held the picture of white Grandpa so proud and said they believe their maternal black grandmother wasn’t a slave and they were in love. Helllloooooo!!! The year was 1840???what. If you were black and weren’t a slave you certainly didn’t have free reign. Best believe that freed nigga was treated just as bad. They carried on as if their grandmother being a mistress was this great love affair. So great that the families didn’t meet until nearly 150 years later. Yeah that’s a great love affair, something the maternal grandmother was proud of or not! I’m still trying to wonder what was the reason for showcasing this part.
The one part that didn’t piss me off about the Rand family was the husband and wife team who have six kids and own a construction company. Bravo! Great to hear this, but what I think America both black and white could have benefited from was to hear HOW did they get this?? It was mentioned the business was started out by her Dad, but how did he do it. A black man in the let’s say in the 1950’s or 60’s starting his own company, How?? What did he have to do to right? Was he given a chance? And there it goes, how do some of us succeed is it by chance? Does someone give us one? or do we accidentally come across a good situation? Is it hard work and persistence? Are we at the right place at the right time? What is it? And God only knows I wish this show would of told us. Is chance what differentiates us from them? Are they given more chances than us? Honestly in my line of work I would say yes. And this is the exact message that needed to come across. I got more out of Michael Eric Dyson on Anderson Cooper than I did on this show. I so wished that Soledad O’Brien and CNN would have given the American audience a more substantive true look at the African American as oppose to the same woe is me saga. I’m tired of that. Next time show me more, give me more, we’re thirsty for it. Tonight is part 2 of this series and I pray that the segments help us all understand how it really is to be Black in America.
