OK I’m a little late in writing this one, but I must get some things out. Part two was a little better than part one but overall I still had some issues with this so called enlightening series.
First let me begin with what I liked about the show:
1) Corey from Queens – this segment was a true representation of what real brothas in the hood who are trying to better themselves experience. What I found most interesting and was glad this was portrayed is when Corey filled out an online application and the prospective employer’s web-site encouraged Corey to visit the location. When Corey visited the representative informed him that the company does not request visits; the catchall of this scenario was the representative who had a heavy Spanish accent. Given that this was New York I’m guessing Puerto Rican or Dominican. Being a black Puerto Rican I can tell you this man took one look at Corey and said to himself not that moreno. I bet you the manager is Puerto Rican and there’s this secret pow-wow of not hiring Blacks. This segment in what I wished was elaborated on was a true representation of cross-racism. In what some call the perceived myth of the Black/Brown issues showed it’s true colors in this segment. This segment also taught America it is better to be any color other than Black. We got whitey hating on us and now Puerto Ricans too, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
2) Kenneth Allen – the reformed addict now preacher. I hope viewers saw the contrast how this man attended what was considered a good school in terms of academia, however, in terms of moral fiber the school was a haven for character assassination. Imagine going to school for six to seven hours every day and be called everything that is of vile nature. Talk about a damaging self esteem. After finishing school he then joined the Army and need I say more. The military has been and still is one of the most racist institutions America has ever produced. I figured that out when I went to High School and the only people interested in poor Black and Puerto Rican kids was the Army and Marines. Funny the boys in “white” the Navy and Air Force never came to Walton High School in the Bronx. I know this metaphor sounds funny but isn’t it ironic that this branch of military which I believe is considered more esteemed is garnered in white and not known for recruiting minorities?? Getting back to Kenneth he experienced all of this and then went on drugs, went to jail and the rest is history. I hope white America can understand how a person can be demeaned all of their life and succumb to a numbing agent that pretends to take away all of life’s ills. I don’t condone this behavior but part of me does understand. In conclusion I was glad to see how Kenneth not only turned his life around but has made it his mission to help others. This is a true character of a man and Kenneth I commend you!
OK here are my issues with Part Two:
1) Middle Class Family from Arkansas – While I’m always happy to see fellow African Americans who moved on up like George and Weezy what I can’t stand is when they act like they’ve lost themselves. Hell George and Weezy didn’t even lose themselves. But some of us get up there and bam flavor is gone. They might even be off beat to an R&B song, I don’t know, but somehow some of us who attain a certain class become fake, stale and just plain ole full of it. This family just sickened me. First of all when the father talked about the son being arrested in a drug house for shooting someone, I don’t recall him expressing concern for his son’s safety and perhaps some police brutality, nope, boyfriend was embarrassed about the Marshalls coming to his house. I was like damm was your son OK?; weren’t you concerned about him being beat down by the cops?; about a drug dealer coming after him?; nope it was about his reputation. The killer to this piece in which I had to scream was when his son was given only five years probation. Think about black people from the hood?!?!?! 5 years PROBATION! for a shoot out in a drug house! The gun alone is time and in a drug house especially if there was crack, need I say more. Just a note, my brother was 19 years old when he committed his first offense. He robbed a shoe store with a fake gun and only got about $500. He was given 2-6 years. No shootout, no drugs. What nobody said was how this guy ended up with probation?? Remember the father didn’t want to talk about it. It was too shameful for their family 
But wait what else was this guy going to get when his mother is a judge and his brother is the prosecutor!!! Talk about hook up. Now I ain’t hating, but come on let’s keep it real. Your son got off where most black people don’t cause you had the hook up. What this segment taught is the only way we as blacks have even the remote chance of getting away with something is if a close family member is in the system. Funny how the brother prosecutes solely on the evidence. I wonder if he ran the same shit when his brother appeared in court. And that folks is the phoniness that some of us portray when we ”move on up”.
Lastly, what is up with Denise Huxtable’s husband??? Yes I know he has a name but I’m not going to give him the honor of addressing him as such. Is the dude mad because Bill Cosby hasn’t given him any voice over work on Little Bill? Is he mad because General Hospital killed off his lawyer to the mob, illegitimate black grandson to the whitest richest man in town character? What? What are you so pissed at? I swear if I didn’t know better I bet he hates Black people. I’m convinced he has a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker, I wouldn’t doubt it!
On a scale of 1 to 10 CNN Blacks in America was a 2 one for Corey and one for Kenneth. As someone noted the only thing that came out of this series was ratings for CNN. I hope the next time, if there is one, that Soledad, the Slam guy (whoever that was) and the producers think long and hard about portraying Black America, because this certainly wasn’t it!
