I don't think anything is being done to correct the lack of color in the media today, the presidents mean well but Major heads of network and newspapers dont belive it is an issue.

I can't wait to watch Ms. Obrien's series on Wednesday. I'm hoping that more will be said in favor or black men I am scared, the segment will again cast the shadow of what black man can't do or should do. We need a segment that shows what black men are Doing.

Sent by Ron F. Ward | 4:38 PM ET | 07-22-2008

Yeah, the Mocha Moms slammed her. I will have to watch the documentary first to decide if I agree or not. It was clear that you were the only one that had a rapport with Soledad while the others seemed to question her authenticity and if she even has the right to do a story on such an issue.

Sent by Earl | 4:20 PM ET | 07-23-2008

I agree with Earl. I definitely felt the "who are you to question us" vibe especially from Dannette Tucker. I don't think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that she knew Soledad's "bone-fides" with regard to her ethnicity. If she (Dannette) did know, maybe that would have allayed her discomfort.

Sent by JR in Cincinnati | 9:49 PM ET | 07-23-2008

This is a follow up post to my previous comment on Soledad Obrien's visit with the Mocha Moms. I 150% agree with the Mocha Moms and I think the series is a disgrace to African Americans in this country. I believe that we would have been better off without this series being aired. It's more of the same old stuff that we see in every medium of society and does not enhance our perception.

I will not be watching the series on the Black Man tonight. Soledad proves herself to be an outsider and an impostor the way the various subjects are covered in the series. Her tone was very condescending and discordant. None of the issues are unique to the black community and to isolate them as such implies that these behaviors are endemic to our race. They are not. Crime, drugs, single family households, divorce all have a common root of which is irrelevant to race. Will there be a follow-on segment discussing white America's problems with poverty, education attainment, divorce, single mothers, drugs, AIDS, mental illness, etc.? They have the same issues and worse, but the stigma gets attached to us. That is dead wrong and unfair.

The fundamental issue is that this country has never dealt with the legacy of slavery. Many of the issues between the races find their root in slavery and since we were the ones enslaved, we bear the brunt of it. I believe Jolene said it best; you can't put me in a category as a black person. Like Danette said, we want the same things as you. You can't profile black America because we are not a monolithic people and any attempt to profile us will be incomplete by definition. Furthermore, the notion that we can be profiled in and of itself is extremely disrespectful and offensive.

The fact is, we are people and are subject to the same forces as every other race. I do not see how this commemorates the 45th anniversary of Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. The work that Tavis Smiley has done with "The Covenant with Black America" does more in this respect. In fact, I would much prefer Tavis or yourself to convey the message if CNN wanted it done right.

This is a major disappointment and I know from speaking to family and friends that I am not the only one outraged. When does it stop? The show Black/White that aired a couple years ago was another ill attempt to look at race in this country. This falls in to the same category.

The best discussion on race so far has been by Barack Obama. It is untouched what his candidacy has done for this country. We as a people are DOING it. We have and are excelling in EVERY arena.

Sent by Earl | 10:33 AM ET | 07-24-2008

After viewing the Black in America segment titled "Black Women and the Family," I'd have to say I agree with the Mocha Moms' assessment, especially Ms. Tucker's viewpoint. O'Brien repeatedly mentioned that the series would focus on the "spaces" between the statistics. But it did not. Black women are starting businesses at an astronomical rate, but she doesn't show us that. Many single mothers are raising successful children, but the focus was on the struggles of the never-married mother of five. I wanted to hear more about the Rand family, a married couple with six successful children. I wanted to know more about the lives of single, professional, homeowning black women. It wasn't to be.

Tonight, the focus is on black men. That should be really interesting.

Sent by AB | 11:23 AM ET | 07-24-2008

Yes the Mocha Moms were too critical of Soledad. And I only listened to that segment of the show because I saw Soledad was joining them to talk about the documentary "Black in America."

I've already seen a preview of the CNN program over the weekend, so I thought it will be worth watching. And yes, I'm apprehensive about those shows that dissect my race or heritage as a social experiment.

But I felt the Mocha Moms just came out swinging - gosh, I thought to myself "do they know Soledad is black (or biracial)?" Yes, the Mocha Moms should ask her critical questions about the documentary but I felt they should also have an open mind and WATCH the program before taken her to task.

Sent by Moji | 12:20 PM ET | 07-24-2008

Yesterday I listened to the Mocha Moms segment w/ Soledad O'Brien that aired earlier this week after hearing Michel discuss the listener feedback the segment generated.

I loved Dannette's response to Soledad that her life as a single mom is not for entertainment, which is what the CNN program and programs like that amount to.

I thought it was interesting how Soledad kept referring to the program as a "documentary" as if in someway calling it a documentary gives the program more authenticity and legitimacy.

I also found it striking that Soledad used the term "spaces" to describe those "successful" stories in the Black community that go underreported. To me, the word "spaces" implies a "small empty area", like a closet or a shelf where you would put something that you don't need too often. It's like saying the Black Community occupies this massive place where all hell is breaking loose, but within all that dark and mysterious chaos there is some light. I don't think that the success that occurs in the Black community occurs in "spaces". It occurs in full view for all to see -- if they want to see. The problem is that America has not wanted to acknowledge Black success -- since the beginning of its conception. That is why I am glad to see a ground-swell of Black women and men on the web and radio voicing their distaste for and weariness of this incessant stereotypical programming.

Moreover, for those listeners who commented that because Soledad is a person of color the Mocha Moms should have been more gracious and had more understanding for what the CNN "documentary" was trying to accomplish, I ask - "Since when does person's racial or ethnic makeup make him or her immune to being critiqued?"

I would have loved for TMM to ask Soledad that since we are all so well versed in the problems and statistics that spell "doom and gloom" in the Black community, why doesn't CNN dedicate four hours solely to discussing and spotlighting those solutions and individuals that are having success in alleviating some of these problems? For example, programs that are reducing the teen pregnancy rate, or improving high school graduation rates, improving employment rates, helping families to stay intact, or helping to reduce crime and recidivism. Do these programs and individuals not exist anywhere in America?

Why can't CNN have a whole 4-hours dedicated to JUST the "successes"?

Perhaps if we focused more on the successes, while not portraying them as some exceptional, improbable, non-repeatable feat, the successes would serve as real models that can be implemented in other communities or on a wider scale. Like the Black educator up in Harlem said (and I believe it was on the TMM program) - that in order to have a real effect in the Harlem community he needs to expand his school program from serving only 2% of the children in Harlem to 10%. We need to know that these programs with a proven record of accomplishment exist so that we can support them -- with our time and money - and to help them become the norm instead of the exceptions.

Sent by C. Robinson | 2:31 PM ET | 07-26-2008