i agree with ta-nehisi that the topic is too broad. i feel the program barely scratched the surface.

also, one likes to think that people who don't identify themselves as african-americans are going to tune in to such a program to learn something, but i'm skeptical.

does anyone else feel that it's almost sad we still have to do shows like this? black folk have been a part of this country since forever, yet we're still prodded, probed and misunderstood. does this program feed into the novelty fascination of black people in the US? i'm not sure.

About "Black in America", I caught an hour of it last night, and you're not missing much. It's rife with reductionism/oversimplification and the age old mantra in discussions of problems in the black community (and yes, CNN sees only monoliths in that community)- that all its problems can be solved by pulling up bootstraps, putting on ties, and jumping the broomstick. Reminded me of the Moynihan Report and -during the weak intros to the segments that show a goofy guy slanging goofy rhymes, Spike Lee's Bamboozled. The show is great, though, if you want a reason to get aggravated. (I'm annoyed just thinking about it). Actually, maybe you should watch it, because I hope someone will respond with a proper critique! Something that speaks to CNN trying to act transcendant but serving up the same old BS.

CNN's program is undoubtedly superficial and at times frustratingly self-congratulatory. Before I point something out, though, I should say that I'm not trying to be a spelling snob or a prig. However, the "there" in "I take it as a bad sign that these guys basically got on the 2-3 train and took a 30-minute ride Uptown to go and do there reporting," should be "their".

if you need eight hours to make a documentary about jazz, how the fuck are you going to talk about the people who invented jazz in just a few hours?

I think you nailed it Tyler. This isn't so much about examining what it may mean to be black in America as it is to present a single package for CNN viewers (more specifically, white viewers who rarely come in contact with black people).

I was just watching two pundits discuss the meaning of a poll where Senator Obama is leading Senator McCain in three of four age demographics. The only demo McCain carries is the 65 and older group. The host asked if it might be difficult for older voters to vote for a black man for President. The Republican pundit said he didn't think race had anything to do with it; he just thought older voters are more conservative and less likely to embrace somebody like Obama.

I wonder how many more networks will air their own "Getting to Know Black Folks" specials as we head to November?

(Also, I didn't know dude (Fryer) was that young.)

Obviously its not gonna capture everything but wow at the reflexive hating.

Have CNN broadcast that for at least 2 hours a day until it finally sinks in with bigoted people, causing them to stop bolstering their self-worth by denigrating people of color.