Black In America

Race and racism in America is a very touchy subject and, like many sensitive topics, an extremely important one. While many of us have opinions and questions about racism, it is not something we talk about freely because of it’s grave history in our country. Racism in America is a very paradoxical subject, it is a part of what made us into the great nation we are today, but is also a representation of our country’s greatest crimes against humanity for 200-plus years. While it is possible to have an open discussion about racism and race, it is extremely difficult because you can never speak for another race of people, and you don’t want to put those people on the spot and act like they are the sole spokespeople for their race. An open discussion is also not the correct forum for discussing the most sensitive of issues as you don’t want to offend or allow somebody to paralyze their peer dignity by voicing opinions in inappropriate taste. For these reasons, the T.V. report Black In America is the perfect platform to address one of America’s most burdening issues.
Black In America is a captivating news report. Delivered by a black newscaster, it goes into the lives of different black people from very diversified backgrounds. While the focus of the report claims to be black men, it really is a report that transcends the barriers of gender and age. The report was very clear and specific in general, and a lot of the points they made shed light into the crisis of black people, in general, not being as advantaged in society as people of other races. There were several points in the report (though more like suggestions), however, that were utterly ridiculous. One example is when they were interviewing a twenty-five year old man in prison. He claimed that he didn’t know that an education could lead to a successful life. He repeatedly stated that if he had known he would’ve chosen that path. I find this to be a rather blatant attempt by the prisoner to defend himself, even though nobody is questioning his morality, and that he trying to place the blame on ignorance or his background rather than his effort. I find it ludicrous to believe that nobody never told him that education could get him somewhere in life. It is true that I am an advantaged, white teenager, but at what point do we draw the line between opportunity and blatant ignorance / making things up? I do fully agree that education opportunities for blacks are fewer and generally of less quality, however, and this troubles me. But it is possible to become anything you want in America. Another part of the report that really bugged me was when they were talking about fatherhood. The report was quick to point out the interviewed husband/father’s shortcomings as a parent, they didn’t make much deal of the fact that his wife was out and about having babies with other men. While I don’t condone either parent’s actions, to suggest that one was more troubilizing that the other shows a shortcoming in perception and equal reporting. It is probably true that black men are less around their families than black women, but the example they chose did nothing to justify this point. While the report was chock-full of facts, two really stood out to me. The first was that 75% of blacks felt they were treated unfairly compared to only 44% of whites feeling the same way. Clearly there is some disparity in the perceived difficulties that blacks face in America. The other interesting fact that was shared in the report was that black men hold just 5% of management jobs in America. This is a shockingly low number, and clearly an issue. How are black people in America going to become more equal in society if they aren’t given the opportunities?