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CNN's "Black in America" Series

bsmart avatar
bsmartbrain
1,734 views
I'm not racists and I'm sincerely all about equality, but for some reason this series has just rubbed me the wrong way and frankly I'm quite annoyed with CNN and with Soledad O'Brien, the series' reporter. One of the stories that she did, about the three black women who went shopping at a metro Atlanta Old Navy store and were then accused of shoplifting and detained for an hour and a half before the store manager and police realized that it was all a big mistake, was very one-sided. O'Brien simply relied on one account--a letter written to Gap Inc., executives from one of the women involved, as the centerpiece of her story. She did not bother to interview Gwinnett County police and seemed to imply that the police there were tolerant of this alleged case of racial profiling. So, in a counter-attack on CNN this week, Gwinnett County police, crafted a letter of disapproval of the CNN story and offered their factual version of the events that took place and also made it clear that the department did apologize for the incident--which in my opinion should be more on the hands of Gap Inc.,--and as one of Georgia's most populated and diverse counties, does not tolerate racial profiling.

Replies

45
elgordoboy avatar
elgordoboyBeach Fanatic
#27
Geo, to be a "token" you really need to be
a) not a man

b) not a white man

:floor:
And Jewish too I presume.
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#28
Now... getting back to CNN "Black in America".... I do find it kind of ironic, as well, that this series it coming right before the Election with the first Black candidate from a major party, and, although newsworthy, I am suspect of the timing.....


Just after the Wright scandal Obama gave a marvelous speech on race relations and if I recall one of its premises was that we need to start to look at racial issues honestly and openly. But yet I get the impression from a few of the posts in this thread that folks feel there is some sort of conspiracy going on with the timing of CNN's airing of this segment- like we are being duped or something. :blink: I don't get it. We are looking at the first viable African American presidential candidate ever. Doesn't the timing make perfect sense?

But regardless-
I have read that Soledad has been working on this segment for 1.5 years so her timing might actually be rather serendipitous...

G
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#29
And Jewish too I presume.

I'm 0 for 3 then...

:lol:
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#30
I think we just need a black, lesbian, handicapped, blind, deaf, single parent, low income, jewish, immigrant to accurately give a "minority" opinion.
elgordoboy avatar
elgordoboyBeach Fanatic
#31
I think we just need a black, lesbian, handicapped, blind, deaf, single parent, low income, jewish, immigrant to accurately give a "minority" opinion.
Illegal immigrant.
SantiagoBeach Fanatic
#32
Are you sure? I heard Whoopi owns a house in Seaside. Or was it Rosemary? ;-)

There goes the neighborhood
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#33
they're just selling products
DominoesBeach Lover
#34
A Joke

I was born in the 70's and black suppression is the #2 myth behind global warming. I went to public high school and a person of color had so much more opportunity to attend private schools tuition free. Granted I was valedictorian and went to UF, but it is annoying that the African-American with a 24 ACT score could get a free ride to Georgia Tech. They have no excuse not to excel in the US. The most suppressed person in the US is a white male. I think my great, great, great, great, great, grandfather may have had something to do with slavery, but my child should not deal with affirmative action. BTW, they should be glad to have been shipped out of the currently war-torn HIV-infested continent that we just sent $50 billion of futile aid because the US has so much "extra money" to give to impoverished countries.
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#35
😱
elgordoboy avatar
elgordoboyBeach Fanatic
#36
Yeah.. it says "A Joke" where is the punchline?
elgordoboy avatar
elgordoboyBeach Fanatic
#37
I was born in the 70's and black suppression is the #2 myth behind global warming. I went to public high school and a person of color had so much more opportunity to attend private schools tuition free. Granted I was valedictorian and went to UF, but it is annoying that the African-American with a 24 ACT score could get a free ride to Georgia Tech. They have no excuse not to excel in the US. The most suppressed person in the US is a white male. I think my great, great, great, great, great, grandfather may have had something to do with slavery, but my child should not deal with affirmative action. BTW, they should be glad to have been shipped out of the currently war-torn HIV-infested continent that we just sent $50 billion of futile aid because the US has so much "extra money" to give to impoverished countries.
I forgot to quote in my previous remark, and I will continue to wait for the punchline though I don't know how you are going to make this humorous.

Edited

DominoesBeach Lover
#38
No punchline

The title "A Joke" is to indicate that the existence of racism in this country is just that: A Joke. The only thing that perpetuates it is the media, Democratic party, and affirmative action. I have employed several African-Americans at my business and I don't care what color you are as long as you work. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned white guilt. I have no guilt. I am not going to apologize for overcoming my obstacles of not being a minority and not getting government assistance to go to a private university. This entire threat is "A Joke" much like the areas new unified slogan "The Beach." Sorry to state the truth and shock the pants off the 30-A Elites.
DominoesBeach Lover
#39
Secondly

Just watch the movie "The Last King of Scotland" and you will see what I meant about being better off in the US vs. Africa. There are mass killings in a large number of African countries. The brutality of the militaristic regimes in Africa is appaling, but the people there put up with it. The fact that HIV runs rampant despite educational efforts regarding safe sex. They still have witch doctors that people trust over modern medicine and believe that a photograph will take away your soul (per a friend who just returned from a mission trip). Our goverment has just tossed away $50 billion that could be used here that will not even put a dent in the problems that are ongoing in Africa. I guess this suggestion is also a shocking revelation to the 30-A'ers as well.
scooterbug44 avatar
scooterbug44SoWal Expert
#40
Where to start

Just watch the movie "The Last King of Scotland" and you will see what I meant about being better off in the US vs. Africa. There are mass killings in a large number of African countries. The brutality of the militaristic regimes in Africa is appaling, but the people there put up with it. The fact that HIV runs rampant despite educational efforts regarding safe sex. They still have witch doctors that people trust over modern medicine and believe that a photograph will take away your soul (per a friend who just returned from a mission trip). Our goverment has just tossed away $50 billion that could be used here that will not even put a dent in the problems that are ongoing in Africa. I guess this suggestion is also a shocking revelation to the 30-A'ers as well.

People don't exactly "put up with" brutal militaristic regimes - it's sort of a not having an option scenario! If you paid much attention to African politics and the regimes (outside of the movies), you'd know that the people who do stand up to them end up dead - even in elections the West is supposedly monitoring!

HIV runs rampant and rates are increasing in the US, especially in the South.

$50 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to Iraq spending.

A belief in alternative medicine over science/modern medicine is not something you only find in Africa.

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