American Values Alliance | Practical voice for progressive valuesAmerican Values Alliance | Practical voice for progressive valuesThis week, CNN launched its Black in America series--a four-hour program that focused on women, families, men, work, religion, crime, health and life. It tried to offer a balanced perspective on being of Black African descent. I've watched it and they did a pretty good job and I believe it is certainly worth watching. Moreso, I think it is a topic worth discussing--not the ways we usually find ourselves discussing it with Blacks talking to other Blacks and whites talking with other whites or not at all. As we develop the ability to talk--really talk--about areas of historical difference and demographic strife, I think we stand to gain in some unexpected ways.
I'm offering an opportunity for us to get together, all of us, and talk about what we saw and what it meant to us. Not a chance for anyone to have their points of view changed, I think you're all fine the way you are. Just to take our points of view out, turn them over in the sunshine and see what they really look like.
Given who's out there on the blogosphere, I'm very excited about this opportunity to meet/discuss.
If you haven't already seen it, the CNN special runs again tomorrow, Saturday, at 8 and 10pm or you can download episodes on 
(about $1.99 each or 2.99 for both, I think). Even if you can't catch the program, come along. This isn't school and there won't be a quiz. Several Indiana bloggers are sharing this invitation with their readers. We'll gather and see what emerges.
Here are the details:
Saturday, 2 August
11:00 - 1:00 or so (lunch)
Paradise Bakery
9510 A N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN, 46260
Phone (Paradise): 317/581-9500
Phone (Lalita): 317 402 2339
Free Wi-Fi available
Paradise Bakery is on the west side of the street and the entrance to the rear parking is just south of the building.
Please call 317 402 2339 or post your RSVP here so I'll know how many tables to take over.
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RE: a comment I made this morning-
After a little sleep I think I can better explain my belief that, unfortunately, I think there is such a thing as "white privilege". I think the CNN special almost reinforced that belief through the statistics stated. My kids, even though they are multi-racial, don't have to worry as much about becoming one of the disproportionate statistics as much as other minorities do because they are a lighter color (Most strangers would never guess my youngest is half Latino). (Which brings to mind a discussion in where several black friends and coworkers and I were sitting around discussing how some of them felt that, by virtue of being darker they experienced more prejudice than lighter skinned minorities.) It's not that I think they're privileged to be "white(er)", but that they're less likely to become victims of racism (specifically talking about racism- my oldest has often born the brunt of other prejudices as a result of his often rainbow colored hair.)
~eh, it's just been something that's been rolling around my head since the drive home this morning so I thought I'd see if I could make more sense of it. (Lord knows I hate to seem like I'm not making any sense.)
CNN Uses Racial Extremist as Source for Its 'Black in America' Series
Suddenly, white people are fascinated by race. Good for them. Good for all of us?
Thought I'd share one more thing by Debra Dickerson before we meet up tomorrow.
I'm headed to bed- see you all tomorrow!
She needs to quit.
That's how the discussion got kicked off on One Drop Rule's message board July 2nd. The person accused of needing to cease and desist was CNN reporter Soledad O'Brien who spent the past year working on a documentary for the cable news network entitled "Black In America" which airs this week. And the quitting in question was in regards to her black status. ...
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
I wll join you Saturday 2 August, 11am.
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G. A. Borden, II
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
Matt Spurlock, CMRP
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
I liked this attempt at bringing to light the issues that have long been swept under the rug and ignored by mainstream media/public. That nagging cynic that sits on my shoulder keeps telling me that this series would most likely have never been given the attention it has if it weren't for Obama running for office.
A question for you as a successful black woman~
Many of my black male friends and ex's have often talked about beign accused of "passing" as white and how those accusations have affected them adversely. To date I can't ever recall having heard any of my black female friends or ex's say the same thing. Do you think it's more common for males to be labeled as "wanna-be-white" than it is for women? After hearing the statistic on success and popularity among black students stated in part two it seems (to me) that to be successful in school might carry more of a social burden to young black men than it may to young black women.
I'll bribe my 13 year old into babysitting the 2 year old for a while before I head out.
Hope you can catch a catnap otherwise you'll be napping at the table...and I wouldn't trust some of my fellow bloggers not to put napkin hats on you.
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Lalita L. Amos, CRC
http://www.totalteamsolutions.com
http://totalteam.blogspot.com
I may be tired as hell since I'll get off work at 8 that morning, but I'm planning on making it.
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