“I think for Starbucks there was something — well, brave isn’t quite the right word — but there was something aggressively interested in challenging people to have a conversation who were not the kind of people who generally have these conversations,” said former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien.
Tag Archives: Soledad Obrien
Soledad O’Brien on Starbucks and Race
Why did CNN Black in America feature Tim Wise as the expert on race?
Last night Tim Wise was the featured expert on CNN Black in America, some wondered aloud and on Twitter why was he chosen for this role? Was there a a black qualified speciilist in the field of colorism/race available. Read the linked story and share your thoughts.
CNN: Pictures Don’t Lie-Takes a look at Ernest Withers
Tomorrow night CNN will air Pictures Don’t Lie at 8PM. During the Civil Rights era Ernest Withers chronicled the activities through his photography. He had access to all the key players and he move easily throughout their meetings. They trusted him, but last year it was revealed that he was an FBI informant. His family disputes this claim and many survivors of the movement find it hard to believe that he could have been a “snitch.” Tomorrow night Soledad O’Brien takes a look at the Ernest Withers story and I will be watching.
CNN Almighty Debt Restates the Problem, but offers few solutions
Last night I watched the CNN Special Almighty Debt. This is the latest of their Black in America series, but what was immediately apparent is debt is not a racial issue it is an economic issue. It is an issue that crosses the racial divide. One of the couple’s profiled in the piece had not paid their mortgage in 26 months and they were attempting to renegotiate the terms of their mortgage. Their mortgage payment was $4000 per month. They had been a two income household and she lost her job, and that is when the house of cards fell apart. They had all the trappings of wealth, but nothing to back up the façade. They talked of faith and belief in God, but it was as if God was their Genie and he was going to make everything alright. I was impressed with Pastor DeForest Soaries whose church was profiled in the special. He is committed to teaching his congregants debt reduction principles. It was also interesting to see that the couple with the mortgage issues had not attended the debt reduction program, but she promised to attend once she got through this situation. The irony is maybe if they had attended they might not have gotten in so deep. The takeaway from the special is that times are hard, jobs are hard to find, it is hard to finance a college education and lastly blacks are hardly the only ones in this situation.
CNN Special: Almighty Debt
On Thursday October 21st at 9PM CNN will air it’s latest installment of Black in America. This one will deal with debt. I can remember in my younger more foolish days I lived a life financed by debt. I never really looked at the totality of my debt. I just felt I was doing fine if I could meet my minimums, but when I finally looked at it in it’s entirety I knew I had to change or I would be in debt the rest of my life. I look forward to the special because it will showcase some churches that are addressing the debt issue from the pulpit, and back in the day that simply was not done. So I encourage you to watch as I will be watching and posting about this very important program.
CNN Black in America 2 Did Not Disappoint
Last year I watched Black in America and I came away asking the question “is being black really that bad?” The special painted our existance as being virtually hopeless. So tonight I approached this next installment with more than a little skeptisim. The first portion profiled children from Brooklyn who were taken to South Africa to see how people lived that had less than they did and their reaction to this journey was powerful. we saw children truly blossom as they learned to serve versus being served. You really saw some true character development. We also black children at a high school in Conneticut that sends 100% of their graduates to 4 year institutes, and lastly we saw children of the privlileged learning how to network. It was great to let the majority see there is real diversity within the race and not every child in the community aspires to be a rapper or go to the NBA. There were children profiled that do have these aspirations and that is alright, but they do not represent all the children and that is what made this show truly special. I commend CNN for devoting this kind of time to this issue. for 3 hours tonight CNN talked to all of America about black people and it is refreshing that the conversation showcased different groups within the race. Some will say it simply is not enough but I will say it is another step in the right direction and I appreciate the effort.