CNNs Black in America w/ Soledad O'brien: July 19-27

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

*standing up*

My name is RD and I am guilty of this.

*covering face*

OK, seriously, I do still refer to men and women, in coversation, as "girl" and "boy." I don't know why. In conversation, as a quick retort, I usually spout "Girl/boy, please!" I don't mean it was a means to belittle any man or woman, but it's just force of habit. I have been making a meaningful attempt to correct it since a guy I was conversing with "checked" me on it. I didn't even realize it until he got all loose and stated, "I'm not a boy. I'm a man." For a moment, I was confused as hell. Once he told me what I said, I apologized and began to make a conscious effort to correct it.

I don't think it's a subconscious means to put someone or myself down. I find that lots of folks that grew up in N.O. still refer to men/women as boys/girls just out of habit. Of course, out of respect for elders, we would never use those terms in reference to them. But if we are the same age, expect to be called a boy/girl. Another big one is to call them chicks/dudes.

I only use those words in very informal conversation and if anyone were to ever express discomfort with being referred to as such, I'd make every effort to correct it. It truly isn't intended to offend anyone.

I generally don't, either, unless it is accompanied by a condescending tone. My N.O. friend still says "boy/girl" a lot, too.

Only black men correct me when I've jokingly said "boy, please."

Random "guy" encounter:
I tend not to respond to people who say "hey guys." When they wonder why I'm ignoring them I say "oh...I'm a woman so I knew you weren't talking to me." That makes some people mad, especially men who think that male is the gendered standard. My friend and I had 2 black men try to holla at us at an event. The men prefaced their pick up lines with "hey, guys, my buddy and I have a question." I immediately said "oh, you're talking to us? well, are you ladies doing alright today?" The guy was like "what are you talking about? Are you calling us ladies?" I said "are you calling us men?" The dude was mad and said that everyone's a guy because male is the standard, but not everyone's a lady because female isn't the standard. I guess I was supposed to be thrilled at that male-centric logic. Instead, I saw that it was hopeless and said "have a great day" and walked away. While my friend (forever the patient diplomat--eventhough we're equally feminist) stayed behind to explain to his slow behind what just happened. Too bad she also had to listen to the rest of their horrendous pick up lines.

This actually fits the topic in a very patterns-of-behavior way.

[LRobinson]

I've been guilty of saying 'you guys' when talking to a group of women. I was called on it and have tried hard to eliminate it from my vocabulary.

[knight_shadow]

*bump*

Did anyone watch Black in America 2? I have it DVR'd but haven't watched yet. Trying to see what to expect.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/black.in.america/

[Penguin08]

I watched the on last night, "Leaders of Tommorow" and it was pretty inspiring to see so many young people doing productive things.

[Little32]

Am I alone in not having watched any of these?

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Little32

Am I alone in not having watched any of these?

Not alone. There have been parts of it that do interest me (the segments on black elite). But for some reason, I'm just fearful of being sucked into "black people 101" type situations if I say I've watched it at work.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by Little32

Am I alone in not having watched any of these?

Nope. I have not watched any of them. Someone threatened to take my "black card" last week when they found out I didn't watch them.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Nope. I have not watched any of them. Someone threatened to take my "black card" last week when they found out I didn't watch them.

Lol. And that is just it. I don't know what CNN is going to tell me about being black in America. :neutral:

[knight_shadow]

Bumpity bump.

This popped up on my T_witter. They're showing "Black In America: Almight Debt." Here are the upcoming times:

CNN Thu, Oct 21 9:00 PM
CNN Fri, Oct 22 12:00 AM
CNN Fri, Oct 22 3:00 AM
CNN Sat, Oct 23 8:00 PM
CNN Sat, Oct 23 11:00 PM

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/bla...iref=allsearch

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Bumpity bump.

This popped up on my T_witter. They're showing "Black In America: Almight Debt." Here are the upcoming times:

CNN Thu, Oct 21 9:00 PM
CNN Fri, Oct 22 12:00 AM
CNN Fri, Oct 22 3:00 AM
CNN Sat, Oct 23 8:00 PM
CNN Sat, Oct 23 11:00 PM

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/bla...iref=allsearch

Thanks for giving me a chance to vent.

I might not watch this show because the commercials that aire on CNN are annoying. O'Brien asks "is debt a bigger problem than racism?" Seriously, CNN, is that what every topic involving Black people boils down to? The simplistic question of "how does this compare to racism?" One of the clips for the commercial (I'm sure they edited it to grab our attention for the commercial) responds to O'Brien's question with "racism does not stop Black folks from saving money." Ummm...duh...but the income gap that keeps Americans living paycheck to paycheck is highly correlated with race and therefore not divorced from the structure of race and class inequalities in this country. And the average American (the average American is also white) lives paycheck to paycheck while Blacks disproportionately live paycheck to paycheck. This capitalistic society perpetuates lower wage labor and high consumerism.

Going against that cycle requires a different type of socialization that the average American is not accustomed to and that's especially the case for racial and ethnic minorities. I always tell Black folks to put even $20 in their savings (or the "savings stash" at the crib) if they can. That's better than zero savings and those who can't save $20 "better be" spending that last $20 on an absolute necessity rather than a meal at McDonalds or a bottle of Cognac (yuck @ brandy).

And, no, being a broke ass college student/graduate student/young professional is not the same as being a broke ass Black person who is entrenched in poverty without the educational and networking outlets to potentially rise the socioeconomic ladder.

Here are other commercials/previews that are a bit different than the ones that I have seen on CNN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsY49Rd7Q14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2i4UrRgXRI

[knight_shadow]

I hadn't seen the commercials, but I just watched the links you posted. It looks like that was purely for shock value. The previous shows were put together well, so I'll likely give this one a chance.

I don't know how I feel about the religious angle, though. I wish they would have contacted a black economist or something (perhaps they did and just aren't showing it in the previews).

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I hadn't seen the commercials, but I just watched the links you posted. It looks like that was purely for shock value. The previous shows were put together well, so I'll likely give this one a chance.

I don't know how I feel about the religious angle, though. I wish they would have contacted a black economist or something (perhaps they did and just aren't showing it in the previews).

It was definitely shock value. LOL. "Black in America: The Almighty Debt" is attention grabbing enough.

The religious angle is an attempt to address the institutions that are most prevalent in the Black community, in general. I think they also interviewed a Black economist (or some equivalent) and he may have been the person whose clip they used in response to "is debt a bigger problem than racism."

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

It was definitely shock value. LOL. "Black in America: The Almighty Debt" is attention grabbing enough.

The religious angle is an attempt to address the institutions that are most prevalent in the Black community, in general. I think they also interviewed a Black economist (or some equivalent) and he may have been the person whose clip they used in response to "is debt a bigger problem than racism."

According to the clip, it was Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries who said that.

ETA: His Wikipedia page. Nothing on his "wiki-resume" is economics-related. It pretty much focuses on his ministry.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

According to the clip, it was Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries who said that.

ETA: His Wikipedia page. Nothing on his "wiki-resume" is economics-related. It pretty much focuses on his ministry.

See...I've been hoodwinked and bamboozled thinking it was a financial professional and not a reverend. Go on somewhere, CNN.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And, no, being a broke ass college student/graduate student/young professional is not the same as being a broke ass Black person who is entrenched in poverty without the educational and networking outlets to potentially rise the socioeconomic ladder.

Well said.