I watched Black in America 1 and 2. I also sat through part of Latino In America and yet I still tuned in to watch Black in America 3 – Almighty Debt. TWiB Blogger Zerlina Maxwell received an early copy of the latest installment of the series so although I did watch it beforehand I decided to watch it with the masses when it premiered.  I jokingly tweeted “Watching BIA 3 again because apparently I hate my eyes” but as one particular great white hope said “A lot truth is said in jest.” Having now watched Black in America twice I’ll try to paint a picture of last nights installment in the “This is how the Negroes work” series.

Black In America: Almighty Debt was a “documentary” (Soledad’s words, not mine) which centered on the financial situation of Negroes. It covered a Church that also had a credit counseling company, 2 families who love Jesus a great, great deal, and a kid who apparently wants to be a (bad) actor and his struggle not to be in debt when he goes to college (I know, lot’s of college students have debt…but are they Black in America?) For 2 hours we got to watch the different trials and tribulations of these Black Americans interspersed with sermons and gospel interludes.

Besides the fact that this “documentary” was filled with badly edited faux tension (We watched with bated breath as young-bad-actor-dude received a letter saying he was accepted to college and then one that said he wasn’t in the same day. What was he to do!?) and stupid decisions (a family who couldn’t afford their house, and had the money to move stayed because they were really attached to the house. Can’t pay your mortgage? Who cares! You’re attached!) Throw in a drug dealing big brother, a crying, clapping, praying Negro singing “hmmmmmm”, some old school gender issues (the wife of crying, clapping, praying Negro was trying to make sure that he knew he was still the “head” of the household and “her man”) and some major down playing of significant points (they spoke way more about “over-spending” than actual historical points about wealth and blacks in America and the unemployment rate) and you have the magic that is CNN’s Black In America.

And by the way, that’s my issue here. It’s CNN’s Black in America.

If this show was called “One really ridiculous family in America who should look into their finances way more” I’d accept that. If it was “There’s some negroes out there that  be Cryin’ and Prayin’” I’d accept that. This documentary is called Black in America yet in three installments it still hasn’t touched anything in the “Black America” that I know. When you take on titles like “Black”  and present them to the masses you have a responsibility. Black Entertainment Television wouldn’t be nearly as annoying and dangerous if it was “Ignant Shit TV.”  In a country that has constantly tried to categorize Blacks, often in very negative ways, throwing “Black” in your title opens you up to very reasonable scrutiny from anyone who lives in the world that you are claiming to discuss.

CNN, one of the top places for news had a documentary sprinkled with lines like “The Church reaches every part of Black life!” No it doesn’t. For some Black’s absolutely. But far from all of us. I know quite a few godless blacks who will readily let you know that is the case. BIA3 spoke with a daughter of one of the families who was spending hundreds of dollars on clothing a month when her family’s house was going into foreclosure. Upon being asked about that she responded with “God will make a way.” Really? You don’t find it strange that Soledad O’Brien is at your house? You don’t think “Eh, perhaps I should rethink my actions because fricken’ CNN is asking me questions about my families finances?” Was CNN aware that lot’s of Black families who are struggling with bills don’t have kids spending money ridiculously? Some kids get jobs and HELP their parents. Weird, I know.  Families that couldn’t pay their mortgage were paying their tithes though. It was a picture of Blackness that I know too many folks don’t live. But on the front lines of Blacks representation in media we have this. If I weren’t black and I was a bit close minded (i.e. a hell of a lot of people in America) I would’ve walked away from this special learning:

“Blacks are religious idiots who overspend and can’t pay their bills. Oh, and apparently they have a little lightskinned-ed lady narrate their day.”

Listen, I know its hard. For a long time the media didn’t have to acknowledge Blacks at all unless it was concerning rape or murder. Now they’re trying and they aren’t getting it right. But they aren’t’ really trying. Until the definition of “Black” is examined we will continue to have piss-poor representations of us all of the media and very annoyed Blacks who feel they’re just not apart of the discussion. Ever.