SOLEDAD O'BRIEN REPORTS

CNN continues its investigation of the most challenging issues facing African-Americans with "Black in America 2." Soledad O'Brien reports on people who are using ground-breaking solutions to transform the black experience.

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Teens find refuge with black cowboys

Boney D and Rabbit come from rough parts of Brooklyn. They spend their spare time at a 25-acre ranch in Queens, riding horses and hanging out with cowboys.

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Voices of black America

Newsmakers and CNN iReporters share their thoughts on race, African-American families and solutions for the black community.

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iReport: Join the conversation

From inspiring young people to tracing your family roots or developing a neighborhood garden -- share your innovative ideas to help make black America better.

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Teens find refuge with black cowboys

Voices of black America

iReport: Join the conversation

The 'Garden Boys'

CNN iReporter Deborah Weinstein has been documenting the lives of urban gardeners who have been farming airport-owned land just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

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BIA 2: Share your reaction

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Soledad O'Brien | POLITICS

What did you think about "Black in America 2?" How did these stories inspire you?

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Guest

Guest updated 2 weeks ago

BLACK IMMIGRANTS. I am a first generation African American. There are now many of us in this country, but Soledad's reporting shows how mainstream media monopolizes what it means to be African American. I often get asked why I still often call myself Nigerian even though I was born and raised in the United States. It is because there often seems to be no room for any other narrative in the African American community besides that of the Southern slave. Latinos are allowed to have first and second generation, Asians are allowed to have first and second generation, but African Americans must be restricted to the descendants of American slaves, excluding the first and second generation from the Carribean and Africa. I wish for one second mainstream media could be inclusive and think out of the ...more

BLACK IMMIGRANTS. I am a first generation African American. There are now many of us in this country, but Soledad's reporting shows how mainstream media monopolizes what it means to be African American. I often get asked why I still often call myself Nigerian even though I was born and raised in the United States. It is because there often seems to be no room for any other narrative in the African American community besides that of the Southern slave. Latinos are allowed to have first and second generation, Asians are allowed to have first and second generation, but African Americans must be restricted to the descendants of American slaves, excluding the first and second generation from the Carribean and Africa. I wish for one second mainstream media could be inclusive and think out of the box, but I know that is too much to wish for. less

sgtdeployed

sgtdeployed updated 2 weeks ago

While eating at the dinning facility in northern Iraq on my second tour (stop lossed), I happened to catch a small segment of Black in America. I believe it was regarding the Black female that had a $77,000 job and was a site engineer and why she gave it all away. Being one of the three black males there I watched, and listened. What happened next was embarrassing and hurtful; the other two black males started a dialogue about why this black female is complaining about her job, why did she quit. As soon as this happened it opened up a window for other ethnic groups to participate with the views and comments. It was hurtful, not because she was black or a woman but because, a person wanted to advance in life and her career. She recognized an issue and is sacrificing all that she has accompl ...more

While eating at the dinning facility in northern Iraq on my second tour (stop lossed), I happened to catch a small segment of Black in America. I believe it was regarding the Black female that had a $77,000 job and was a site engineer and why she gave it all away. Being one of the three black males there I watched, and listened. What happened next was embarrassing and hurtful; the other two black males started a dialogue about why this black female is complaining about her job, why did she quit. As soon as this happened it opened up a window for other ethnic groups to participate with the views and comments. It was hurtful, not because she was black or a woman but because, a person wanted to advance in life and her career. She recognized an issue and is sacrificing all that she has accomplished to take a "crap shoot" to achieve that dream and goal. Isnt that American? Isnt that the dream of all people who live in this land that many have died for? I realized that I was out of touch with issues that are prevalent in America that are important to me. I started a fashion clothing company In Iraq and we are doing well. I am now pledging that I will do as much as I can to help as many initiatives that need help we I leave the army. This was a wake up call for me. There are many things that we can do to help people....whether its through fashion, an opportunity, education, or time. we all can play a part. thank you for your time. a deployed sgt. less

tresdizz

tresdizz updated 2 weeks ago

Thank you Soledad. i am mad at you though because you forced the tears out of my eyes. I am an African American male, 37 yrs. old and that's hard to do. the stories gives me more strength to motivate my 5 beautiful girls (two of which I have in my custody). again thank you and for all the hard, challenging and brave work that you do to report the truth to the nation. im now a huge fan. I wish I could get my girls into that capital school though so they can be like the young soon to be social worker Gloria Menefee, who also shares my last name, lol

Kle09

Kle09 updated 2 weeks ago

Soledad, I love your effort and there is no doubt that you are doing an outstanding and excellent job to highlight the plight of the black population and the future of the next generation of Black Americans. Thank you. May I suggest that you use your programs to begin to teach our Black American population about the riches and size of the African Continent. Africa is huge and diverse in its geographical regions with identities of different African countries. It is true that we want to identify with with Africa as our motherland. May I invite you and all American journalists to begin to identify each specific areas and countries of the African continent you highlight in your reporting. May I say that you and all other journalists continue to shrink the continent of Africa and our v ...more

Soledad, I love your effort and there is no doubt that you are doing an outstanding and excellent job to highlight the plight of the black population and the future of the next generation of Black Americans. Thank you. May I suggest that you use your programs to begin to teach our Black American population about the riches and size of the African Continent. Africa is huge and diverse in its geographical regions with identities of different African countries. It is true that we want to identify with with Africa as our motherland. May I invite you and all American journalists to begin to identify each specific areas and countries of the African continent you highlight in your reporting. May I say that you and all other journalists continue to shrink the continent of Africa and our values of Africans and Black Americans by your narrow reporting on the continent and lack of emphasis on the specific region and country of Africa in your report. You have the power to help us all relearn the micro image that the African continent has been created in our subconsciousness through the micro methods in which reports about Africa has been historically presented by American media. EVERY report about that rewarding and rich continent should be specifically identified and emphasized. Such reports unconsciously create the magnitude of the continent for what it is in our subconsciousness just as reports about Italy or France in Europe creates similar awareness in our mind even when those countries are not half the size of one country like Kenya in Africa. I am an African from Nigeria and I love my country Nigeria and even more my continent, Africa. I would like the Black Americans and the entire American population to learn to appreciate the uniqueness of the different African countries. Thank you for the good work and next time mention the country many times before you mention the continent and let us not continue to limit ourselves and our background in the process of reporting good things about us and our people. Continue to do us that favor and as you help expand the knowledge of our continent by your life as a journalist, help spread the magnitude of our Black Race and identity. less