"Nearly two-thirds of African-American undergraduates are women. At black colleges, the ratio of women to men is 7 to 1. And that is leading to a disparity in the number of African-American women who go on to own their own businesses. Rehema Ellis will talk to educators, students and businesswomen about why this disparity exists."

Disparity between what? AA women and AA men who own their own businesses? So I guess successful women who go on to run their own businesses -- uh, that's a problem? I smell an agenda and propaganda, and it stinks.

There may be balanced reporting elsewhere in this series, but sexist and racisit statements like the above don't make me hopeful, or eager to watch yet another report on the "problem" of black women achievers.

I agree that there is a great disparity in the African-American community amongst men and women just as it is amongst African-Americans and Caucasians.  But, in answering the question why, one must look at our country’s history, how the laws are applied based on how one looks or how wealthy they are, and the opportunities allotted to some versus others.  Until the playing field is balanced (i.e., truly equal opportunity for all!) the disparities will only continue to grow wider.

I am concerned about how AIDs/HIV is addressed.  I believe that as long as the majority think that AIDS/HIV is just a problem among Blacks -- then the majority (White) also believe that the problem stops there and does not affect them.  When I see 99 young Black males out of 100 with White female lovers -- and allegedly primarily Black males are giving AIDS/HIV to Black women -- you can not help but wonder if there is a problem with White women getting AIDS/HIV. If so, the public needs to know about it. And if the White women are getting it, are White males in more danger than what the media and physicians are telling them?  After all AIDS/HIV does not discriminate base on skin color and sex.

Let's talk about breast cancer among Black women.  Isn't it true that, more often than not, Black women produce more hormones, i.e., oestrogen and progesterone. During the olden days, especially during slave time, Black women were considered to be sexier than white women, partly because they produced more female sex hormones.  The ovaries also produce some of the male hormone, testosterone. During puberty, oestrogen stimulates breast development and causes the vagina, uterus (womb) and Fallopian tubes (that carry eggs to the womb) to mature. It also plays a role in the growth spurt and alters the distribution of fat on a girl's body, typically resulting in more being deposited around the hips, buttocks and thighs. Testosterone helps to promote muscle and bone growth. I have yet to see so-called health specialists and physicians adequately address hormones as one of the possible causes of breast cancer and other cancers in the Black females. For the most part they are not too familiar with the causes nor the treatment.

Danny E.,

I have a problem with the idea that black men still feel that they are so attacked/ "castrated."  Black women are attacked on their jobs and in their communities the same but the difference is, (old saying) black girls are raised, black boys are loved.  It wasn't easy for me as a black woman but the difference between black women and men is that, while some many blacks as a community may complain about their situation, many black women will suck it up and persevere through all the bull crap.  What Black Americans have forgotten is that we are stronger, more talented, more spiritually blessed and so, others who recognize that and are intimidated by it will sometimes make it harder for us.  Our lives have always required more responsibility but it seems the idea of responsibility have eluded many blacks today, especially black men.  It is NO fairer for black women than black men. It is just black women more so, have accepted that complaining about your situation will do nothing to solve any problem.

I am very interested in these facts and would like to know if I can get a copy of dvd/tape for future viewing?
Thank you.

DERRICK in ATL -

IF Nearly two-thirds of African-American undergraduates are women AND At black colleges, the ratio of women to men is 7 to 1.
HOW EXACTLY do you think these women are going to find QUALIFIED MEN to date/marry????  We do not tell WHITE WOMEN to marry the garbage man, street sweeper, etc...  Only African American women are told to lower their expectations -- ALL THE WHILE, Black men such as yourself are feeling REAL FREE to Date/Marry EVERYTHING BUT an African American woman (especially if they have more than $5)..  IF you can't FIND a QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN IN ATL - it is because YOU DON'T WANT ONE.  The Black woman to Black man ratio in ATL is a SOLID 10 to 1 - and MANY of these sisters are DOING VERY WELL for themselves - they just want someone who can be an EQUAL PARTNER and not someone they have to support!!!

How can I get a copy to share with a group?

I'm glad to see that NBC will focus on major health issues of African American women, but there is one health issue that constantly gets left out in these TV forums and synposiums that really effect Black women which is Fibroid Tumors.  These tumors are causing fertility issues and hysterectomies in our communities.

Way to go Brian, knowledge is power. Thanks for shining some light. I believe that there is one issue that needs to be addressed that, as far as I can tell, isn't going to be covered in your series. African American women in the work place. I think that you will find that there are indeed disparities in income, racial divides amongst their peers, extreme negative perceptions of African American woman in leadership roles, and heavy racial criticism. However, I say all of that to also say thank you again for doing this and my hope is that as I tune in, I will see a well rounded study and information that fuels thought and change not ridicule and embarrassement.

It was reported earlier today that Washington, D.C. has the highest HIV/AIDS cases in the nation and 9 out of 10 cases are African American women.  This issue should definitely be addressed! Are the numbers so alarming because of so many "Down Low" Brothers in the area? Sisters need to be enlightened and informed so that the numbers will decrease instead of increase!

These are interesting topics and even more interesting times in our African American communities. I want to clarify a couple of  comments that I have read.  When African Americans moved to the cities en masse during the migration from South to North most of the jobs available to them were domestic/servant/low wage, etc.  So while it is technically true that we were leaving our children at home often by themselves, the reason is because we were busy tending the children and running the  households of our employers (Miss Ann led a life of leisure)- in other words, we were trying to make a living.  There were very few white collar jobs or substantial blue collar jobs for African Americans - those were reserved for whites, an added perk of good employment was a high enough wage which afforded an opportunity for the white man to act as head of the household, husband, and provider for his family.  Since these good jobs with good wages were not available to us, in order to provide for our families, we took what was available.  Secondly, in the North many of our families became part of the welfare system, if you recall, one of the strictly enforced criteria for receiving aid was the absence of the male.  So it was not so much that Black women felt 'liberated' but rather that we were placed in a situation where we would not get a low income apartment or food stamps or other aid if the Black male was present.  This encouraged the breakup of Black families and fostered a pattern of irresponsibility on the part of SOME Black males, who must have been really hurting because they were being pushed aside by a society that constantly demeaned them and told them that they were worthless. When the Black male emotionally shut-down it was probably more of a coping mechanism; unfortunately, it became a pattern that was observed and emulated by other successive generations of young Black males. Sadly today some of the more negative behaviors have become part of a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Also, African Americans during that time had more of a 'village' mentality we were more cohesive (it was us against the rest of the world), meaning the mother/father may not have been home, but we watched out for each other.  Kids may have been home alone but an elderly neighbor or someone else could chastise a child that did not belong to him/her without fear of retribution from the parent (or as in  these days from the child himself/herself).  We must remember that the programs that were created during the 'funding of the great society' were never created with Blacks in mind - they were created to care for the welfare and well being of whites.  As African American began to take advantage of the public housing programs, etc, then the rules were changed accordingly.  Finally, I certainly do not agree that Black women cannot "sustain a relationship with a man"  I know many sisters who have gone above and beyond in order to make a relationship work. I'm talking stuff like putting up with abusive, cheating, irresponsible, selfish, lazy and emotionally nonresponsive  men in order to just have a man, giving him every benefit of the doubt, alienating family and friends just for a brother who turns out to be a huge disappointment because he cannot, or will not, commit to the relationship. As an aside, let me say here that the psychology of relationships is that we are choosing the same person over and over again, which means that most of us never get beyond a specific 'type' That said, it does not seem fitting that we should continue to point fingers at each other because in truth, we are all victims of a society that has thrown everything it has at the  African American in order to eliminate and annihilate us. Why?, because we are a constant reminder of a part of this country's history that most whites benefitted from but now want to forget; a part of history that was rooted in the systematic servitude of an entire race of people, a societal system that bestowed defacto second class citizenship upon that races descendants.

What is the solution?  Each segment of these shows omits the obvious.  African-American health, education, welfare, psyche, strengths and weakness arise from our reaction to and engagement with the Dominant culture of America.

Our health is directly tied to the stress of living devalued lives, the devaluation of African-American males from Kindergarten to drop-out impacts African-American undergraduate gender, racist and economic agendas of the Fortune 500 impacts every space and place and thinking of African-American consciousness.

Please do not leave this out of the discussions or the entire "expert testimony" becomes suspect.

Who are these experts chosen to speak for millions?  

I applaud your efforts Brian to bring the triumphs of Black African Women to the forefront, I just hope you have not grouped them together with biased statistics that will wrongfully portray us differently than who we have become, and what we have accomplished. How did you defined the measurements or percentages and if that is the case...how do Black African Women understand that they are out-numbered if the ratio is 7 to 1...quite interesting? If such statistics are correct who will Black Women date? Are white women including in these statistics...what about them? For the record, Black Women have survived and continue to survive, the Plantations, the Master's ideology, the racial slurs, biased employment, the robbing of their men, the incarceration of their sons and men, the ruins of broken families and many of them have arise and refused to become a part of a racial society that subtle dictated to them that they are viewed as less (not good enough). Many of them have superseded to become educators, lawyers, doctors, nurses, entrepreneurs, leading authors, advent mothers, and loyal sisters that have defined them as royalty in a world that has not allowed them to prove and say "We have Arrive". bring it on but only with truth and solutions...WE ARE HERE!

I hope it's not; however, this entire series appears to be very negative.  We all know the health stats, the hip hop lyrics, the issues with interracial dating etc.  What is the objective in this report; to further damage the image of AA women?  How about a report on the qualities of successful AA families; the strategies that excellent schools use to educate AA youth like St. Augustine, Xavier Prep, and St. Mary’s in New Orleans; the overwhelming success of HBCUs in graduating leaders; the success of the 50 Million Pound Challenge in encouraging AAs to get fit.  We are tired of talking ABOUT the problems.  This report does not appear to offer any specific solutions to addressing the issues; I doubt if we will see any web addresses and phone numbers where AA women can get information of SOLVING these issues will we?  As an AA woman I have no time to watch negative programming.

Hi Everyone,

I have to diagree with Sean J. from Chicago. It is this type of disbelief that lead us away from looking in the mirror and seeing our faults and the various issues within our own community and life.

Derrick Evans, I will have to disagree with you too. It is totally impossible for a black woman to have a stable relationship or marriage with a black man if he's inacapable of accepting his mistakes, correcting the ones he can, and the ones he can't he should be able to at least make a mends. Black women all too often carry the burden of the whole family without being able to shift some of it on the "head of the household" (that being the man). Therefore, it is highly impossible to sustain anything resembling a relationship with a black man if the two of you are unequally yoked.

I look forward to wathching the week long special. I'm quite sure many interesting ideas will surface.

Let's reserve judgment until AFTER we've seen the series, okay?  otherwise we're merely speculating - and some of the speculative comments on this site reveal more about the COMMENTATOR than they do about the series content.

My wife and I (Minneapolis couple; her and Prince are the only MN AA natives I know!) eagerly await this series and hope it does as much to suggest solutions as it does to highlight problems.

My Name is Claudette Dunnock Ellis, I am a Black Women, who would like to know where do we grow from here!  Please reveiw Womens Wellness Foundation, www.womenswellnessfdn.org website and help to create change to help us now and our future generation!

Telisa Johnson.

Stop it!

There are Black people who get married, buy homes and raise children in two-parent families. Who have yet to experience unemployment. Who seek and obtain proper medical care and excercise and eat right. Most black people wouldn't know a jail if it was in their living rooms, have great credit and retirement investments. These are the black people I am and know. But white media only reports on what it considers to be "news"  Good news is boring.  Bad news about blacks makes whites look and feel safer to be white, more disciplined and responsible than every "other" race. No matter what disease comes out, the white media reports that blacks have it worst than everybody else, even if the illness was invented this morning.  Think about that.  We're only 12 percent of the popoulation and half of that is children. It is mathmatically impossible for us to have more AIDS than everybody else. But if you're basing your research on statistics, you have no choice but to use the statistics that are made public, such as free-clinics, planned parenthoods, and free hospitals.  Black people are not sicker than everyone else, we're just less likely to be insured and therefore our statistics are public knowledge.  If you're a 13 yr old pregnant white  girl whose mother pays cash to a private doctor for an abortion, your info will never be public knowledge, therefore your abortion is invisible. The poor pregnant black girl who used planned parenthood is reported on next year in the Planned Parenthood Annual Report. Which is where "researchers" get their info. Ditto for every disease as well. White people need to report on the filth going on in their communities and stop highlighting ours as if they have no problems, which they do. Why don't they do a report on the white teenage girls who have oral sex with 10 guys at a party, but still considere themselves virgins? Or the teens who get into physical fights with their parents?  Or teens who binge drink and drug and steal their parents credit cards?

Ironically we are preparing to host the first ever 1000 Black Women Black March Expo, "Our Sojourn To Truth", events in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Columbia, S.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Washington, D.C., on February 2, 2008 to show the unity, community, family and address the issues of Black women with solutions. Black History Month will come alive with these history making events so that opportunity will be shared between those who can provide and those in search.Everyone go to blackhistorymonthinfo.com for details to be involved.

Two points.  While slavery had a distinct and brutal impact on the black family, the "peculiar institution" failed to destroy these families.  Registrations of slave marriages during Reconstruction showed slave "marriages" of 20, 30 and more years, even among couples living apart, owned by different "masters."  No, it is the evil of current racism that is undermining the black family, in ways more subtle and devious than the blatant atrocities of slavery.

Second, every pathology that starts in the black community makes its way to the white community within one generation.  Several comments have mentioned that white women outnumber white men in colleges.  While out-of-wedlock births are decreasing among black women, they are increasing among white women.  Other examples have been mentioned by others in this blog.  No group can afford to be complacent, but it still stings when the victims are deemed to be the cause.

Brooke,

"Black people need to stop blaming white people for all of our problems".   Enough already.
Not all black people blame white people for their problems and nor do we all look for handouts. Yes, do some of us seek handouts but,so do people of other races (every race has lazy people).
Stop believing EVERYTHING you see on TV or read in the paper. That's just irresponsible of you.
Live it!
There have been many positive and hopeful things said on this thread. Focus on that.

I wholeheartedly agree with Brooke from NY who wrote, " I feel as though most of the comments that have been posted are incredibly silly and defensive.....No one should be defensive regarding the topics discussed in this series.  Everyone should be saddened and brainstorming solutions.  Knowledge is essential and I guarantee this series will teach everyone something new.  Watch it and become a part of the solution."

One should also remember that the "media" includes "us". We can now in 2007 safely assume that AA's had some hand in putting togthter this series and it can't be written off as negative white man propaganda. Most importantly, the issues raised-not  are real and reflect truth about the nature of AA life these days and it is not all a pretty picture.

I do have a bone to pick, however----One of the issues that I have been troubled by for many years is the way male priviledge/sexism has morphed in the AA community into a serious liability for AA women children and AA men themselves. It seems to me that the problem is less one of how AA men are emasculated than one of how so many of them enthusiastically embrace actual and symbolic dominance over and marginalization of AA women and children. For many, it seems to be their as a vehicle of "liberation" from all the stresses and strains they suffer from. I find it odd, with all the poverty and obstacles we face that the first line of defense, "United we stand, divided we fall" is all but ignored. Why is it so COOL to not marry? To imprenate and abandon? To not commit to struggling in the trenches with someone who loves you? To radically objectify and denigrate balck women and embrace cultural touchstones that do the same?  Why are the "homies" the most important "audience" for legions of black men? Better yet, why aren't the "homies" advocating for committment, raising strong families and yes....birth control?

I wish I knew where to point and place a finger to stop the leak in this dam. Can we still legitimately blame slavery and its aftermath for the fact that we express and deliberately nurture so much contempt for each other and our children?

Heaven help us.

2006 Census figures indicate that Black women overwhelmingly provide parental input to Black families and therefore Black males. Where do Black women stand on this trend?

Black single-parent families headed by a male:     415,000   or   11.7 %

Black single-parent families headed by a female:   3,143,000     or     88.3 %

http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2006.html

I'm looking forward to watching this series. I'm hoping for a balanced approach to what life will be like for African-American women in the next ten to twenty years.  

We stand united against racism, classism, and sexism
We stand to fight for equality and justice in America built on inequalities and injustice
We stand in welfare lines because employment lines are filled with illegal immigrants
We stand in congress and the senate still fighting to bring justice for the black men killed during the civil rights era
We stand at the church alter praying for our families and communities that are consistently being destroyed by corrupt people in positions of authority
We stand at the bus stop with our children to protect them from pedophiles & drug dealers
We stand in line to vote for politicians that are suppose to speak for all the people
We stand at the halls of court rooms fighting for our sons civil rights to be upheld instead of getting ridiculous sentences for crimes that are downplayed for others.
We stand united for civil rights, human rights, dignity, and respect…
That’s where we stand.

We need to be the ones saying what we’re concerned about not being told what to be concerned about.  In fact here are a few more…

In reviewing the September 2007 found on government website http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/2007/10/september-employment-report.html
The overall unemployment rate was 4.7% but taking a deep dive across the racial demographics African Americans rate was 8.1% that’s what we need to be concerned about…why this disparity exists.  The concern with racial profiling causing African American males to be convicted of felony’s before the college age of 18-21 is what we’re concerned about.  Once a person has a felony conviction both traditional jobs and traditional education are difficult to obtain.  Let’s address that disparity in America.
What is the ration for black women to black men in trade schools or non-Historical Black Colleges and Universities?  It seems that the ratio is just the opposite.  
Black America has healthy relationships, strong stable marriages and families we just continue to allow the negative aspects to be discussed.  White men have for years since the Vietnam War been marrying Asian women.  What implications is this having on the Asian Families and Structure?  Again, let’s compare apples to apples in comparing statistics.  How many black men and black women are available in the pool compared to how many white men and white women in their pool and see about the marriage numbers.  The statistic as it stands in irrelevant to Black America.  Only the perception continues to fuel this discussion.  Let’s make sure Black America is telling the story from their perspective; especially considering that we are a global society.  
We haven’t even gone through the primary election process yet.  Let’s make sure that Black America is knowledgeable on where all the candidates stand and vote accordingly.  Both Candidates are Democratic.  Most of Black America in terms of faith and family identify with the Republican Party.  I’m not advocating either party just making sure that you know where the candidates stand on what’s important to you and your family.

Tavis Smiley and other leaders outlined 10 issues facing Black America.  See http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com/

Okay, And….What about the Black Men married to Black Women?  What is that statistic according to the U.S. Census Bureau Report?  Let’s tell the whole story please.
Interracial dating and ultimately marriage is no new concept.  It may be the blessing in disguise that will end the Black/White issues in America. Once everyone is bi-racial now what?
White men have for years since the Vietnam War been marrying Asian women.  What implications is this having on the Asian Families and Structure?
I believe Oprah and BET covered this issue at nauseum.  Clearly, the negative stereotyping of women is affecting Black Women.  The number of rapes and sexual advances is out of control towards all women.  The videos just magnify the fantasy.  
While I don’t care for the videos or lack of content in the music this is a democratic society with free speech/expression.  Those artists are apparently telling their story from their perspective and reality.  What I don’t like is the mimicking that goes on with the impressionable youngsters in other parts of the country where this is not their experience or reality.  What would be nice is the little duffel bag boys, self proclaimed hustlers, and “music moguls” to tell their current stories and express their business savvy sense not at the expense of women.  Forbes is certainly taking note.

We stand united against racism, classism, and sexism
We stand to fight for equality and justice in America built on inequalities and injustice
We stand in welfare lines because employment lines are filled with illegal immigrants
We stand in congress and the senate still fighting to bring justice for the black men killed during the civil rights era
We stand at the church alter praying for our families and communities that are consistently being destroyed by corrupt people in positions of authority
We stand at the bus stop with our children to protect them from pedophiles & drug dealers
We stand in line to vote for politicians that are suppose to speak for all the people
We stand at the halls of court rooms fighting for our sons civil rights to be upheld instead of getting ridiculous sentences for crimes that are downplayed for others.
We stand united for civil rights, human rights, dignity, and respect…That’s where we stand.

As a mother of two highly educated young women, aged 30 and 33, I am very concerned about their marital futures. It seems to be more and more difficult for decent, young, ambitious women to find decent young ambitious men, black or white. In particular, black men have to get their acts together before they are extinct. There is so much opportunity for anyone who wants to work hard and make a really good life for themselves. However, it appears that alot of black men (not all, of course) just want to continue to rely on black women to make a life for the family. It's a darn shame that these men don't take ownership of the situations they find themselves in, ie: jobless and uninspired. Get it together brothers before it's too late, we women need strong men to walk alongside of us and into a bright future.

Why this topic? Why Now?

"During November sweeps, the networks roll out their best stuff, rarely show a rerun, and often resort to extreme measures to rope in viewers."

ratings!!!

I hope that these segments on African American Women are produced, directed and presented by African American Women.

"And that is leading to a disparity in the number of African-American women who go on to own their own businesses"

I understand the lopsided ratio (7 to 1) in the higher education area of African-American women to men respectively, but I don't understand how you're correlating this to the disparity for African-American women owning their own business.  Please address.

I think it is wonderful that you want to discuss these things. My question is will the younger generation that really needs to see this watch it? It's very hard to teach a young girl that she should respect herself enough to not be called out of her name when most of the so called music the teens and young adults listen too demeans women. There is nothing worse than being called a "B_____" and then seeing the girl laugh and answer the boy.  We must find a way to address the way teens see themselves and others. The music makes it alright to call anyone anything they want.

When speaking on the problems of African American women, we need not look further than their systematic addiction to retail, a propensity to devalue the importance of credit, and a devotion to government funds which leads to the imprisonment of African American men. Trust in the gov't and the products endorsed by it, are the causes for the diseases black women are afflicted with.  These factors (amongst others) leave our children not only fatherless, but parentless, and makes them suceptible to the ills of the world.  The destruction of African American families has been in effect for hundreds of years.  As they will continue to emasculate African American men, it is time for women to take a stand as heads of African American households.  Women have been the heads of our families, but this role is taking on more meaning because a generation of our young men have been incarcerated and reduced to become modern day slaves.  Ladies, it is time to step your game up!

Unfortunately, I believe that some of the comments have missed the message in this series on African-American women. I believe that you will have to watch and listen to see how this series turns out.  Whether it be informative or otherwise. The look is not to belittle the African-American males but to put the focus on what the African-American woman goes through. I believe that if you continue to worry about slavery, you are not moving forward. Put that mentality behind you, learn from it and move on. That time was meant to be lessons for those who are willing to learn from them and not make the same mistakes. Do not harp on the past. The only way that we can be kept behind is if we want to be.

What time does it come on?

its funny that white america sees us as a bunch of black folks huddled in one corner of the country with a heaping full of problems. black women do not be fooled into thinking that we suffer more and die more than caucasian women. every statistics across the planet will always make white people look better than blacks. its just that simple. there are more white women who get breast cancer and they do die from it at an alarming rates, but we will never know. we will never hear about that. don't buy into the lie that black women aren't getting married. there are many black women who are getting married. black women in my family are married to BLACK MEN. we read about it, see it on tv on different reality shows. why is white america so concerned with 12% of the population is beyond me. nothing they will discuss is of concern to me. i'm a black women who is married, in good health, living my life to the fullist with my family everyday.

I thank you NBC New for addressing these important issues in the AA communities.  I can’t help but become emotional when thinking about what is in stored for the women with children in my community.  I see women in children homeless on the streets because they can’t afford the surrounding housing market. I see women who have become grandmothers too young and have to raise their grandchildren, I see women raising children without men.  I see women who are single parents who cannot attend a junior college because their minimum income is too much for them to get grants in an overpriced economy.  I see women who need medical care but would probably die too young because they can’t afford it, I see AA women re-defining what the American family is.  I see progressive POVERTY in my community every day.  In the mean time the budgets that could help these families are being cut yearly.

This is what I see, What do you see?

Reparations are in order.  If not for slavery then for the moves in the fifties to destroy all black business districts when planning superhighways in the continental United States.  

I am a african american small business owner and I have to say that I'm so proud of the sister on nightly news today.  11/26/07.  She is an example of what I'm doing and I can tell you my 13 year old daughter is going to be following in my foot steps also.  

She already started her own business at the age of 13 to earn money for college.  

You go sister.

Do white women matter?

White society sees black women as less of a threat.Thats why they are advancing.I am a black male.I am living testimony of the fact that even when a black man "re-invents" himself to be productive and prosperous,he is still criminaliized,and victimized in the workforced.After a bitter divorce,I went back to school and got an associates degree in dental laboratory(Denture production).After landing a job and relocating from Chicago to Mississippi,I held the job for a year before my white male supervisor falsley accused me of insubordination,for which I was fired.Even after an investigation proved the supervisor lied,I was not given my job back.But the supervisor kept his.I know there thousands of other black males who have experienced this.

I can't count the times i have seen this. White media saying black men are stupid and black women are better.

As a 40-year-old black male, relying on the charity of my mother to support me, my anger can only boil when I hear about how black women prospering economically while we must accept what's thrown at us.  I possess a BA, with a double-major, Cum Laude distinction along with having been a former National Deans List and Who's Who recognized scholar. I don't drink or smoke, and have never even considered drug use.  I have no children, no criminal record, and possess a spotless Commercial Drivers License (which I acquired out of economic necessity).  Yet, I find that people are only willing to offer me work in the most menial of tasks.  I did everything right, and worked my butt off.  So where's MY reward for all MY hard work?  I have even gone so far as to post my own resume online in order that maybe someone would see me as having a brain, and being a possible asset:    http://i-need-a-damn-job.tripod.com/

It's amazing to me how people can be negative about something that they've not seen since it's not on until the week of November 26th.

Reality is reality and it should serve as a wake-up call for everyone.  Instead of complaining about what's being shown do something about we as African Americans see going on in our communities every day.  You don't have to save everyone, start with one, start with yourself if need be and then pay it forward. Do something and stop complaining.

Hopefully this won't be another thing that makes me question why "our dirty laundry" is being aired to everyone. I do however feel that our opinion and us as a whole are just undervalued in this day and age. Alot of the stereotypes about our attitudes, bodies, and what we place important value to is due in a big part to the images that men impose on women as worthy of being rewarded. An ideal package that we all are supposed to fit into...

Well said Danny. This is another series highlighting the "negative" things in regards to black men. At least so far from what I saw tonight. We all know black women are doing better but many are alone, unmarried, are venturing into lesbianism. Another piece will air on interracial dating. In another decade the black family will continue to disappear and our culture will continue to erode away. Black women will leave us alone and take the 62% of 850 million with them. Meanwhile black boys will continue to be left to fuel the sub economy and good black men (that are not cool enough) will be alone or will date interracial. But then again I think we have heard it enough. I don't need no man. Independent woman etc. If we don't need each other then there is no US. There is no I in team but many sisters don't care and they may not know. How many times do sisters say "I don't need a man" daily? I thought a family was a team effort. O well my father needed my mother and she needed him. In 2007 many..not all..sisters feel they only need that degree, job, $$$, and the pastor and they are content with that. In the words of Charlie Murphy, "We've got to do better!

Your report on black women (11/27/07)was mediocre and misleading. Again white owned media is trying to put black women in competition with black men instead of looking at the real problem facing Afro Americans- racism/white supremacy. You continue to support black genocide/breakup of the black family. Times have not changed since slavery - black women still are not queens of families because the family has been destroyed by prisons and educational institutions which teach them it’s ok to make it on your own. The view is that black women can survive without black men. That's the message you're trying to make, but we know that is not the truth. As far as black women's health, pocketbooks or degrees are concerned, they still live in a world where they are minimized and undervalued when compared to white women. Their power is minuscule - even Oprah is way down the list of FORBES billionaires...next time you do a report, do more research. Also, have more women reporting on communications, economics, medicine, law, and transportation instead of how much they fair when compared to black men.

Monday's topic I love. As an young African American man I do see the difference in Education, Society and Religion. I looked around my church a couple of week ago and seen that 80% of the church was females. Then I think back when I graduated ( Edward Waters College 2006) I believe it was 11 to 1 females to male walking across the stage with me. So I believe that the story is  more likely on point. My observation with the correlation problem with males, rap music, and drop out rate is on target also. I am a heavy listener of hip hop and rap music and all they talk about is "sexing female, selling drugs, and how they made it in the music industry and never graduated or got kicked out". Shoot if I have time I may just do a research on this. LOL, but I observe that females are in a place to succeed rather than males. It may be the upbringing of each, or the government hand in raising a family, but this thing can be turn around if we get control of  our children at a younger age.

Growing up I saw how hard my mother struggled to give me the better things in life including an excellent education. My mother got me into some of the best schools in the nation and pushed me to graduate college in four years. I appreciate the great social equalizing power of education and as a teacher I spend my day trying to impart this knowledge onto the younger generation. As a young black woman, I am well aware of my history but I don’t let it define me as a person. I define who I am and what I will and will not do with my life.

What would happen if this blog limited posts solely to solutions required to be implemented.

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