As I write this, I am watching the CNN program, Reclaiming the Dream, hosted by Soledad O’Brien. This is the prelude to the telecast that will air Wednesday and Thursday called Black in America. What is compelling about the show tonight is the focus. The common theme discussed was focused on “how“. How to solve problems that are seemingly intractable in the African-American community.
One of the upcoming chapters we will get deep into is Pain-Bodies in chapter 5. Pain-bodies simply put consists of pain we have endured in our past that haunts us and influences how we behave or react. For example, if you were raised by a single parent and saw some not so pretty things growing up, those images haunt you. Those images hurt and those images influence dramatically how we handle situations. As D.L. Hugley said on the program, he “doesn’t know of one Black man who is not broken in some way.” What happens is we give the past power over us. I can’t wait for us to cover this chapter, because it will likely extend for two, maybe three sessions.
The Black in America series last night concluded with the focus on Black men. These stories are not new, but it is important to keep them at the top of people’s mind at all times, because it is too easy to get complacent. Hat’s off to Soledad–she is definitely keepin it real.