OT: CNN's Black in America Part 2

I missed it but, I believe it re-airs tonight.  Does anyone know for sure?? 

I watched it and really enjoyed it.  My thought on the Tuxedo Ball is>> even the smoothest player couldn't "fake" it in that crowd..........that was a fierce crowd for sure.  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Can't wait to see Part 2

Gurlllll - OK!!!!  OMG I have been to some nice events but I know I couldn't hold candle WAX much less a candle in there - usually it takes a group of WHITE rich folk to get me nervous - I was nervous on my sofa jus****ching.......

I'm definitely tuning in tonight!

I missed the program but there have been black elites since before slavery ended because some blacks were never slaves.  There is a major rift in my family between the folks who were slaves, those who weren't and those who were the massa's kids. Slavery ended when?  That crap is still going on...   The money trail follows certain lines.  Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure who ended up with money and who didn't...who got a good education and who didn't.

Jack and Jill produces high performing young people so I'm not mad at them.  I don't care for some of their practices but you can't knock their results.  I have a friend who has her kids in it and she's a nervous wreck all the time thinking she or the kids might not measure up.   

Please reassure your friend that she should not worry.  I belonged to Jack and Jill --- it's the mom who belongs instead of the kids.  It's nothing to be worried about -- just identify a family in her kids' age group that she can deal with and don't worry about the rest. 

If I had lived in a more diverse area, I probably would have not joined.

She got black balled the first time she tried to get in.  So she really has to watch her back now that she's in... 

Ahhh, I see.  It is complicated.

I really enjoyed the show. I guess because I used to be a teacher, a college athlete and a basketball coach but the story about Malik(sp?) Rock's program and the guy that started in the projects and opened his own school really touched me. Because I was an athlete, people thought that I was given my grades but I earned my grades and got an academic and athletic scholarship. I felt so bad for those young men putting everything into basketball but failing in school. My son is 16 and 6'7 and people get upset because he doesn't play sports but he has a goal and that is either to get into MIT or Harvard. My son is on the Latin team, math team, youth legislature and JROTC. He is a nerd and that's fine with me, if he wants to play ball, I'll support him but if not, I'll support him.

I love to see our kids and our people doing great things. We have become too complacent in our lives and basically have not thought about what others go through or have gone through just for us to be comfortable. I can't tell you how many times as a teacher I would comb a little black girl's hair even though I was told not too because if her mom got mad I could get sued but I just couldn't let that child go through the day like that. We have to care for each other and just like Malach(sp) said last night "she can give them wings to fly but she can't fly for them". I know that feeling all too well.

If this sounds discombobulated it's because my brain is still jumbled. Sorry.

It is so sad that folks are upset about your son NOT wanting to be a ball player - knowing the short 'life span' of that as a career - and even short odds of becoming one of the 'greats' - that's GROWN folk trying to live THEIR dreams through a child.  I am so glad you support him in his academics - THAT'S where the real money and power are, in my opinion.

That's the reason he doesn't like it. When he played in middle school and for AAU there were adults in the stands yelling at him calling him "Baby Shaq" and was expecting him to dunk and be a professional and he was only 13 at that time and it was too much pressure on him. Basketball caused me to have 3 knee surgeries, an ankle surgery, arthritis. Plus, I've got a temper and I went off on a few people yelling at my baby at a out of town gym and my hubby had to sit me down. lol  My hubby was telling me to be quiet before I get us shot. I was too mad, they was talking about my baby, I was ready to fight. hahaha  Yeah, I've always pushed academics with my kids because I know both sides. Basketball got me out of my home situation but for them, they have a choice.