Commending Ice Cube on Racial Cultures Program

Well I must commend Ice Cube on his latest venture. Ice Cube, and R.J. Cutler, will have broadcast on the FX cable network something that I find unique and hopefully inspiring. In March '06 "Black. White" will show what happens to 2 families that undergo a radical transformation. They live as a different race. I, as many others also, believe that it is imposible for anyone to understand what it is to be a Black/African American or for that matter to be White. Not only will these families be able to gain some understanding, the public will also get the same chance.

Some might say (as has already happened) that I am too sensitive on a subject like this. Statements like that are exactly why a program such as this is needed. For that alone I must congradulate Ice Cube. I'm sure it was a hard sell to the network, and I hope it pays off well. More importantly I hope it gets advertised properly so that the wide audience it needs to reach find out about it. On both sides of the racial divide there are to many assumptions and ingrained stereotypes. To little is known. And I think many need to understand why when Mr. Chris Rock makes the joke in one of his comedy specials (as I recall it) 'A one-armed poor white guy doesn't want to be me, and I'm rich,' why it is both funny and yet to the black audience also rings as very true.

Part of why I have this blog is to identify to others in the U.S. and around the world, that the differences are both real and omni-present living in the U.S. and abroad (in my experience). I will also seek to address the issue that Black/African American culture is deeper and more robust than simply just Hip-Hop or any other caricature often protrayed by the media. The fact that the internet has allowed me to reach people in Sweden, Italy, Germany, Mexico as well as across the U.S. is great. One day I hope to have significant amounts of readers, but until then I will never feel that this blog is effective in attaining my goal. Perhaps the efforts of Ice Cube, et al., will do what I cannot at this moment - reaching millions and showing them how different the world really is based on the outward look of skin.

Something else worth mentioning is that after all the efforts of the Civil Rights movement the world has changed so little. If things had truely changed there would be no need for Affirmative Action [as applied to education and higher learning it is still needed as high concentrations of minorities are in inner city schools which, when I went to high school I had books 3 years older than me to study/learn from, and has not improved in decades], no Rodney King beatings and riots after the acquittal. Were the country more fairly balanced there may be more than 2 (as I recall Maytag and one other but this may be out of date, please let me know) Black CEO's of major public institutions. Television would never have to defend itself for the diversity of characters on its shows, nor would anyone need to check on them.

This country, which I love dearly [and like my father had voulunteered to defend], has major problems when it comes to race. Many problems are self-inficted, ie. Mr. Stanley 'Tookie' Williams or certain words, but as least as many are promoted and not-so-subliminally inferred.

The courage and willingness to delve into these issues, and provide national if not international attention, should not go unannounced. Ice Cube has gained more respect from me by this one action than anything else he has done previously combined. FX again stands out as a leader and innovator of programming. I am sure that the program will live up to the praise.

This is what I think, what do you have to say?