CNN American Morning In Black in America 2, CNN's Soledad O'Brien reports on the innovative and unexpected ways people are transforming the black experience by confronting the most difficult issues facing their community.

Jake Fronckowiak, Sorry, but if people really want to stop racism, there shouldn't be a "Black in America" or a "White in America", or a "Latino in America", etc... Get it!!! How about "People in America"

Eather M Greene Henry, Obviously, Jake, you don't know what you are talking about. It's not us who don't want us to be a part of America.

Jake Fronckowiak, All I ask is be a true american. I don't care what color your skin is, but if minorities keep singaling themselves out, no one will ever see them as the same or equal. And shows like this single out the AMERICAN- AFRICAN race. Notice AMERICAN is first. And for the American-African race, if you don't like the word nigger, don't use in every other song!!! You don't hear the guys from Nickelback singin' "I'm a cracker, Where's all my crackers???"
about an hour ago

Karen Wildner Gray, Jake, it's not the word; it's the intention behind the word.

And what the hell is a "true American"? If you want to cut the labels, there's a good start.
about an hour ago

Michelle Wearren, hi Jake, i've read all your posts. don't want to attack you, but want to point something out to you: you said don't use the word in every other song, i'm not writing songs w/the word in them, don't know anyone that is. are we all in this box you've built? many of our baby boomers can't stand the word. they're not using it. i'm not using it, many people i know (black people) don't use the word. so i think you're painting us all w/the same brush. and btw-jim foxworthy has made millions w/ "you might be a redneck" marketing.
also, you don't define black people. you have a right to an opinion, but that's all it is. realize that no matter your qualifications, you don't decide how we should call ourselves, or speak. to think that you do, is the same kind of arrogance that we've dealt w/for centuries. our blood, sweat, tears built this country just like yours, and ours was for FREE.
about an hour ago

Jake Fronckowiak, Point well taken Michelle. I don't know where you live but I hear the N word used by a lot of American-African people, not all, but a lot. I also enjoy a lot of American-African comedians who make fun of themselves and their culture, just like Jeff foxworthy. I have no problem with that!! BUT, when I'm walking down the street with my 4 year- old nephew and we hear a bunch of kids " Yo, what's up my nigga??" and then my nephew gets in trouble for repeating it IN A INNOCENCE CONTEXT, because he sees it as just another type of greeting, like Hello, that's bullshit! IF you can't see that if you don't like a word,especially a word that for centuries has referred to your whole race in a derogatory manner, you don't use it, IN ANY CONTEXT, then you're always gonna hear it. Not from me, but you'll hear it.
IT would be nice if everything was "How It Should Be",but what we have to deal with is Reality!!!
I think we both want to same thing, but just differ in our view on how it should be done.
40 minutes ago

Michelle Wearren, @jake: you could explain to him that they're "cursing". i don't allow my children to say the word (or any other "slurs/curse words" in my presence (even though they're grown). those same kids you're talking about, have no problem using other "grown folks" language that your son shouldn't say. when he's older, if you REALLY wanted to be culturally sensitive, you could explain to your son why HE shouldn't use the word. if he was made to understand our mutual history (in the proper context) he would understand WHY black people become hurt and angry when/if he says it. just like you hear a hundred (or even a thousand) people say something and assume all of us do it....we hear one (or a thousand) white people say it, and assume that that same hatred and potential for violence is within many of YOUR race. just because someone uses it, doesn't make it acceptable.
21 minutes ago

Jake Fronckowiak, Great comments Michelle and others.
Believe me, I explained after the fact. Didn't know he picked it up until his Mom and Dad told me what happened at pre-school. I certainly will explain things like this as they get older.
I just hope for a world where we don't even have to have this conversation. Wish you all the best!!!
Let's remember...We all bleed red and we all cry salty tears, and we all have eyes that light up when we smile. So smile today!!!

Paul MacLean, @Jake...I agree wth everything you have to say...,especially the part where you said "People in America" would be more appropiate instead segregating people's colour all the time, but I guess then again, we wouldn't have all these bills and laws passed through the house, if we didn't always bitch and whine about the colour of our skin, gender, sexual orientation. etc..blah blah blah...now, my real question is, aren't there actually more Asians (including Middle Easterners) than there are blacks?..I could be wrong though...it wouldn't be the first time..lol!!...In the UK ..,I guess colour is just NOT exactly the first thing we see in a person...sure there is racism and bigotry (and sometimes it does turn into violence...so don't get me wrong) in our part of the world, but not to the level it gets over here in Canada and the US...Bigotry and prejudicisms are actually more lanuage and religion related anyway...