CNN Has A Problem… With Black People: Introducing the Retort

As many of you know, I am severely curtailing my online activities to focus on more long-term strategic goals and planning, however, when the genius that is The Black Snob invites you to join in on a critique of CNN’s Parade of Pathology II, also known as Black In America 2:The Blackening, then one has to adjust one’s plans to go on Blogbatical (blog+sabbatical) and throw in one’s two cents. Danielle is one of the most prolific writers in the Black blogosphere, when she makes it big, I hope I can get at least an autographed mug or something. My first post is already up over at The Retort. I skewer CNN’s superficial yet sensational coverage of single Black women adopting children.

Your mother always told you about talking back — mainly not to do it. To keep your mouth shut. To mind your manners. To keep your head down and be happy with the scraps life tosses at you. After all, talking back could get your hurt. Talking back could get you in trouble. And historically for black people, talking back could get you killed.

But times have changed. They’ve had their say. Now it’s time for a response.

Welcome to The Retort (www.blackretort.com), launching July 6^th, it is the place for political discourse and plenty of “talking back” on black representation in the media. The site will kick off with CNN’s latest installment of Black In America. Last year the cable network premiered the controversial series to much fanfare and derision. Reported on and hosted by CNN correspondent Soledad O’Brien, many criticized the series for having a detached, anthropological approach to black culture. But was this critique warranted? Was it a true-to-form examination of black life, or was it a primer for the uninitiated? What was CNN’s motivation? How could they make it better? Or was it necessary at all?

These questions, along with critical analysis, satire and more, will be answered on The Retort, featuring the work of bloggers Jay Anderson of AverageBro, Danielle Belton of The Black Snob, Christopher Chambers of Nat Turner’s Revenge, Cheryl Contee of Jack & Jill Politics, Charles D. Ellison of The Ellison Report, Gina McCauley of Michelle Obama Watch and What About Our Daughters, Vernon Mitchell Jr. of Negro Intellectual, Baratunde Thurston of Jack & Jill Politics, Lamar Tyler of Black and Married With Kids, Elon James White of This Week In Blackness, Poet, writer Bassey Ikpi and more.

The Retort will take a critical eye to the representation of blacks in the media. It’s also a chance for you to sound off on your opinions.

It’s time to stop being silent and start talking back on The Retort. The time to speak up is now.

Danielle C. Belton

Editor