What does it mean to be black in America today?
That's a question that CNN explores in the multipart documentary "Black in America," which begins airing Wednesday night at 9 on CNN.
The special report is spearheaded by CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien. Last month, O'Brien was on hand for a preview of the documentary at Atlanta's High Museum of Art.
After the screening, O'Brien said she was disheartened by disparities in income, education and opportunity that her reporting uncovered.
"Education isn't part of the game, it's the whole ball game, " she said, noting black students' graduation rates trail white students'. The gulf is particularly stunning, she said, when examining the graduation of black boys versus whites.
"I haven't quite figured out why people aren't screaming in the streets about it, " she said. "No one's marching about that."
"In this country we have a very selective memory about history, " O'Brien said. "I hope we could have a discussion about our shared bad past. I'm not sure we're ready for that in this country, but I hope so."
Her reporting dealt not only with friction between the races but within the African American community. In some cases, she said, class issues creep in within members of the same race, adding another element of division.
"Clearly, we are not understanding each other, " she said.
When asked what most surprised her during the reporting of "Black in America", O'Brien answered: "the number of people interested in changing the status quo."
The series' first installment looks at black women and the family. Thursday night, the miniseries will focus on black men.
On TV
"Black in America"
9 to 11 p.m. on CNN
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