Editor 's note : Malaak Compton-Rock is founder and director of The Angelrock Project , `` an online e-village promoting volunteerism , social responsibility , and sustainable change . '' One of her initiatives , `` Journey for Change : Empowering Youth Through Global Service , '' will be seen as part of CNN 's `` Black in America 2 . '' Her first book is being published by Broadway Books in May , 2010 , titled , `` If It Takes a Village , Build One : How I Found Meaning Through a Life of Service to Others and 100+ Ways You Can Too . '' Malaak Compton-Rock says focusing on problems facing African-Americans is difficult but necessary . ( CNN ) -- In the words of my mentor and America 's foremost child advocate Marian Wright Edelman , founder and president of The Children 's Defense Fund , it 's time to `` raise a ruckus people , it is time to raise a ruckus ! '' CNN 's `` Black in America '' raised many critical issues facing African-American people in this great country of ours . It was not pretty , it was not flattering , but it was very , very frank . The show delved into the negative issues that have plagued the African-American community for generations , i.e. , crime , education , single parent families , drug abuse and the like . People got mad . People sent many e-mails and letters to Soledad O'Brien and CNN and cried foul . People said `` Black in America '' was not consistent with the lives of many African-American people and was one-sided . Blogs and Web sites popped up all over the place where people `` raised a ruckus '' about the content of the show . I read a lot of these comments . As a matter of fact , I was obsessed with people 's views for many weeks after the documentary aired . And the more I read , the more I got angry . The more I read , the more I wanted to `` raise my own ruckus . '' But I was frustrated and upset for a very different reason than most . I was almost apoplectic with the amount of criticism for `` Black in America '' without critical , thought provoking commentary about how each person can do their part to make a difference to change the very startling and distressing issues facing most African-American children and adults in America . On a typical day in the lives of black American children : . And on a typical school day for black children in America : . And consider that in America , . [ Statistics are from the Children 's Defense Fund 's Child Research Data. ] . This is serious stuff people . And it is the cold-hearted truth . So , it is okay to comment that the documentary did not represent your life . It is okay to comment that it was upsetting to see images of black men in jail , children dropping out of school , and unwed mothers . It is okay because the truth hurts , especially when it is seen by 16 million people . In fact , most of the images shown in `` Black in America '' do not represent my personal life or the lives of my children . But because these issues face my brothers and sisters in my collective African-American family , they concern me , they hurt me , they belong to me , and I will own them . We know that as African-Americans we have come a long way . We know that we are doctors , lawyers , CEOs , philanthropists , politicians , and even the president of the United States of America . And yes , it would do our children a lot of good if these images were portrayed more frequently in the media . But this does not change the very real issues facing African-American people portrayed in `` Black in America . '' And frankly , with so many of our people struggling , we ca n't just celebrate our achievements -- we must make it a priority to work on the most critical and urgent matters in our community . As I always say , `` The blessed and the best of us , must take care of the rest of us . '' So why did the criticism make me so mad ? Because so much of it was unaccompanied by real ideas , thought-provoking suggestions , plans of action , or inspiring initiatives or solutions . How can you complain if you are unwilling to join the fight ? How can you get mad , if you are disinclined to make a difference in someone else 's life ? And why would you take the time to write an accusatory e-mail to Soledad O'Brien instead of writing a letter to your representative in Congress demanding health care for all children and pregnant women , increased funding for schools , or new initiatives to increase black-owned businesses in black neighborhoods ? `` Black in America 2 '' will offer many solutions to the ills facing African-American people . I think it will make the naysayers happy . But it will only make me happy if the naysayers `` raise a ruckus '' by joining the fight to better the lives of all black folks . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Malaak Compton-Rock .
Malaak Kat - Rock : Some critical of ` ` Black in America '' focus on problems . She says community has serious challenges to overcome , particularly for children . Kat - Rock : ` ` Black in America ' '' will show improvement . She says naysayers must join the fight to improve conditions .