*In the wake of its series focusing on the status of being “Black in America,” CNN Cable News, in association with Essence Magazine and the Opinion Research Corporation, has released a poll showing many people think conditions have improved for African American women over the past decade but not for African American men.

      A majority of both Black and whites felt things had gotten better for Black women. The survey showed 65 percent of Blacks and 70 percent of whites believed Black females were better off today than they were 10 years ago.

      However, according to the poll, while 60 percent of whites think conditions have also improved for Black men only 35 percent of the African Americans surveyed felt conditions for Black men had also improved during the same period.

      In other areas, 68 percent of Blacks and 72 percent of whites felt Rap music has negatively affected Blacks. Meanwhile, 60 percent of Blacks said they had daily contact with whites but only 39 percent of whites said they had daily contact with Blacks.

      The poll results are part of the CNN special report hosted by Soledad O’Brien entitled “Black in America.” (source: Taylor Media Services)