^^
And also remember, Cos comes from a generation that saw people maimed and killed for basic civil rights. Most of us are post-Civil Rights Act 1964 people. Yes, we have experienced racism and discrimination, but some of the ugliest stuff in the past was gone while we were growing up.

I also don't see him as a scold. This is stuff that my 78-year-old mother talks about.

Bill is not preaching to the choir. He is speaking in those communities where these things are happening. He is being INVITED by the leaders in those communities. What he is doing is shedding light on our inertia at dealing with our own self-inflicted problems. Bill is NOT ATTACKING POOR PEOPLE. He is attacking the BAD DECISION_MAKERS whose NEGATIVITY affects/effects us ALL. Black America cannot advance as long as a sizable segment continues to be an albatross around our necks. Our constant babying of these people and our unwillingness to call then on the carpet and deal with them without this benign paternalism is part of their undoing. We continue to be enablers. Along with the omnipresent failsafe of "institutional racism" and other convenient deflections, we provide the excuse for the continuance of every kind of social pathology that only can be found in us.

Cosby is saying that the ENEMY is within and must be dealt with as such. To continue to deflect the blame and solutions onto people outside the community is to condemn us to just more of the same ineffectual handling of the crisis.

Cosby is giving the clarion call. The communities must hear and deal. He is telling us to GROW UP and TAKE RESPONSIBILTY or are we really just CHILDREN in the way we behave and beseech others to absolve us and then pay us out of self -dug hole.

Well said.

Re: Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

I just hope that there is a positive outcome. Will this change us as a race is the question?

I agree that there is a problem between the haves and have-nots and that for many individuals who are from the have-nots that it probably appears to be condescending to have Mr. Cosby constantly speaking to them about what they need to do, when they don't feel that he can relate. And I used to have problems with the comments he made, because I felt that due to his alleged behavior with other women, he did not have the right to tell other people what they needed to do to clean up their lives, when his seemed to be in just as much trouble. Yet, one thing I think everyone forgets is that we are all human. I do not know if you will find anyone who does not have some type of skeletons in their closet, including MLK Jr. I think that the expectations that we put on our black leaders are a certain level of perfection, where they can be placed upon a pedestal. I think we feel in order for someone to have that right, they must have walked in those shoes AND give back in a specific way. I have problems with some of the comments that Mr. Cosby has said, but if nothing else, I appreciate that he is sparking emotions and dialogue where something may actually be done as a result of that. I also appreciate his and his wife's financial donations - regardless of the reason, because it is still a step towards solving the problem.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.





And this.

Coby's comments
 

I too feel Cosby has done so much for the black community, he has so much wisdom and is a worthy candidate for speaking about what's really going on, and he gives generously from his pockets, he's not just talk. but the reality is that most people christian or not are afraid to take a stand, sometimes satan's greatest weapon is our own fear.

Re: Re: Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

I think it will. But only marginally.

I agree with much that has been posted to I wont rehash.

The last time blacks unified on any issue and was propelled into movement was to vote for Reuben on AI.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

I can agree with that. I am ready for change, am a part of change, and would love others to adopt it. I really hope this will at make them begin to seek change and advocated for change in their lives.

Re: Coby's comments
 

Hijack...where have you been?
:)

Maybe its no longer possible for black americans or black people in general to "change as a race". Things have changed so much both globally and here in America. We were so grouped together during the days of segregation (in its first form) and jim crow that there truly was a sense of togetherness in the struggle. But things have changed a lot in countless ways, both good and bad. People are, in general, more individualized in their thinking. Many black people are conservative (with a small C) and feel that they have and will make it in life because of their own merit, not because of anything someone gave them. I just don't really feel that there is A or ONE black America any more and that is actually why people feel like change in and among ourselves as a group in never going to happen. It probably won't. People have to live for themselves and I don't mean that in a selfish way. What I mean is that people already look out for themselves and their own families and thats about all one can expect another to do. So, why not just accept that? There is absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out and lending a helping hand. We are all supposed to do that. But doing so with a "I have to do this because I am black and so are you" attitude isn't the crux of the issue anymore.

Rather than people waiting for some miraculous grand awakening of black people to occur, we need to just live our own lives to the best of our abilities and try to encourage one another as Christians are supposed to do, or what ever your religion calls for in terms of helping our fellow man. This goes for Bill Cosby and anyone else. When he talks, everyone nods their heads because everyone does feel and can relate to what he is saying. No one is fighting with him over his views. The problem is that the motivation for change is going to always have to come from within each individual person, not from some external force.

Interesting point of view

Phasad1913,
I feel you on this post. We're too diverse to realistically ever again expect one person to lead us. As one of those small "c" conservatives you mentioned, I think a significant portion of the successful AfAm community is rightly concerned about helping those trying to help to help themselves. Most of us are making it, or at least on our way, and remember the obstacle/s we had to conquer. Knowing that, our greater sense of collective good, IMO, leads us to reach back. Hopefully, our diversity won't kill that.

True, there are knuckleheads who squandered their talent and didn't prepare. Bad choices usually yield bad results. But my social service peeps (and my own observations) suggest that the majority of lower-economic class are not shiftless, anti-social, negative-headline generating gangbangers. The majority are the ones hitting the Urban Leagues and the Life Skills centers, and other programs, trying, as best they can, to come up.

When the prodigal son came to himself and made his way back home, he didn't get a lecture. He got restoration. And even if the poor have to find full restoration on their own, they at least deserve to make the trip back home without full-throated criticism ringing in their ears.

Then the question still remains, can we be marginalized when there are so many differences among us?

Also, we beat each other down so hard, "crabs in the barrel mentality" rather than lift folks up that it is nature of our society. Can we ever have that communal, altruistic upliftment to the "promised land"??? Can we all just get along???

We even do it here on GC... At the beginning of GC, we did not terrorize folks for voicing their thoughts and opinions, but now it is an all out "bash and headbangers" ball that we even avoid listening to hear what folks are really trying to say...

If one were read through, there some interesting statements made...

Yes its been a minute
 

Hijack...where have you been?

hey soror, i have been on the grind, so busy working and back in school. i am doing well no complaints. do you get to la often anymore?



__________________

>Their struggle was against everyone else-the government, society and its constructs.

With MLK, to some extent that's true. With Malcolm X, I think he saw changing black people's choices and behavior as way more important than trying to convince white people to act right. My best understanding of his central message is: "Are we going to stand around and wait for what is ours to be given to us by white people? No. We've been waiting 300 years. We need to take pride in ourselves and build our OWN society today: we need to patronize our own businesses, stop poisoning ourselves with drugs and gambling, and our men need to stand by their families and protect them."

So I see a great deal of Malcolm X in Cosby's message.