I think some folks in the hood are rather tired of the "Christianity charity" given to them... It is love with strings attached and folks, poor or otherwise, feel put off by that. They want something for nothing... That is our society today...

We think that we can have children anytime, anywhere, without consequences...

We can pleasure ourselves indiscriminantly with substances or abusive practices detrimental to our well-being...

And the list goes on and on...

And we have a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots...

So with someone with low mentality or regard for life in general thinks, I've gotta get mines, so I'ma take yours... Whatta yah gonna do...

Like we stated in topics long ago about Cosby's comments, I know for a fact, Cosby gave that money to Spelman for hush money 'cuz his daughter did some questionable thangs--like sniffed drugs, etc. Cosby has ghosts in his closet, so he ought not be one to speak on the ills of the AfAm community in the way he does no matter how qualified unless he plans on a major re-building effort costing trillions... Like a UN mini-government... Cosby ain't got that kinna cashflow...

I agree with Honeykisses first statement and many of the other posted responses.

I personally have no problem with Cosby. I think he is to be applauded. I wish he would buy time on the three major networks and break it down.

I was born some years after the deaths of Martin and Malcom. Although we remember them today as being these perfect brilliant men, trust meit was not like that when they were living. I said that to say this, Cosby is doing the same thing that they did during their time. He is splashing a cold glass of water in our faces so we can wake up.

We can be angry with him because he sweep us up in a generalization that doesnt apply. We can be angry because he is reading our mail. Either way, we need to be angry. That anger will propel us into action, because lets face it, we have become apathetic.

Martin and Malcolm
 

I would like to see the outcomes of his speeches and how it directly impacted us as a race and if it starts a movement because Malcolm and Martin did speak the truth but they also got in there and marched and walked and advocated. I still think these speeches are more insults to the black community and less can dos or we dos. It's more telling us what wrong instead of lets change this together. I really do not see a movement coming out of these speeches. His intensions are great but what will the outcome be? Us knowing what the media and society as already beat over our heads, ok then what. What now? We already knew what the problems are, how should we go about fixing them? Telling women on welfare to put more into their kids because the father's are not going to is motivation? Malcolm and Martin motivated and did not tear down.

^^I get where you are coming from. And I couldnt agree more. I just happen to thing that the ends will justify the means.

Hopefully it will.

Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

Soror Gods Ivy,

I agree with you wholeheartedly and I think that in the current environment of "thangs" that OUR government does with the "wiretapping" and "terrorists threat warnings", that the kinds of "lengths" that MLK and Malcolm did back in "their day and time" would be dangerous if done today...

The question is, how much are we willing to risk? If losing my house, my job, my livelihood for something I think MIGHT happen or equally and moreso that it might likely NOT happen, then why would I be willing to risk it all for one day marching? That is the way some folks think nowadays...

Po' folks ain't into in to those kinna thangs lak dat dere... They will be there for the day, but for the rest of the time, they are tryin' to make a dolla outta 15 cents... So the kinds of changes that actually need to be done requires something short of martyrdom... "Negroes" ain't into that no mo'... Unfortunately... :(

Ironically, they willin' to die for some chit in a bag that makes you high for ~10-15 minutes, if that... Go figure?

But, I think we will see changes made when our troops come back from Iraq. That happened during the last Gulf War in 1991... And it seems like history will repeat itself with our current administration... Then again, maybe not...

I just wanted to let you all know something...

La Primera Lives!

-Rudey

Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

I concur. ;)

I agree 1000% :D

Don't get mad. Do better.

enigma_AKA

Re: Martin and Malcolm
 

One thing to keep in mind, as well, is that the reality then was not the reality now. We don't really "get" what the media and society is telling us, because, if we were, we wouldn't be perpetuating this vicious cycle--of stupidity. It's like my parents used to say when I got in trouble: "Don't get mad. Don't do it".

Cosby, literally, puts his MONEY where his mouth is. I don't think he's as much as 'tattling' as he is serving as a reminder. Malcolm and Martin, yes, beyond the speeches, were dealing with a different type of struggle. Their struggle was against everyone else-the government, society and its constructs. Now? We're fighting against our ownselves. The biggest threat to our survivial is deliberate ignorance--to choose to ignore the damaging effects of our current situation.

I could only wish more people could have the means like Cosby to truly give back. I also wish more people could understand that the reasons why he is so harsh on Blacks is because, as Mccoyred pointed out earlier, he's been there and he knows what we are capable of. Simply put, he's saying, as a teacher would "Black people, you aren't working up to your potential. Get on the case--NOW!"

enigma_AKA

^^
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.