I've witnessed stuff like that far too often. I know there's no instruction booklet with children but people don't know the damage they do to their children when they talk to them all crazy. just a cycle of ridiculousness.

Glad to see the responses in this thread
 

In an earlier story I posted, there was something called "self-reliance liberalism" mentioned. It's something that we are going to have to stop talking about and start practicing.

We should have practiced it YEARS ago. I'm dating myself here, but I saw this coming in the 1980s with the compassion fatigue when the late Pres. Reagan was re-elected. It crystallized in 1996, when Proposition 209 was passed in California.

We don't really have the strong moral appeal that we had during the heyday of the civil rights era.

Yes, I know that 40 years of civil rights isn't going to undo 200 to 500 years of slavery and its aftermath.

But there's enough of us who have done well. Somehow, we have to figure out what the successful among native-born, several generation AfAms (as well as immigrants from African countries and West Indian countries and their kids) are doing and transfer it to the wider body.

I don't see any simple solutions.

Bill Cosby puts his money where his mouth is
 

He gives TONS of money to colleges and is a vocal advocate for the importance of education. The man has risen out of poverty himself. He has EVERY RIGHT to comment on our community's problems, he is one of the people trying to SOLVE them.

So once again, bravo Bill.

I agree with much of what Mr. Cosby stated, although I may disagree with how he said it. I also think he needs to expand his comments to encourage middle class black folks to do more in the community than we are currently doing. I think he needs to encourage folks to do more than "drive by" giving (i.e. serving at a soup kitchen, donating clothes, etc.) and get involved in Trayveeonshay and 'nem's life so that they can see other options.

BTW, the "lower" class are not the only ones who are not teaching their kids values. I know some solidly middle class people who kids are on the road to destruction as we speak.

I agree!
 

Re: Bill Cosby puts his money where his mouth is
 

Let me first state that I DO AGREE with Mr. Cosby, but to say he is trying to solve the issue..exactly how is he doing that? I see him at these events and making statements at venues where the actual people he is talking about are NOT in attendance. I think if he was serious he would go out into those areas and address that segment of the black population. Sure he gives TONS of money to colleges, and that is great, but the people who he speaks of arent in college there still in our public schools or on the corner. IMO I think when he is at those venues speaking he need to address the middle to elite class of blacks and admionish them for widespread neglect of the poorer class.

Re: Re: Bill Cosby puts his money where his mouth is
 

Exactly! But, that's not what he's doing. IF you state that those people need to do that...talk to those people. HELP THOSE PEOPLE!

I agree with Eclipse as well. WE need to pick it up. Our organizations that are suppossed to service the community need to do just that.

"Widespread neglect of the poorer class." ?

Well, in order to believe in that theory, you must support the idea of the "Talented Tenth". However, this type of thinking is not limited to successful Blacks. Many wealthy "other" believe that they must help those in need.

Once again I agree w/ Mr Cosby sometimes in life you have to call it as you see it and many a black parent have dropped the ball big time. If I had a dollar for every time a blk parent came in my office and blamed everything/everybody for their child's behavior I'll be alright. Now true the MAN does keep his foot on our throat but that's no excuse why a person should not get an education and behave in a respectful manner that's not to much to ask for. Too many black people have brought into the just do what you like mindset and it's clear that type of thinking just isn't working.

Why is that when I said that on this message board everybody got mad? Guess I'm not Bill Cosby.

Cosby is on NPR right now speaking on this and the african american community.:)

Cosby Paying for Education of 2 Students

Thu Jul 8, 6:26 AM ET


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Comedian Bill Cosby (news), who recently said black children are "going nowhere" because they don't know how to read and write, is paying for the college education of two top high school graduates who support themselves.



Cosby, who lives in Shelburne, read a story in The Republican of Springfield about Loren M. Wilder and Jimmy L. Hester, who are also black. They went to three colleges in a tour arranged by Cosby, and selected Hampton University in Hampton, Va. after visiting the campus on Tuesday.


Read the rest HERE!

Don't tell me Cosby isn't doing enough.

He is doing far more than most of the people who have lamblasted him as he has given PERSONALLY and invested far more than a few weekends in the future of MANY (read: not just these two) of our children.

He can make whatever truthful (cuz ya know he's telling it like it T-I is!) statements as far as I am concerned, because he is truly doing something to rectify the problem.

In general I agree with Bill Cosby's comments. I think a lot of what he said, many have said to each other, over dinner, in the barber or beauty shop, in their living rooms, for a long time. I differ on the blanket indictment of "the poorer class" and the romanticized view that the middle and upper class have it together. Our Black parents, for whatever reason, are failing across all socioeconomic lines and that is disturbing. I see many Black families who have "made it" whose children are a mess. I also see "lower class" families who are holding it down. It is bigger than a class issue.

I feel that you have to decide what you are trying to accomplish and choose your efforts from there. If we are trying to keep another generation of children form being lost, by God we all need open our mouths, take our legislators to task and save America's public schools. We need to volunteer our time to reach these kids and to reach these parents. It is not enough to point fingers and place blame. It is also not enough to focus all our efforts on kids going to college. While they need our support, the only way to increase the numbers who are graduating is reaching them when they are small. We have to put in work to make a difference. Not just flap our gums. At the head start center my chapter runs, it is clear that efforts to assist the parents impacts the children. Better off Black folks need to do more than look down their noses and shake their heads if they want to see a change.