Bill Cosby: Teach Kids 'The True Meaning of the N-Word'
By Won Kim
© 2006 DiversityInc.com®
March 08, 2006
Entertainer Bill Cosby dominated headlines last year for his pointed comments about the current state of black youth and the role of black responsibility. Cosby did not shy away from this topic Monday night as he served as master of ceremonies for the 25th consecutive year at the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) Annual Awards Dinner.
With high-profile individuals such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and director Spike Lee all under one roof at historic Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, Cosby challenged the JRF scholars and luminaries to assume greater responsibility.
"We need to teach the kids the true meaning of [the N-word]. [The N-word] was used against Jackie Robinson when he played baseball, but now the youth dance to this word," Cosby said. Pointing to the JRF scholars sitting in the balcony of the ballroom, Cosby asked, "Do you see any [the N-word] sitting up there? Do you see any bitches?"
Cosby also spoke passionately about protecting youth. "The family is the last place of protection for our youth. The schools can't protect them, the streets can't protect them. It is the family's responsibility to teach the youth." Cosby challenged the corporate and individual sponsors of the JRF scholars to go beyond writing out a check and to focus on "mentoring the youth."
The night also recognized several individuals, honoring Sen. Clinton, who received the ROBIE Award for Humanitarism, and Donald R. Knauss, president and COO, Coca-Cola North America, who received the ROBIE Award for Achievement in Industry. Clinton was given the award for her commitment to education and for creating opportunities of growth for young scholars, and Knauss was praised for cultivating a diverse work force at Coca-Cola (No. 6 on The 2005 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list) and being an avid supporter for youth development. Previous recipients of these awards have ranged from athletes to artists to corporate leaders, such as Michael Jordan, Stevie Wonder and J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and CEO of Marriott International (No. 12 on The 2005 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list).
The dinner also highlighted six individuals who were presented with the ROBIE Lifetime Achievement Award for being trailblazers in business. Lee Archer (corporate vice president, General Foods), James Avery (senior public-affairs consultant, Exxon), Darwin Davis (senior vice president, Equitable), George Lewis (president and CEO, Philip Morris Capital Corporation), James Ward (senior vice president, Marriott) and Clifton Wharton Jr. (chairman and CEO, TIAA-CREF), respectively, were all among the first black men to hold senior-level executive positions at Fortune 500 companies, now all retired from those positions. Similar to Jackie Robinson's journey, all these men helped open doors for the many people of color that subsequently entered the corporate world.
Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson and founder of the JRF, was given a standing ovation for her commitment to providing educational and mentoring opportunities for students of color. Established in 1973, shortly after Jackie Robinson's death, JRF has granted four-year college scholarships to promising students of color showing financial need, as well as providing mentoring and leadership-training retreats. Over the past three decades, JRF has supported more than 1,100 students and maintains a 97 percent graduation rate. DiversityInc is a corporate sponsor of the JRF.
Sandra Ulsh, president of Ford Motor Company Fund and a sponsor of JRF scholar Carolyn Wright, a sophomore at Harvard University, described how JRF consistently has shown a commitment to furthering the future of the youth through education, adding, "Jackie Robinson Foundation has been a leader in many ways. More than just supporting education, they also provide a mentoring program for students."
It is this blend of funding and developing its scholars that has allowed JRF to carry out Jackie Robinson's guiding tenet: "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Currently, JRF is aiming to award $1.8 million in scholarship support. To receive more information, check out the foundation's Web site at
www.jackierobinson.org.
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