Cosby Has MORE Harsh Words for Black Community

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by Eclipse
I don't read anything in the information on Bill's speech that says "blacks" or anthing about race, period. HE says lowerclass. Now granted, he was probably talking about "us", but everyone I see acting like this does not look like me.

Come on now. He's at the Brown v. BoE (Topeka) event...separate, but equal... (50 years later) who was he REALLY talking about? Buffy, Biffy, and Bambi? Arabs? Maybe not, but HE'S TALKING ABOUT BLACK FOLKS....!

[Jill1228]

Co-sign! The truth can be a beeotch at times! I totally agree with Bill Cosby on this one!

Originally posted by AXEAM
I agree w/ what Cosby said, the truth does hurt but it's time it be told it's like taking strong medicine it doesn't taste well going down but afterwards you do feel better.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
EXACTLY!!!! Start from the bottom and work your way up. Our babies need it too.

I got luv for you, CT4, but I think this criticism is a bit unfair. Hasn't Cosby already donated something like $900 million to colleges, now he's got to support the whole first grade, too?

Never one to tell others how to spend their "cheddar" but if the melanin-enhanced super wealthy (read: NBA, NFL, Ofrah Winbry, and select GC big ballers) want to go in and adopt the Department of Education, I could see that.

[AKA2D '91]

Since I made the initial comment:

Yes, he has donated funds. I cannot tell him where to place his funds, but I can voice the opinion where it would better be served. HE made the comment about Hooked on Phonics, soooooooooo if that is the problem-area (which it is, I can say this as a teacher)... channel your funds THERE! If he would have mentioned locating a job after you get your degree, then I would not have suggested supporting primary grade levels financially.

BTW, I would love for him to donate a few duckets to the program where I tutor reading. Maybe, I would not have to donate my funds (public school teachers don't make JACK!) on supplies/materials.

ETA: not only Bill, but the other rich AAs. They are not wealthy, they are rich.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Since I made the initial comment:

Yes, he has donated funds. I cannot tell him where to place his funds, but I can voice the opinion where it would better be served. HE made the comment about Hooked on Phonics, soooooooooo if that is the problem-area (which it is, I can say this as a teacher)... channel your funds THERE! If he would have mentioned locating a job after you get your degree, then I would not have suggested supporting primary grade levels financially.

BTW, I would love for him to donate a few duckets to the program where I tutor reading. Maybe, I would not have to donate my funds (public school teachers don't make JACK!) on supplies/materials.

ETA: not only Bill, but the other rich AAs. They are not wealthy, they are rich.

Ok, I see your logic. I'd think however, that if he's already dropped $900 million at the collegiate level, that's probably where he thinks the most difference/impact can be made, and his phonics comment might have been off the cuff. but who knows?

hey, if we wind up taking up a GC collection, put me down for $20.

[preachdawg]

I like what Bill has said. In a nutshell I believe he saying that your socio economic status should not cause you to lower your standards for what you expect out of your children educationally, and or behaviorally. Many of the greatest leaders out of the Black and lower class communities have been from the most humble beginnings. As parents we have to strive not let our own personal failures is life to not effect what we teach our children about who they are, and where they can go in life. Sometimes we have to just humble ourselves and tell our kids the truth that mommy or daddy have not always made the best decisions, and in certain areas of our live they shouldn't look to us as the best examples. Finally I would be doing my vocation [Pastor] a diservices If I did not say we as a Black community should get back to when the Churches in our communities were the hub for many of the communities developmental programs. Because when it is all said and done this issue is really about the inward souls of men and women and will ultimately not be solved as Carter Woodson would say by a "antiquated educational system".

[blackwatch06]

I see where Dr. Cosby is coming from with his sentiments. Ultimately , we as a community have to do a critical self examination. Yes there is a racist society out there; police brutality, environmental racism, redlining us out of good property values, gentrification, inadeduate healthcare, unemployment and underemployment, the list can go on and on. Also, the list is not a new list. These things (and worse) have been happening to our community for hundreds of years. The conditions of the society are not new, what has changed is the condition of our souls. We have allowed the racism that we fought so diligently for over 400 years to finally dictate to us what our reality is. It is the racist that says that black people cannot excell, cannot learn discipline, cannot be educated. Now, that racist is our own people. Talk to a a young black kid in your community. Ask them what it means to be black, what it means to be white, what it means to be "real" so to speak, and you'd think you were talking to either a young klansman, or a neo-conservative "colorblind" person who sees no color, but understands the "proper" social order of white supremacy and knows that blacks are suppposed to be at the bottom of that order. One kid (black mind you) had the nerve to tell me that there was no such thing as racism and that black people are at the bottom of the social order because we simply "choose to be". This of course, supposes that black people just are ignorant, lazy, and violent by nature, which he stated that "most of them are, but I am not black, I am American" . Later on that same day, he and 2 of his black(or not black) friends were handcuffed by the police for playing with a BB gun at a block party.

I talk with black youth everyday on the job and I tell you, there is no sense of community nor excellence. The ideal or goal is to get over on people or "Hustle", but they don't have the literacy skills nor the analytical thinking skills to be "successful" at it, so it no longer shocks me to see our jails overrun with young black boys and men. A blind cop with no legs can see them doing a crime and catch them with out so much as breaking a sweat. We are in bad shape brothers and sisters if our community is depending on the hip-hop generation to carry on a struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

I agree with preachdawg, our churches need to step up and have total community development as a goal. But are churches today really equipped to meet such a challenge? The political evil of racism has become the spiritual evil of self hatred in our community. This self hatred is becomming our collective self identity, and the only way some of our people deal with it is to claim some sort of "non-racial" status, which means nothing because we do not define race for ourselves, the larger society does. And because of it, we as a community have to rethink our spiritual strivings and focus on the community as a source of divine inspiration and movement.
Blackwatch!!!!!!

[abaici]

Originally posted by djjukebox
Somehow, a lot of our people have DEVALUED education and put an emphasis on MATERIAL things.

True. First of all, I agree with many of his statements.

HOWEVER, I think that Mr. Cosby unfairly pointed a finger at the "lower economic people". They are not the only group guilty of bad parenting (Mr. Cosby is well aware of that). Also, I just disagree with the venue. I just don't see how choosing this venue will HELP the situation he is speaking about. We will not improve the situation by marching and making speeches. Most of the people who need to hear his message, are not listening. As someone said, this is a grassroots effort. I applaud his philanthropy at the college level...but so many of our babies will not even make it there.

[Phasad1913]

Originally posted by blackwatch06
I see where Dr. Cosby is coming from with his sentiments. Ultimately , we as a community have to do a critical self examination. Yes there is a racist society out there; police brutality, environmental racism, redlining us out of good property values, gentrification, inadeduate healthcare, unemployment and underemployment, the list can go on and on. Also, the list is not a new list. These things (and worse) have been happening to our community for hundreds of years. The conditions of the society are not new, what has changed is the condition of our souls. We have allowed the racism that we fought so diligently for over 400 years to finally dictate to us what our reality is. It is the racist that says that black people cannot excell, cannot learn discipline, cannot be educated. Now, that racist is our own people. Talk to a a young black kid in your community. Ask them what it means to be black, what it means to be white, what it means to be "real" so to speak, and you'd think you were talking to either a young klansman, or a neo-conservative "colorblind" person who sees no color, but understands the "proper" social order of white supremacy and knows that blacks are suppposed to be at the bottom of that order. One kid (black mind you) had the nerve to tell me that there was no such thing as racism and that black people are at the bottom of the social order because we simply "choose to be". This of course, supposes that black people just are ignorant, lazy, and violent by nature, which he stated that "most of them are, but I am not black, I am American" . Later on that same day, he and 2 of his black(or not black) friends were handcuffed by the police for playing with a BB gun at a block party.

I talk with black youth everyday on the job and I tell you, there is no sense of community nor excellence. The ideal or goal is to get over on people or "Hustle", but they don't have the literacy skills nor the analytical thinking skills to be "successful" at it, so it no longer shocks me to see our jails overrun with young black boys and men. A blind cop with no legs can see them doing a crime and catch them with out so much as breaking a sweat. We are in bad shape brothers and sisters if our community is depending on the hip-hop generation to carry on a struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

I agree with preachdawg, our churches need to step up and have total community development as a goal. But are churches today really equipped to meet such a challenge? The political evil of racism has become the spiritual evil of self hatred in our community. This self hatred is becomming our collective self identity, and the only way some of our people deal with it is to claim some sort of "non-racial" status, which means nothing because we do not define race for ourselves, the larger society does. And because of it, we as a community have to rethink our spiritual strivings and focus on the community as a source of divine inspiration and movement.
Blackwatch!!!!!!

Excellent, and I repeat EXCELLENT points.

[abaici]

Mr. Cosby said yesterday that what was left out of those comments, first reported by The Associated Press and The Washington Post, was that he began his remarks by talking about what he said was a 50 percent high school dropout rate among poor blacks. The National Center for Education Statistics, a federal agency, says that in 2000 the dropout rate for blacks was 13.1 percent. Mr. Cosby's publicist, David Brokaw, said it was Mr. Cosby's understanding that the rate was 50 percent in some inner-city schools.

"I am in as much pain as many, many people about these people," he continued (If white people had said this?? These people?). "The 50 percent dropout rate, the seeming acceptance of having children and not making the father responsible and calling him in on it. It's easy to pass these things on like some kind of epidemic."
Link for full story...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/22/arts/22COSB.html

[Conskeeted7]

I agree with the majority of the commments Bill Cosby made.

In relation to the proper way to speak, it is my opinion that proper grammar should be used in any public venue, whether you are talking to your friends, employer, or coworkers. You are in public and you never know who is watching. Additionally, if you know that the stereotype of black people is that we are ignorant and speak ebonics, why would you go out and confirm that stereotype, then justify it by saying you were with your friends and you know how to speak in job interviews?

That comment right there is one of my pet peeves. Because you know what, one day it might slip out in an environment where you didn't want it to. Then what? Remember this...
thoughts become words
words become actions
actions become habits
and habits build character
So, it's more than just a bunch of words, it can be a determining factor in your life.

I just think we need to step it up. It takes the same amount of breath to say something in ebonics as it does in proper English. So, what's the problem? Stop making excuses for why we can't do it and make it happen. It has to start somewhere. So, start today.

[candygirl]

I agree with Bill Cosby 100%. Its about time somebody said something and I don't see anything wrong with the venue. Those who are offended by his words are those that need to hear the message most. Its kind of like the pastor talking about sin and you get quiet, offended, and don't want to "amen" because it hit too close to home.

The truth of the matter is that lower class AA people need some serious help. It don't matter how you slice it. Its the truth. I applaud Bill Cosby for his philanthorpy at the college level. Many of you have stated that his efforts need to be directed toward helping children in grade school as well as educating the parents of these children. I do think that something needs to be done but Bill Cosby can't do everything. Someone mentioned personal responsibility. I believe responsibility is key and not just the responsibility of the parents. The community as a whole should become involved. Remember that old adage "It takes a village to raise a child". So what are we doing within our communities to combat this problem. What are the local organizations, block clubs, aldermans, congressmen, and churches doing to secure the future of our children.

I believe Bill Cosby's sentiments were used to provoke us to become more proactive in implementing some sort change. Instead of criticizing him for his beliefs we should do something about problem.

[ykimber]

I believe Bill Cosby is telling the truth and the only reason people are mad is because he is speaking about his own race. The truth really hurts and this is a prime example.

[abaici]

Again, it's the truth...but it's not the WHOLE truth. If you are going to put it out there like that..."Make it plain" as the ole folks say.

[Krisco]

I am split about Mr. Cosbys comments and some here. The 'lower class' being referred to that could be one of many reasons the problems exist. If a group of people are told all their lives in so many words "you are the lower class, the virtual feces of the american society" and the cycle of self hatred, lowered expectations and devaluement is ingrained to the degree whether by our 'own' or not, how can we seriously believe they want anything else?? I am from that lower class Bill spoke so highly about, and I am sure many of my fellow GC'ers are also. Yes the comments he made had some truly valid points to them, but they were off for me, on the right track but not heartfelt. Like AKAD91 said, we gotta get to the root of this, the people in college are not who I am worrying about! I know we all must answer the challenge, and answering those challenges mean going on various levels and relating our goals to our realities.
We got our work cut out for us my brothers and sisters...

Great discussion, I enjoy reading everyone's vantage point...to a degree