Come on People, No, Come on Cosby

Comedian Bill Cosby is the walking and now writing proof of the ancient adage that good intentions can go terribly awry. That's never been more painfully true than in Cosby's latest tome, Come On People. Cosby and his publisher boast that the book is a big, brash, and provocative challenge to black folk to get their act together. That's got him ga ga raves, and an unprecedented one hour spin job on Meet the Press. In the book, Cosby harangues and lectures, cobbles together a mesh of his trademark anecdotes, homilies, and personal tales of woe and success, juggles and massages facts to bolster his self-designated black morals crusade. Stripped away it's the same stock claim that blacks can't read, write or speak coherent English, and are social and educational cripples and failures.

Since Cosby's much touted tirade at the NAACP confab a few years back, and on countless talk shows, and at community gatherings, he has succeeded marvelously in getting the tongues of blacks wagging furiously and their fingers jabbing relentlessly at each other's alleged mountainous defects. They stumble over themselves to hail Cosby as the ultimate truth-giver.

He isn't. While Cosby is entitled to publicly air black America's alleged dirty laundry, there's more myth than dirt in that laundry. Some knuckleheads in black neighborhoods do kill, mug, peddle dope, are jobless untouchables, and educational wastrels. They, and only they, should be the target of wrath. But Cosby makes a Grand Canyon size leap from them to paint a half-truth, skewed, picture of the plight of poor blacks and the reasons and prescriptions for their plight. The cornerstone of Cosby myth-making is that they are crime prone, educational losers, and teen baby making machines.

Here are two choice Cosby whoppers from the opening pages of the book:

"There are whole blocks with scarcely a married couple, whole blocks without responsible black males"

This is a big, sweeping unsupported by any survey, stats, or factual data to back it up. And:

"The problems start early for black boys, and we can all see it. Call it ADHD or learning differences. Young black males can act up a Level 5 storm in class."

Here's another big unsubstantiated statement and there's those broad brush indicting words "all" see it" (who is all?); "young black males" (all young black males?); and they act up a level 5 storm (all black males are disruptive in class?)

The heart wrenching and much played up news shots and specials of black-on-black blood-letting in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and a handful of other big cities and the admission that blacks do have a much higher kill rate than young whites tell a tale of out-of-control, lawless blacks. The truth: homicides and physical assaults have plunged among black teens to the lowest levels in the past two decades. The rate of drug use among young blacks is no higher than among young whites. Blacks are more likely to be arrested, convicted and imprisoned than young whites who if arrested at all are more likely to get drug rehab, counseling, and treatment referrals, probation or community service. This horribly distorts the racial crime picture.

Then there is the black teen girls as baby making machine myth. The truth: the teen pregnancy rate among black girls has sharply dropped during the past decade. And they continue to fall.

The biggest myth that young blacks empty out the public schools, fill up the jails and cemeteries, and ridicule learning as acting white has risen to urban legend rank. The truth: the U.S. Dept. of Education found that in the decades since 1975, more blacks had enrolled in school, had improved their SAT scores by nearly 200 points and had lowered their dropout rate significantly. It also found that one in three blacks attended college, and that the number of blacks receiving bachelors and masters degrees had nearly doubled. A survey of student attitudes by the Minority Student Achievement Network, an Illinois-based educational advocacy group in 2002 and confirmed in other surveys, found that black students were as motivated, studied as hard, and were as serious about graduating as whites.

Cosby publicly bristles at criticism that he takes the worst of the worst behavior of some blacks and publicly hurls that out as the warped standard of black America. Cosby says that he does not mean to slander all, or even most blacks, as derelict, laggards and slackers. Yet that's precisely the impression he gives and the criticism of him for it is more than justified. Even the book title, Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors (a hint they're all losers) conveys that smear.

He did not qualify or provide a complete factual context for his blanket indictment of poor blacks. He made the negative behavior of some blacks a racial rather than an endemic social problem. In doing so, he did more than break the alleged taboo against publicly airing racial dirty laundry; he fanned dangerous and destructive stereotypes.

This is hardly the call to action that can inspire and motivate underachieving blacks to improve their lives. Instead, it further demoralizes those poor blacks who are doing the best to keep their children and themselves out of harm's way, often against towering odds, while still being hammered for their alleged failures by the Cosby's within and without their communities. Worse, Cosby's blame-the-victim slam does nothing to encourage government officials and business leaders to provide greater resources and opportunities to aid those blacks that need help.

Come on People, intended or not, continues to tar the black communities and the black poor as dysfunctional, chronic whiners, and eternally searching for a government hand-out. Come on, Cosby.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation between African-Americans and Hispanics (Middle Passage Press).

Comments

[PhantomAviator]

Go to the South Bronx some time and SEE how many nuclear families there are.

That's a bad hood for anybody of any color, and there ain't no PHD's of Social Science hanging out by the drugstore.

Find yer own reason WHY, but you better be sure of the idea that there ARE large areas in major metropolitan areas that are BEYOND the definition of the word "dangerous". Places where your presence aa an outsider makes you not just a target for violence, but an attractor of it.

It's not just Americans, however. It's just the concept that WE have to look at THEM. It's the law of exclusion. WE feel better about ourselves because THEY are...(fil­l in the blank). And conversely, THEY feel worse about themselves because THEY perceive WE have more of (whatever vital thing they think they require). Which leads to feelings of inadequecy and frustratio­n...la-la.­..violence­....pick up a Psych 101 book.

But after all, in the Capitalist, Bell-curve society, there MUST be Losers. Without the Top and the Bottom there can be no Middle.
You know, the place where we with computers and the Internet live.

So it goes.

[SandraL]

Shame on Bill Cosby.He should understand context instead of pandering to old stereotypes. This conversation that needs to be had in the US. we've become complacent with issues of race, and the dialogue needs to start. Yes I was relentlessy teased in high school in the eighties for my love of classical music, studying, for "speaking white." But if I truly want to participate in this racial discussion and represent my Black and Latina background with grace and erudition, I will take the hard knocks. My protest is against perpetrating negative racial images.How can I start the revolution as mapped out by our past leaders? With race in the spotlight now, get off our "everything is okay in 2007, there's no need to talk about race" pedestal, and start to realize that we are in somewhat of a racial emergency. "You're so articulate and well spoken" is a broken record of my whole life. And people should be careful about how they are giving "complemen­ts." Bill O'Reilly was not complementing Black people at Slyvia's when being surprised that they were behaving graciously, as opposed to like thugs.I would never make "low country" jokes about inbreeding, or seemingly humoruos comments about Jewish people or Asians. Telling an Asian person you're surprised that they are a French major instead of biological sciences in hopes of becoming a doctor is NOT a complement­.Let's get off our asses, and ask ourselves tough questions instead of hiding behind "our freedom." Cosby if you want to extend tough love to the Black community dont berate us, for being squashed under racially motivated policy of the past which has not helped ANY poor communinity. Challenge us to succeed, you be the shining example. Do your research and start reading. Read DuBois and Douglas, read some Ellison, and take those damn glasses off and make eye contact with your people! You are not blind...LO­OK AT US! If you need some help, give me a call. I'll be at home listening to Rachmaninoff while making a mean batch of fried chicken.

[Nommo]

I think that you are wrong. Beethoven is the only music for frying bird. Unless it's Bird.
Other than that, right on.

[MagisterLudi]

I think Rachmaninoff's 2 piano concerto ( what we musicians call variously Rocky 2 or Rock2) is the best for frying anything. The bombastic piano part seems to help achieve the golden crisp.

[sdskelton03]

Being a white guy, I have very little chance of ever being a black leader. But if I could, I would shout this from the rooftops and into every T.V. camera pointed at me.

If a young black does the following things in order and before having children, there is a 95% chance he/she will not live his/her adult life in poverty.

1. graduate high school
2. get a job
3. get married

It is that simple. We need to share this with our black children every chance we get.

[nihilon x]

We don't need "black" leaders -- we need LEADERS.

Just because you are white does not mean you can't make a difference. If you saw a black kid dying in the street, would you think "I'm not a black leader, so I can't do anything to help that kid"?

You can be a Big Brother, you can donate to inner-city organizations that keep kids off the streets and minority scholarship funds, you can be a mentor to a child in need.

You don't have to have "black" skin to help out another human being, regardless of color.

[sugarmoes]

what you say is true. that could happen.

this could happen too in your scenario - the white person is run out of town for being "racist" for trying to help.

go figure.

ignorance and fear and loathing abound all around.

[SandraL]

Nihilon, Right on! Yes, I will concede that he has certainly pointed out some painful truths about the Black community, hell ALL poor communities. So start in your community, your family. The media with its sycophantic worship of gansta and hip hop everything, this small part of Black life has taken over ALL images in the media of Black life. What about Mr Gardner from "The Pursuit of Happyness?" Someone get HIM on sixty minutes. Now THAT'S an excellent Black man. I implore EVERYONE to watch the 1950 Sydney Poitier movie "No Way Out." These issues have been around FOREVER. Put Sydney Poitier on sixty minutes. And yes, Nommo Beethoven sonatas are better for frying the bird, and all Son music from Cuba.Shoot I'll make fried chicken and have a showing of "No Way Out."

[tbone99]

Um lets see if he doesn't go to a private school (where no standardized testing is done) he can attend 12 years of schooling thinking he's doing ok and still not pass the NCLB test needed a high school diploma.
Then,jobs in inner cities are few to nonexistent & to get other places may require transportation he cannot afford..Ge­tting married -thats a stretch without # 2 and a fast food job ain't gonna cut it.There are plenty of college educated white folks underemployed if you haven't noticed, they get first pick.So keep yelling Mr s- i'm sure it'll be a BIG help.

[sdskelton03]

Tbone

Your style of hopelessnes is the most dangourous voice a young black man can hear. You are convinced that cards are stacked against him. That he cannot succeed. That the system does have him beat.

I never underestimate the power of the human spirit.

What does it say to a young black man when you tell him he is incapable of an education, job and family?!?!

Why does the world need white-supremacists? Tbone99 will do just fine in keeping the black man in the ghetto.

[acanthus]

...and don't complain when you get that college degree and still lose out to a white guy who doesn't have one...yes, we get it.

[sdskelton03]

Mr. Hutchinson is my favorite blogger here, but he is dead wrong on this one.

It doesn't take a scholary approach to verify that what Mr. Cosby says is true. All one has to do is take a walk through my neighborhood in St. Louis.

My street is about 40% black and middle class. These black families all have fathers at home, respectful children who speak well. They are educated, well spoken and well dressed.

At the section 8 building two blocks away, there are no black fathers. The youngsters wear thier pants about halfway down thier ass and run wild like idiots. They ask me for change or cigarrettes as I walk by. The little black boys treat the black girls very disrespectfully.

Mr. Cosby is absolutely correct. As an american, I am proud of Mr. Cosby who has been a true leader in the black community (and for all of us for that matter) his whole life.

Mr. Hutchinson should rethink this one.

[nihilon x]

The argument is not against what Cosby says -- its about what he didn't say.

Even you point out that the middle class black people in your neighborhood are doing well. In doing so, you likewise acknowledge that the problem is not simply "racial" but possibly socio-economic.

The criticism of Cosby is that he is fueling the stereotype of black people as uneducated criminals because he is not presenting the whole story.

Even you made mention of the fact that there are many successful, educated black people out there -- all most people here are doing is asking that Cosby do the same.

[sdskelton03]

Mr Cosby's mission and purpose is not to reflect the black community as it is with equal attention paid to all aspects of it. ( I know that is akward but it's the best wording I can come up with.)

Mr. Cosby is addressing a problem in the black community and one that undeniably exists. It is poor (socio-economic), it is urban, and it is black all at the same time.

Yes, everything you and Mr. Hutchinson have said is true. However, so is the situation I see every day at Grand and Holly Hills in St. Louis.

I see a culture aimed at our young black children that glorifies violence, demeans women, advocates crime and devalues work. This culture calls our young black children niggers and hos. We shouldn't be surprised when too many of them become exactly that.

We must stand and fight back and not allow this culture to go unchecked. The young black girl I see at the bus stop at 7am with her brother is not a bitch, and not a ho. Thank God we have Bill Cosby to stand up and shout back!!

You be with whoever you want, I'm with Cos!!

[acanthus]

skelton, he's also an adulterer who had a child out of wedlock and an accused sexual predator. Yeah, he's definitely someone to look up to.

[iswearington]

BLACK FATHERHOOD WAS DEALT A SEVERE BLOW IN THE 50 S AND 60 S WHEN BLACK WOMEN WERE TOLD THAT THEIR MARGINALLY EMPLOYED HUSBANDS AND BOY FRIENDS(LAST HIRED AND FIRST FIRED)HAD TO MOVE OUT AND STAY OUT BEFORE THEY COULD BE ELGIBLE FOR WELFARE BENIFITS.W­ELFARE WORKERS AIDED BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN INNERCITY NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER AMERICA HID IN PARKED CARS WATCHING THE DOORS FRONT AND BACK OF THE MISERABLE HOVELS SOMETIMES WITH BINOCULARS­.TO MAKE SURE NO MAN GOT IN.MANY A MOTHER OF YOUG CHILDREN..­.CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF ALLOWING HER CHILDRENS FATHER TO STAY THE NIGHT...FO­UND OUT ON THE 1ST OF THE MONTH...TH­AT HER CHECK HAD BEEN CUT.THIS WAS A DELIBERATE GOVERNMENT ACTION...J­UST LIKE 911. TRUE TO NATURE..TH­ESE DEMONS ARE BLAMING THE VICTIMS FOR THE CRIMES THEY THEMSELVES COMMITTED.

[larrys6]

I don't think Cosby is saying all young Black people are described as bad. We all recognize who is is talking about. He pretty much describes what I see also. Cosby does leave out some factors that has led us to this situation, but I'm assuming he is aware of them. His point is regardless of past and present injustices and racism, we should overcome and prevail, as many of us do. Still, there are so many who don't. His frustration is evident, he choose to vent it his way and I agree with his outrage.

Someone has put Cosby in the group with Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas, Walter Williams and Alan Keys. It is an insult to Cosby to place him in such a group as those self serving, Republican mouthpieces. He has a real interest in his race and their place in America. Thank you Mr. Cosby!

[sdskelton03]

I would first add Thomas Sowell to that group, and then disagree with you.

These are blacks that have risen to the highest levels in law, international relations and aceademia.

Whether we agree with thier politics or not, we should hold them up as examples to our young black men and women.

[acanthus]

Why? These people are the enablers of the party that practiced vote-caging. These people are members of the party under the federal government's civil rights apparatus has all but ignored racial discriminiation complaints. These are people who are enablers of an Administration that purposefully let children die in Katrina. We should hold them up as examples? Yes, but only if we hold them up as examples of people whose morals are definitely NOT worth emulating. Some of these people are gangsters on a worldwide stage. Some of these people are war criminals. We should hold them up as examples to emulate? NO.

[unclesmedley]

Cosby overstates what has been understated (if not unspoken) for too long. Brother Earl quibbles over extravagances, hyperbole and apocrypha--as if these defects somehow make Cosby's underlying message inoperative.

The fact is that a feral community is metastacizing in America, and that community is disproportionately black. Meanwhile, the possibility of rising up above this circumstance en masse is anathema to the so-called leaders of the black community.

Accordingly, any and all legitimate criticism of stereotypic behaviors that are especially prevalent in black communities is shouted down with charges of either racism or self-hatred.

The first step in solving a problem is acknowledgment. Black America has such a problem. Y'knahahmsayin?

[Nommo]

Another proportioner. It is propaganda. White people get off denying the crimes in and of their communities. It is simpler to project it onto everyone else, and Black people have always been America's whipping boy. Literally and figuratively, for the rest of you.

The point is that Cosby and that ilk deny the Black community any accomplishment. It denies the triumph of survival for many of those folk, daily having to deal with foul racism and knowing that your community lacks what most folk take for granted.

If it were about sloth, the most Black people would not even be here. Folk do not simply survive such crap heaped upon them without resourcefulness, brilliance and most importantly the ability to endure. It is not as if the Civil Rights movement was so long ago and there documentation of that. Perhaps some of you need to take a look, watch "Eyes on The Prize" one more time.

Fuck Cosby. He is a story or triumph and did it with the support of family and community. He had the example of Paul Robeson, among others. He chose the dark side. (pun not intended, y'all.)

[lawyeredup]

Should I Cry Uncle-medley; ur command of the english language is mesmerizing. The first acknowledgement is that Blacks -- in this great society of ours have always been dealt a short hands. second, is the institutio­nalization / identity inferiorization of Blacks -- though occurs many years ago, the effects is prevalent and progress has been slow. third, that blacks can still be victimized today like they were in the 60's.(case in point, Jena 6; Black Federal prosecutor looked at a case of whites high schooler hanging a noose on school ground and see young boys behaven badly; whereby, a white district atorney looked at a fight between same high school kids(blacks & whites) and charges the black kids with attempted murder), Maybe, just maybe; if the black federal prosecutor have charged the white kids with hate crime and messed up their lifes like the white attorney is trying to do to the black kids -- just maybe things will be differed.
And, the bottom line is, from New York, to New Orlean, to chicago, to Baltimore, to Philadelphia, and all over the united states of America, Blacks & Whites lives in two differend world and, maybe the WAR we should be fighting, spending all those BILLIONS of dollars on should be here at home and not in Iraq.

[Poboy]

"...One ever feels his twoness, -- an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.

The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, -- this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face..."

Souls of Black Folk

W.E.B. DuBois
1903

[Overd0g]

Sorry. Cosby is right. But there is always hope for the future if the problems are acknowledged rather than denied. All of the disfunctional behavior he describes is the legacy of the 60s, and perhaps when the hippies have died off, a more focussed, mature generation will arise.

[audacity]

I love to hear people use the term "Black leaders" in our community. Is it just me ? But I have a problem with that term.I am a indiviual I dont need a black leader. Where are the White leaders, Asian leaders, Latin leaders.Bl­ack people DONT need leaders they need education.­Agree or disaagree with Dr. Cosby but one positive thing Dr. Cosby has done is started some much needed dialogue regarding the problem or lack of as some would like to think in the African American communities.

[Nommo]

Pay attention. White leaders are in the process of destroying the Constitution, flushing your rights down the toilet, and perhaps beginning WW111. They are looking to drop bombs on another group of dark people, destroying another civilization, killing millions of citizens.
There's your white leaders.

[PC]

I hear ya. If someone called Bush a white leader, I'd try to tear my skin off. Correct, people of all creeds don't need media appointed leaders, they need educators. Personally I think that we need less Sharptons, who isn't considered a leader by a lot of african americans I know, and we need more Marcus Garveys. The sad part about Garvey is that they harp on the back to Africa thing, probably to discredit him, but the essence of his speeches have more to do with strengthening communities than anything. I don't know, maybe it is just me but I think Garvey should be taught in depth to all people, not just African Americans. He was a very impressive man.

[nihilon x]

They use the term "black leaders" then generally go on to criticize Jackson and Sharpton ad infinitum.

Its usually just an excuse to badmouth black people -- notice that the same logic is not applied to ELECTED "white leaders" such as Bush and the like.

[FirstShirt]

Whether you agree with Cos or not, you have to admire his revolutionary outside the box engagement of a difficult issue for all americans without regard to their race. You also don't see him patronizing his constituency by showing up for a photo op like Jackson and Sharpton.

What happens to blacks is the business of all americans. We are all lessened if even one citizen has less freedom and liberty than another. We are all also strengthened by dialogue concerning social issues in which we have fundamentally different opinions. And, we are not racist by having differing opinions.

vote Ron Paul

[acanthus]

Vote Ron Paul? And take a chance on the Civil Rights Act being repealed? No, sorry.

[bythePeopleforthePeople]

Gangsta...­...

I work in an urban area with a very diverse culture. When the local High Scool gets out a you hear all these kids walking home calling one another the N word .......it is very painful...

[Biddy]

I played violin and viola in orchestra in high school. I play electric guitar and listen to heavy metal, punk, and rock music (as well as hip-hop and R&B). All of which made me targets of ridicule in high school and college (where I went to Howard University). I have lived in Bed Stuy and D.C...and unfortunately a lot of what Bill Cosby says is true.

Its time for Black people to become more critical. We must be open to critique and change in order to progress as people.

Listening to rock music and classical doesn't make me any less Black, and nor does wearing a tie to work.

This is certainly not all Black males that act this way. This is also not to say that the ridicule is constant. But each incident sticks with you. You can't help thinking each time it happens: How far have we actually come?

It's disappointing for me to see this kind of behavior, particularly now as a grown-up seeing how disrespectful these kids can be to their elders. We should be taking a hard long look at what kind of messages we as Black men are putting out there into the world.

Unfortunately, I feel most of the images of Black men in the music industry are negative. We've got to change this. No excuses anymore.

[pennytings]

No wonder Oprah had to go to South Africa to help Black kids. Those kids really want to learn and do better despite poverty, racism etc.No more excuses here.

GET UP YOU MIGHTY RACE AND ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WILL. Marcus garvey

[bleedingblue]

Yeh, sometimes the truth really hurts. We have been listening way too long to Al and Jesse and have allowed ourselves to be coopted. Rise up black brothers, it is time to take responsibility for our actions. We need to support our children and our families.

[nihilon x]

1) I don't listen to Jackson or Sharpton.

2) I take responsibility for my actions.

3) I don't have any children to support.

Obviously the the "truth" that you speak does not apply to everyone who has black skin. While what you are saying has validity, rather than generalizing by skin color, you should be addressing directly those black people who are doing as you say.

Something tells me that you won't find them here on these boards, so maybe you should stop preaching to the choir and go take your message to the proverbial streets to those who need to hear it.

Lectures serve no purpose when given to those who already know what you are teaching.

[Madampotential]

I am a middle class black woman that works with poor blacks and a lot of what he is saying it truth in poor communitie.

Those of us who are middle class, live and go to church amongst other middle class blacks forget what is going on in poor communities. I don't think Bill Cosby "of all people" should be coming down on people for sex outside of marriage considering his own mistakes but I think the blac chuch should begin to focus on rebuilding the family.

The black church is still the most powerful institution in the black community. We still have the highest church atttendance rate of any other ethnic group and and they could really help break cycles if there was a nationwide focus on issues of educatiojn and rebuilding families. We can preach to poor people all day long but there is a cycle in many familes and they are not going to read this book and change thei lives.

I would love to see National Baptist Convention ( and it's seven million members), mega church leaders, NAACP, SCLC, Baisden, Harvey, Joyner, Tavis Smiley and others begin to focus on creating nationwide after school tutoring programs, mentorship programs, adn family planning programs. Unfortunatley, the black church leaders are soooo conservative they don't want to talk abou aids or family planning.

We have a leadership crisis and I am not talking about Sharpton or Jackson, they are just media personalities. I am referring to the black leaders in churchs in towns all across america that are more focused on hating gays than focusing on education, tutoring, parenting and family planning classes.

I respect Cosby but he seems a little simple minded. The problem is more complex than he says and poor blacks are still not listening to him.. He need to talk to them and not at them.

[JasonInOakland]

Amen! Great post.

[MagisterLudi]

I am sorry, but I totally disagree as to the positive role of churches.
Madam stated:"We still have the highest church atttendance rate of any other ethnic group."
Perhaps this IS one of the problems.
A church rarely provides practical advice or assistance. All this screaming from the podium is mostly mindless entertainment.
Even more harmful: church-goers feel that they've accomplished something positive in their lives by being spiritually entertained for a few hours on Sunday. Not true at all.
Personal development begins and ends with the difficult and yes, dangerous work:
self-introspection, prayer and meditation.

Sunday services are harmful and useless substitutes thereof. The preachers are rich entertainers, little more.

[nihilon x]

Its not the Sunday services that are the problem, its that most people don't practice what was preached on Sunday from Monday through Saturday.

Of course, that's not just black people...

[EileneLepht]

Mr. Hutchinson you deride Cosby for telling it like HE sees it and yet you acknowledge that crime and teen pregnancies have gone down in black communities over the past decade. Maybe what he has been saying over the past decade has helped black adults to see what is happening with their young. Rather than put the old man down, why not thank him and the people like him that are trying to make a difference.

[bleedingblue]

Right on sister.

[nihilon x]

"Maybe what he has been saying over the past decade has helped black adults to see what is happening with their young"

Exactly what has Cosby been saying over the past decade that might have helped inner-city black people? Please provide links so I can reconsider my opinion on the man.

Granted -- The Cosby Show was a great step forward, but I seriously doubt that it lowered the rate of teenage pregnancies all that dramatically.

Honestly, if anyone has been preaching this for the past decade, its been Farrakhan, who actually organized a nationwide march on the matter.

[MainSpark]

"Some knuckleheads in black neighborhoods do kill, mug, peddle dope, are jobless untouchables, and educational wastrels."

Knuckleheads, Mr. Hutchinson? That's the best you can do? Mortimer Snerd was a knucklehead, but he wasn't a murderer or a drug dealer.

[Eggman491]

I agree with MainSpark, you lost me and your credibility with "knucklehead"

[deleweye]

There's a term in logic for disparaging an argument's thesis because you don't like its literary qualities, but it's too early in the morning for me to remember what it is.