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).
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I loook at it this way. You can walk around with your pants half way down your butt and tell the whole world kiss your ass as many inner city youth do. Or you can wear a belt and show respect for the people around you and more importantly, show respect for yourself. People make choices everyday in their lives. Even poor disadvantaged people...r
Mr. Hutchinson,
Your critique of “Come on People” matches my own; however, I’m not willing to be as critical of Dr. Cosby (and his co-author Dr. Alvin Poussaint) as individuals, as you seem to be.
First, I have long suppected that Bill Cosby has his own “learning difference” that causes him to think he is expressing his complete thoughts when he is actually only “saying” fragments of his thoughts. So, I’m more inclined to forgive him when he leaves some context out and appreciate what he includes.
Second, although you are correct that blacks have improved in all the areas that Cosby points out as problems (often at a much higher rate of improvemnet than whites), the fact remains that the rate of change is from a hurrendous epidemic to a less hurrendous epidemic. In spite of the improvement, the issues still need to be addressed.
Third, the real problem isn’t that Cosby and Poussaint, offer their opinions. It’s that enough people aren’t given a chance to offer their opinions, so that the complete spectrum of divesity and context can be seen.
Finally, the black candidate for U. S. President has made a series of similar unfortunate statements. That’s the person whose attitude most concerns me. Having him as President would be as benificial for black people as having Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court. Cosby and Poissaint may be running their mouths, but they aren’t running for office.
Cosby is doing more for the american youth than any other man in this country. He is telling the truth. Neither White nor Black want to admit there is a serious problem with children. Dropping out of school is made to easy. When children dropp out of school, they should be made to finish their 12 years behind closed doors. We are becoming a nation of idiots. Where the rich reign, and the stupid and poor follow.
Until the black community, as represented by the black posters on this board, get past denial, they will not move to meet the challenge. I tell you, from personal experience, that Bill Cosby is holding back, and being very kind. The problem with the Black youth culture's worship of 'respect' (i.e. reflexive violent reaction to being 'dissed') and disdain for the idea of two parent families, may actually be irredeemable. I've given up hope after years of working in the Black community in non-profit organizations. Since I am a fan of his, I wish Bill Cosby would just give up hope, too, and just get on with his life. Nothing to gain by fighting the racists who are trying to bring him down. You can't help people who don't want to be helped.
I guess I was mistaken. There are no problems in the Black community. Black children, no matter their socio-economic status are exceeding white and asian students on all the tests. There are no drive-by shootings, no babymamas,no open air drug markets. Black children are completely respectful and don't disrupt the school, cussing at teachers, and claimimg "that's my culture" . I'm glad none of that is really happenning. What a relief. It would suck if any of that were true.
what up? until reparations are paid this aint never goin to be fixed
I guess when all else fails, simply exaggerate to make your point, right?
No one here said those things don't exist -- in fact, that's ALL you ever hear about the black community -- but focusing SOLELY on the negative doesn't make things any better and can sometimes make things even worse. When you keep telling a kid how "bad" he is, often it only makes him worse -- you have to provide support as well as criticism if you want to make a change.
If you're going to tell someone to aspire to do better, then you likewise need to tell them what they need to aspire to, and you need to explain to them how it can be done.
Anyone can sit in their ivory tower, hurling accusations and criticisms at the less fortunate in life.
When I see people like Cosby actually out there in the same inner-city schools and neighborhoods he is criticizing, taking a DIRECT role in making the changes that he is espousing, then I will admit that he is putting his provebial money where his mouth is.
Sharpton organized a NATIONWIDE attempt to get radio stations to stop playing vulgar rap music -- what has Cosby done that is equal to even this?
http://www
Talk is cheap -- Cosby needs to back up his words with ACTION or many people (such as myself) will not take him seriously.
I guess I was mistaken. There are no problems in the Black community. Black children..
That's one of the more lame rhetorical devices of white racists.
I lived in the Bronx. I can tell you there certainly are entire blocks without responsible adult males, and no married couples...
As for young Black boys being unable to sit still in the classroom, I don't blame them. I couldn't sit still in most inner city classrooms today. Young children learn by playing and those young boys need to be moving for their brains to work best. I don't think Cosby was blaming the boys by calling this a "learning difference". I know I don't.
I agree with you about the media. But I have to say both Jackson and Sharpton enjoy the attention and are portrayed as leaders in the African American community. At the same time, the real leaders like Cosby, Rice, Thomas, Steele and Williams are ignored and minimized for their political affiliation and a self determination attitude. These successful individuals should be the role models for not only the Black community but for every individual wishing to improve oneself through dedication and hard work.
The victim mentality and the dependant voter started with The Great Society in the early sixties. Granted many people truly need a helping hand. But the left leaning politicians with assistance from the media have exploited the programs in order to help themselves. Why would a liberal politician want people to succeed on their own and not have to rely on some government program? Because they would not be reelected.
One of my favorite columnists is Thomas Sowell. He and Dr Walter Williams are two of the most brilliant thinkers of our time and yet are totally ignored. Our liberal media is paralyzed by a logical, plain speaking African American who has a better grasp of supply and demand than they do. Plus the republican thing is a problem too. So, their reaction is to pretend they don’t exist. They are deathly afraid people might read their op-eds or hear them on the radio and possibly agree with their logic.
So what do they really care about? People improving themselves by themselves or their narrow minded political agenda?
Oh yeah, Sowell and Willaims are brilliant! Alan Keyes,Uncle tom, dick and harry,Uncle Clarence, and the rest of the housen*&&^s.
Actually Thomas Sowell IS brilliant. I disagree with him 90% of the time but there is no denying he's brilliant.
Those who denegrate our race from within would call Drs. Sowell and Williams..
Excellent !! The majority of those who make the disparaging remarks do so because they have nothing of excellence to offer.
Yes, I'm sure you're so asamed, you don't even want to be black any more, huh? Your kind is a very old archetype in the black community.
i am pretty sure that david duke...rus
The situation that exists is called DISRESPECT.
Unless RESPECT is practiced and instilled in
young and old, we can expect the same results from THE DEMORALIZED.
It takes effort to rise above your disadvantages.
RESPECT & ENCOURAGEMENT are vital!
The Cosby-Poussaint book doesn't miss the mark as much Mr. Hutchinson wants to believe. Cosby isn't addressing the 33% of African Americans who go into post-secondary education. The other 30% whose lives are miserable won't benefit from positive thinking journalism. Maybe the book won't help much either, but it does address a situation that truly exists.
Some claim that history is nothing but a series of biographies.
Here's my personal empirical information.
When in USA, I intermittently stay in New York and Los Angeles.
I have a Cartier watch taken from me, I had a car jacking; my girlfriend was robbed at a gun-point when her car broke down and my good friend was shot and wounded in New York.
This is the extent (thankfully) of my contact with crime in U.S.
ALL these crimes were done by young African American males.
This is probably true for the majority of people on this thread who spent any time in USA. This is not racism, this is biography.
One can spin stats all you want but then all that spinning comes dead against people's experience. And this is what matters.
There’s nothing wrong with trying to improve the image of an oppressed minority.
But one has to be become aware at which point constructive social criticism becomes an a knee-jerk tribalism.
"One can spin stats all you want but then all that spinning comes dead against people's experience. And this is what matters."
So it doesn't matter that the vast majority of black people are not criminal, it only matters that because some black people are criminal (or uneducated) most or all black people should be judged on this basis.
I guess I'll start judging all whites are racist, given what I've seen on these boards thus far.
Its only logical.
Good night.
nihilon, you are correct in that assessment, practically all whites are racist. This is a racist culture and it produces racists. Most would like to believe that they are not, but if you buy into any aspect of "American" culture, particularly images of Black, Latino and Indigenous folk, they are inhuman and ugly. (At this very moment, EOH is on WBAI FM (or org) talking about this post.) Unfortunately the victims of racism are not immune from buying into the notions of this racist morass.
Where were all these voices when Black communities were redlined by banks and insurance companies, when Black communities were denied fundamental services, such as banks and hospitals? Where was the multi millionaire then?
I would like to think that Cos would know better than to blame the victims. Certainly there is little that he needs to continue to do to secure the love of whites, that philandering creep. Are white people immune from acting in all the ways we are accused of? Do they not live in extreme poverty? Is Britney Spears married to anyone? Whatever would they have said about her if she were Black?
They are all racists, to one degree or another.
It is the culture.
Yes, I agree, but we've been judging them as racists for as long as I can remember. Somehow, I don't feel any better, but I am getting tired of apologists like you. Cos is right on target and some cannot take it because they are blind to the truth.
MasterLudi
I've lived in N.Y. for well over a decade and have never been robbed at any point by anyone. I am in contact with a wide range of people in the expatriate community and most of them have not been robbed either. I have had a huge number of friends who have stayed with me while visiting the U.S. and they... yup you guessed it, distinct lack of criminal activity around them.
If you do come to N.Y. again could you do us a favour and let me know when and where you'll be as I want to avoid the location, you're a Jonah you are.
Magister Ludi:
You need to research your mini-expeditions a good deal better...t
Hmmm...wha
As answers
My Cartier watch was taken in Beverly Hills area.
My friend was driving a cab when robbed and shot in NY.
My girl-friend at the time was Caribbean native. Her car broke down and she was waiting for the AAA. She was relieved of her purse at a gun point.
I did NOT say all black were criminals.
This would be a stupid statement for me to say, and for YOU to imply.
I am NOT drawing any conclusions, I am recounting my personal experience
But the sum of many people's personal narratives create public perceptions. Don't they?
It's these kind of experiences that make many people cross the street when they see a group of black young men. It's unfortunate, but a part of urban experience in many cities.
NOW instead of talking utter nonsense about the non-prevalence of black crime in USA,
we should be talking about ways and means to change that behavior:
creating positive role models: scientist, small business owner; teacher
providing business training: loans, leases, insurance,promotion etc.
After school programs in arts and sciences ( no sports).
De-legitimize current role models: pimp, welfare mother, drug dealer, sports; petty thief.
Teach nutrition.
Ask rich black to tithe to the community they came from.
Build Planned Parenthood offices.
Stop teaching the unproductive " White MAn keepin' me down" at home and school.
Any other suggestions?
Please refrain from highly unproductive sarcastic comments.
ahsregusted- you need to think about what you just said. MagisterLudi has had serious problems while in America. His problem is not oowning an expensive watch or his girlfriend owning an expensive car. His problem is crime. Period. America is dangerous. Check the stats re murder in America annually versus other developed countries. America needs to get clean and the first step to doing that is admitting it has problems. Even the president is a liar, a crook and has removed those rights you had.
It sounds like the writer is denying that there is any problem at all. Indignation is fine, but he doesn't do much to advance his own case.
I wouldn't call it a race problem. Look around at many people of any race. Too many adopt an attitude of sullen entitlement, ignorance and extreme immaturity.
I see people of all colors in baggy clothes and backwards caps, wearing cartoon sneers that they copy from rap or hip hop videos.
There is indeed certifiable proof that black families have higher rates of poverty, poor education, as well as a higher prevalence of of households with absent fathers. No, I don't have time or space to cite individual studies in this post. Problems in the black community are well documented, but the larger problems cut across all color lines.
As a teacher, I can tell you that the problem is cultural, not racial. Bill Cosby is adopting the role of truth teller. If you disagree with him, do more than offer an angry denial.
Blacks are largely segregated in this country, even in 2007. Too many self segregate by rejecting the work that is required to earn an education and the opportunities that come with that. Many call the desire to be educated, "Acting white".
Do I have to be black to make that observation?
No, but you could actually read through the "black" responses to this article to get a better understanding of why Cosby is being criticized.
He is not being criticized for telling the "truth" -- he is being criticized for exaggerating the "truth" and not telling the whole story.
So many people jump up to defend Cosby as if we "black" people are simply attacking him for speaking out on these issues. The fact is that Cosby is not the first to do this, nor will he be the last. But Farrakhan marched on these issues, Sharpton tried to hold radio stations accountable for these issues, and many other black people have discussed this issue before, and have actually DONE something to back up their words.
If some "white" leader started criticizing the white community for its racism against non-whites, would you defend him, or would you likewise point out that many whites are not racist and he has no right to paint the "white" community with such a broad brush?
Something tells me that these boards would be full of people pointing out that whites are not all racists and that many do positive things to help other cultures.
With that said, don't complain when you see black people like myself doing the same, and pointing out that Cosby needs to do more than give lip service to an issue that nearly every black person already is familiar with -- probably far more than he is.
"If some "white" leader started criticizing the white community for its racism against non-whites, would you defend him, or would you likewise point out that many whites are not racist and he has no right to paint the "white" community with such a broad brush?"
And could you imagine if said white leader started talking about meth use and pedophilia in terms of race, with the notion of whipping the white community into shape? Imagine the uproar and the rush to insist that, despite the statistics, these two issues should not be discussed in terms of race. A black man engaging in reprehensible acts is a black man...a white man engaging in reprehensible acts is just a man...
If a person of any color criticized people of my ethnic background, I would embrace ideas that were well expressed and rational and I would reject ideas based on blind streotypes.
In short, give me an argument that features more than your opinion and back up what you say with objective facts. The race doesn't matter. The argument does.
I believe you hit the nail on the head as far as self segregation. It seems that most blacks strive to create identity and self awareness but the end result is obvious. If the symptoms are present in other races it is because of the mixing of cultures and the opportunity to piss daddy off.
Never mind that Asians, Latinos, and many other groups self-segregate -- lets just point the finger at black people over and over again as if they are the only race of people who do this.
I hope you're happy, Cosby -- this is what its come to.
If whites exhibit degenerate behavior, it is not from "mixing of cultures". It's because some Whites are just...deg
The problem is the ways in which they create their 'identity'. Ebonics, rap, denigration of women, families and anything that resembles civilized behavior. Garbage in, garbage out.
You are right, Mr. Hutchinson; Black Culture is perfect.
Asumming that I am racist just because I am white is as wrong as anything. As a white person I have to walk on eggshells to watch what I say because it might offend blacks. I can no longer describe a black person as "articulate" because it has now been catagorized as an offensive term that may anger some. Sorry....I
When I was young I was taught to respect all and I did so with the understanding that respect for others will result with respect for me in return. This is because I started the first 13 years of my life as "Poor White Trash" living in several housing projects. And yes, even as a white person I was treated differently by other whites (and blacks) because I did not have better clothes or a nice haircut. The fact is that if I did not show respect for others I was not going to get anywhere in life. And now today as much as I try to do so I still end up hearing stuff like " You know we all look alike." Not to mention being called a "Cracker" or "Peckerwood". Just because I am nice to you does not mean I am stupid and to be taken advantage of. Who is perpetuating that crap?
When you attempt to legitimize less than self respectful behavior as culture it only makes the race relation problem worse. As well racism among whites is not as big as it is made out to be. Yes there are the stupid out there like the white supremest groups. But there are just as many black racist groups out there that keep walking down the same racist road.
If there is a problem and there is....it takes two to Tango.
Bill is right.
You and Cos have just proven that curmudgeons of any race have more in common with each other than either does to the young people of their own race.
If you want black kids to stop dressing and acting like thugs, make them watch "Malibu's Most Wanted" so they can see how ridiculous those getups look on somebody else.
Not sure what you mean. There is nothing wrong with self identity. Being a dumbass cultural slave will never get you a job with a fortune 500 company though.
Life is a game and it requires rules.
Had to look up what "Malibu's Most Wanted" was. Yep....I'm older and cranky. What's funny is seeing a fifty year old guy that will never mature wearing that stuff.
Oh by the way, I was told once as a teenager that the length of my hair affected my attitude. I was the first in my school to have long hair. Attitude part wasnt true though.
"Asumming that I am racist just because I am white is as wrong as anything."
Then maybe you should likewise stop assuming that blacks are equally racist just because they are black.
You seem to have no problem saying "you" to the black people on this board, as if we are the ones calling you "peckerwood" and "cracker" but then in the same breath you want to be judged as an individual, rather than a color.
Practice what you preach.
No one here is "legitimizing" anything -- read the damn posts.
What many of us are saying is that Cosby is not telling the whole story about the black community, and we have every right to say that.
Don't try to make this out to be something where we are trying to "legitimize" bad behavior because that is NOT what this is about.
"Then maybe you should likewise stop assuming that blacks are equally racist just because they are black."
And where did I say that ALL blacks were equally racist? Not so.
And the use of the word "you" applies to all. Black or white. That is what I meant. Instead of asking me if I meant it in a bad way you assume I am talking to blacks alone with that single sentence. I suppose it could have been read the way you stated because I am defending whites in this issue. My apoligies. But Cosby is also being attacked for appearing to side up with "white culture" instead of proper culture in general.
I also noticed that you used the word "we". Is that a blanket use of the word like "you"?
I admit I did not apply my post to the article but to the bloggers here.
No harm intended.
Of course he's not talking about the whole black community, but cut the man some slack. Remember his TV show, that certainly showcased the successful black family of education and means. He was a OB/GYN and she was a lawyer, kids in college and grad school. I think that was a very positive portrayal. I think what they're trying to say is : Racism exists. It's horrible. That's why you have to be twice as good as a white man to make it. Sad but true. You're smart. You come from good stock that has been sorely tested. You owe it to yourself and your ancestors to suck it up, roll uo your sleeves and get to work. You knuckleheads are better than this and you threaten to drag the whole race down with you. What's so wrong with that message?
"The fact is that if I did not show respect for others I was not going to get anywhere in life."
So why don't you "respect" the dissenting opinions here enough to actually read what we are saying, rather than simply assuming that we are "legitimizing" poor behavior?
No where in Hutchinson's article does he try to "legitimize" anything -- instead he simply points out the FACTS about progress in the black community.
Do you think its "news" to black people -- or anyone for that matter -- that there are problems in the black community?
Of course not.
But you're so ready to CONDEMN anyone who disagrees with him that you're not seeing Mr. Hutchinson's point -- namely that Cosby is not telling the entire TRUTH about black America.
And I quote: "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 stereotype
Exactly what part of that criticsim do you have a problem with?
Point taken. I do respect the opinions of others contrary to your reply to me. But this IS a blog. Do you think that Cosby is talking about ALL of black America? I dont. As far as Mr Hutchinson's article he didnt give Bill any credit at all. He just trashed him and his cause.
We all need to talk these things out.
What a lousy bunch of racists.
There is nothing going on with black folks that isn't going on with white folks. Period.
Drug use. Check
Teenage Pregnancy. Check
High school dropouts. Check
Gangs. Check
The problem is that these same issues are less dire for white people than they are for black people.
Drug use for white kids means rehab.
Drug use for black kids means jail.
White people do the same things black people do. The system is just stacked so that white people are judged and treated as individuals whereas black people are judged and punished collectively.
"Drug use for white kids means rehab.
Drug use for black kids means jail."
Wow..... you are a racist and dont know it. Congrats to you.
Money gets you out of jail. Not color.
That's nonsense. Was she incorrect? Show how.
"Money gets you out of jail. Not color."
Color gets you into jail to begin with.
Well said.
Interesting. You are saying what the KKK and racist skinheads say: no affirmative action needed.
"It is likely that 28.5 percent of Black males will serve time in a state or federal prison; whereas it is likely that 4.4 percent of non-Hispanic White males will serve time in a state or federal prison"
.And that's because white boys don't do dope( they get it prescribed by their Dr.) they don't steal (they embezzle) and they don't commit violence( they start wars).And you know they don't talk trash about women(they start porn industries)
Just because Cosby is conservative doesn't mean you have to beat the living hell out of him.
geez, he just wants whats best for all people, including black people.
Meaning an education and a two-parent family.
He says the importance of a 2-parent family should not be mocked.
I guess that is why he wanted more than one. (2 parent fams, that is)
This guy can say (with a scowl, he wasn't joking) that one day soon, black people will have to have ID cards to prevent a young black man from screwing his grandmother, and you have the nerve to tell someone not to "beat him the hell up"? I haven't heard any of the most virulent white racist sopkesmen in this country make statements as ugly as Cosby has made about black people, and you want to make him out to be some kind of martyr? To hell with that!
would that be as bad as some old nasty goatsmelling slave master raping a slave woman...th
I guess ol' Cos is saving the best for last. Still.
I'll let African Americans judge Cosby's latest book. I think the biggest jeopardy for Cosby's book tour on talk shows, is white commentators will quote Cosby , and that will really not go down well with African American audience.
What would be nice is if said commentators got actively involved in helping to address these problems (promotions of inner-city Boys Clubs and other organizations, asking viewers to donate to scholarship funds and youth groups, suggesting viewers become mentors of underprivileged children, etc) but that's not how this nation seems to work.
You are right -- there will be nothing but criticism, and that won't help things one bit.
Too many blacks will never read Cosby's book. How often do you see a black person, excluding those on high school or college campuses, carrying a book?
Many Asians value education as a means to better themselves and they are doing it. They are succeeding so well, many are rejected from the best colleges because schools have such a large choice of high achieving Asians from which to choose. Asians have been describes as, "the model minority".
My comment is about the choice to read and not about race. The choice to read is just that, a choice. It seems that black American culture does not value education. If you can prove me wrong across a broad scale, then I would like to hear your reasoned counter argument.
Blacks have to stop blaming whites and they should look in the mirror instead.
"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".
Earl, it's more than just "impression". Human verbal communication is only about 20% of total communication. The rest of it is in the TONE used, the INFLECTION, the TIMING on when to answer, body posture/language, etc. It is why when one goes to court we are sworn to tell the truth, THE WHOLE TRUTH, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Cosby violates this concept by omitting the other truths, the improving statistics of black America that you posted. He tells us only PART of the picture without providing the context.
I'm hearing him on TV right now, and Larry is asking him how can it be black people's fault if the local hospital won't take care of the black community as well as it will the white community. His answer? It's black people's fault for not having the confidence to point out this discrepancy. I guess he is pointing out that everything boils down to an individuals choices and decisions. Problem is, the individual exists within an environment that oftentimes exerts more pressure in insidious ways that cannot always be recognized, let alone dealt with.
Yes, you are right. On the other hand, he performs a service by recognizing the poor choices that are being made, in the hopes that some will find the strength to resist making those choices.
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