Bill Cosby: Tough Love or Out of Touch with Low Income African Americans?
In recent years, many in the African American community accuse Billy Cosby of airing the dirty laundry within the African American community. Some criticize his tactics with the opinion that he is not helping black people but rather talking down to them. Some see him as an old rich man who does not know what really goes on in black communities across America.
Of course not all African Americans are on welfare, live in single parent homes or wind up in jail, but the fact remains ONE black person falling into this life of despair is one too many. These are the people that Dr. Cosby wants to reach with his message, the ones who are making bad choices in their lives. Life is about choices and bad choices are the same for everyone regardless your race, but this message does need to be shouted from the rooftops for black people to hear simply because the bad choices that black people make have far worse consequences for them than any other group.
For example, we all know about the difference in sentencing when it comes to cocaine and crack- we all know about the 3 strike rules and the only way we can over come being caught up in a system that is designed to keep black men in jail is simply do not commit these crimes! So as you see, institutional racism is alive and well, that is evident in Jena, Louisiana and inner cities across this country. We have to take responsibility for our own actions- we can not always use the excuse of poverty when it comes to OUR children going out there and doing stupid things.
The fact remains life is not easy, raising children and putting food on the table is not easy BUT every individual has the choice of making decisions that will eventually raise their children and their children's children out of their current situation or they can continue with same old mentality that will lead to nowhere.
When it comes to children, we as parents always have to be positive and inspire them to be somebody when they grow up. There is NO reason why our children cannot succeed. Education is key; it is of the up most importance. Racism is a definite part of this country and will always exist in America, that's why Bill Cosby's message is so important. We as a people have to be in control of our own destiny.
Published by Lorraine Hayden
I'm a freelance writer, wife and mother. View profile
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36 Comments
Post a CommentI don't know why everyone is so upset. Bill Cosby is saying the same thing that many people in the Black Community have been saying for years. My Uncle talks about this all of the time. I think that Black people are up in arms because it said it for all to hear. Well I for one applaud him because someone needs to speak out and he did it. Does racism exsist? Yes it does. Can we as race educate ourselves and become productive citizens in a racist environment> YES WE CAN
Or maybe it's because they walked out of a strip club and was just going to their car (Sean Bell) or going into their apartment (Amadou Diallo) or being beaten up by several people at a party and ordered to get back to their side of town (Robert Bailey Jr.)
Shamontiel, you stated, "I do think he needs to lay off on bunching all Black men together into one big group, such as Deez is determined to do (and the reason why so many brothas and sistas will NEVER be comfortable around cops." For Gods sake lady, why do you think I group all black me into any category? I simply point out the truth. There is a huge problem in the black male community, with out a doubt. Not all black men fall into the "In Need of Self Help" category, but it is undeniable that there is a large portion that do. You are right however, when you say, so many will never be comfortable around COPS, and that is probably because they are doing something they shouldn't and they don't want to be called on it.
I wish more parents would talk to their kids about making wise choices. Sometimes society isn't fair to us, but the choice is yours to make about your future. Good article
Hello. I am with A.M. Morgan's thoughts from a few days ago. Like A.M., I really didn't appreciate what Cos said and how he said it, starting with his speech to the NAACP 5-17-04 on the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Ed. Obviously he fed into white biases, evidenced by remarks from several of my Caucasian brethren on this page. The author Michael Eric Dyson in "Is Cosby Right?" probes many of Cosby's hypocricies, such as, Cos blames young people for "not using proper English" but the same Cos created the Fat Albert characters. Cos says young fellas should control their hormones, but doesn't acknowledge how he himself cheated on his wife. Etc. For a good balance, Dyson's book and a mostly pro-Cosby book by Juan Williams "Enough!" shows both sides of this subject. Mostly I agree with Dyson.
Lorraine, thanks for writing the article, but I'm dead tired of trying to hold an intelligent conversation with the cop (Deez) and Unreal (who is so unreal that he/she doesn't even realize it). But this is the type of mentality that this country was "discovered" by. Thank goodness for those who can think outside of the box, such as me and you. Later!
Unreal, the problem with you is that you're so brainwashed into believing what the cops and this pitiful governmental system would like you to believe, and you've stopped thinking for yourself. If a man is out of prison and trying to find a job, I'm going to try by all means to help him. What am I supposed to do? Ignore him and just assume he should still be rotting in jail? Nope, that's just not be. Not when Governor (Ryan?) let so many men (specifically black men) be released from prison because they were wrongfully convicted and the DNA did not match. It amazes me how people don't honor the innocent until proven guilty deal anymore. Cops act like you're guilty (usually from skin complexion--hell yeah, I said it!) from the get go, and the government allows it.
If everyone who committed a crime was to rot for the rest of their lives, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and various other presidents would not get the honor that they do, considering slavery is heinous crime. However, it's amazing to me that people like you will wag your finger at a rapist but turn your back on presidents and political leaders who have raped Black women slaves for centuries. A rapist is a rapist. If you wag your finger at one, wag your finger at all. If you could've met slaveowner presidents, would you have wanted to? You do realize that some of them are rapists, right?
Unreal, just because someone is accused of a crime does not mean they committed the crime. I actually know someone who was charged with rape, and if I saw him again when he was released, I'd chill with him. I've hung out with several alleged criminals. You cannot believe the hype that every single person in prison deserves to be there, although the cops would like you too. And no, I'm not exploiting him for gain. He's looking for money to support his sons now that he's out of prison, and I want to give it to him. I think his story is beneficial for prisoners to speak out about how America claims that when you do your time, you should be able to be a part of society again instead of those close-minded people like yourself who think anybody who has been to prison should be considered guilty for the rest of their lives.
Shamontiel - you are actually using his status as a criminal for your gain. Why else would you be interviewing him? You should be ashamed of yourself for exploiting him! This is a one or two time meeting w/ this person I'm sure. I also asked if you'd be comfortable with a rapist alone in an office, but you didn't answer that part.