quote:“I’m saying to you men, please, for goodness sake, if you got children, even if you don’t have a job, go visit them and explain how sorry you are,” he said. “There are teachers in the United States who cry in the daytime because they see a child or children who haven’t eaten properly, children who haven’t used soap in so long.
“You can’t tell me that this is all the white man’s fault,” he said.
“Everybody is not a victim,” Cosby said as he began to tell the story abour Brown vs. Board of Education, and the legal team that overturned school desegregation.
“They beat back the white bigots with their brains,” Cosby said. “When I look at 55 percent of our black men dropping out of school, how bad off are we going to be when we need some lawyers?”
Most of the audience members seemed supportive of Cosby’s comments.
Claire Walker, who works at IBM and lives in Decatur, said she got off early to hear him speak.
“It’s something that should have been said a long time ago,” Walker said. “Our leaders aren’t taking responsibility for the youth of black America.”
Walker said she is from the Caribbean, where people don’t understand the attitudes and actions of many black youths in the United States.
“I just don’t understand parents accepting mediocrity,” she said.
Henry Joyner III, who graduated from Douglass High in 1982 and is now a middle school teacher, said the turnout was good.
“This is the central issue in black America—the education of our youth,” Joyner said.
Douglass ninth grader Orientrius Cook said Cosby “is very powerful, and he spread his wisdom.”
Cosby hit home when he talked about unwed parents, he said.
“I see a lot of girls who are pregnant. If they had a father figure, some of this wouldn’t be,” he said.
posted
Most of this and a whole lot more that Dr. Cosby isn't saying is obvious to anyone living on a block with children playing outdoors all the time - all it takes is about 15 minutes sitting outside on the front steps -- the kids most in need of help will come by for the attention they hope they'll get.
That it isn't obvious proves how little attention is being paid to their own community/neighborhood/children by Inner City residents throughout our 'great' country.
[I've witnessed one two year old boy give another two year old 'girl' a proctology exam with his finger on the front steps of their house while I was going up to get the mother to look after another child getting himself in trouble at another group activity a few houses away - needless to say, no other adult was around to witness this, although several dozen children were out and about at the time -- not counting the almost dozen older kids hidden away in the alley at the 'troubling' activity.)
posted
I wish a full transcript of Cosby's speeches were available somewhere online. Or maybe they are recording them and will make them available.
I was thinking, it sure would be nice if Eddie Murphy were to join him in this effort. They could "bury the hatchet" from their past disagreements for a greater good.
Posts: 1673 | From: Suwanee, GA, USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Bill Cosby is a Black-on-Black racist. He's going around the country publicly criticizing Black people and getting standing ovations from them. How crazy is that?
Would a white man be able to say the exact same things and be as well received by Black audiences? That should be the listmus test for all so-called Black critics. If the criticism is not something we would accept from a white person, then we shouldn't accept it from a Black one.
I get so tired of Black leaders criticizing us in the name of love. If they really loved Black folks why are they always dissing us? You can bet they don't publicly criticize their beloved family members. Bill Cosby and other Black on Black racists constantly put us down to make themselves look good. The reality is, they're expressing their own self-hate.
Just for once, I'd like see and hear a Black leader give an entire speech on how great our race, the Black Family, really is. All they've got to do is tell the truth about us.
Posts: 4 | From: randallstown, MD | Registered: Nov 2004
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DMCM Writes: Just for once, I'd like see and hear a Black leader give an entire speech on how great our race, the Black Family, really is. All they've got to do is tell the truth about us.
Well DMCM, Sit up and pay CLOSE attention to Mr.Tavis Smiley! That is one very positive brotha and apparently you must've missed him, along with Dr.Cornell West and a host of other very powerful and influential guest speakers in North Miami last February! It was a FREE, Live C-Span telecast and for those of us who were there in the audience, let me tell you..it was not only a one-of-a-kind experience..it was a one-of-a-kind- AWESOME! The segment was titled: "Strength of The Black Family" and you need to make it your business to find yourself a copy! Once you see it--you will want to give copies out as gifts..and those who have or haven't seen it...will come back and THANK YOU! It will blow your mind, have you jumping up and down from your seat, make you cry tears of joy and make you want to go out and CHANGE the world! That video should be in EVERY Black home in America! Sincerely yours, Audrey KissMyLayOff.com
Posts: 1 | From: South East | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Those of us doing well don't need yet another "pep rally"!
We need to stop being afraid to call out the mess that is right in front of our faces. This game of avoiding the mess HAS GOTTEN NO WHERE!
I applaud Cosby for speaking out on these issues. I also applaud him for all the money he raises for Black Colleges and other Black causes.
Bill is doing far better than many that are nothing more than a bunch of Civil Rights Industry so-called Black Leaders! How much money has Cosby collected for himself or some "so-called" organization of his during all this? ZERO! That is the TRUE TEST!!!
If Cosby's a Black Racist, THEN SO AM I AND I LOVE IT!!!
We that you consider Black racists are the ones willing to says what needs to be said. If we hated ourselves we would simply enjoy what we have an never try and help anyone else! We say what we say because of a level of LOVE some simply do not understand!
posted
Now if you want examples from Bill Cosby of how great many Black families are you can watch any of the many years worth of Cosby Show episodes any night on TV. You can also go to any of his comedy concerts and hear it as well. You can even see in in his latest cartoon named "Fatherhood".
Bill Cosby is one of the greatest Black Men walking the face of the earth today!
posted
I have to disagree 100% with DMCM. Here is a good analogy. If a parent truly loves their child, I believe that parent would tell that child when he or she is involved in a wrong action that can ultimately lead into some sort of destruction. Mr. Bill Cosby is aware of the problems facing the black community and he is bold enough to tell them, in their face, to wake up and examine yourselves.
As a young black man, I enjoy reading about historical blacks like Frederick Douglas, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with modern day blacks like Bill Cosby, Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, DeVone Holt and others. These people had a goal and they worked or are working hard to achieve that goal without complaining that they are the victims are racism. These people realize that if they work hard they can present a positive contribution to this society and they can achieve if they work hard and put they mind to it.
The message or working hard and stop blaming the white man has been replaced today with the civil rights industry message that blacks can not achieve due to racism and they need civil rights leaders to get them through the racism. Also, the hip hop culture has deteriorated young blacks with messages or promiscuity and racial attitudes which leads to high teen pregnancy, women treated as sex objects instead of as a queen or sister, and single parenting homes without quality parental guidance. I am aware there are many problems among the other races as well and I am sure they need a great awakening as well. However, I applaud Mr. Cosby for taking the initiative task to present not only the problems to blacks, but providing the solutions for improvement. If one really cares about the status of the modern black race, they would not want a pep rally. Instead, they would realize the downfall of the blacks community due to poor choices, lack of priorities, and lack of moral values. They will begin to check themselves and hate the negative life that many blacks choose to live.
The majority of the problems facing modern blacks are due to their own choices, not racism. I thank Mr. Cosby for not telling the people what they like to hear and watch them destroy their lives by continuing their negative lifestyles. Instead, I thank Mr. Cosby for telling the truth to the people so they can have the opportunity to examine themselves and begin making positive changes in their life. This is a sign of a person who truly cares about the people. I have not find this type of initiative among the leaders in the civil right industry. Keep telling the truth Mr. Cosby.
Would a white man be able to say the exact same things and be as well received by Black audiences? That should be the listmus test for all so-called Black critics. If the criticism is not something we would accept from a white person, then we shouldn't accept it from a Black one.
Chuck Crismier a white man who does say the exact same things as Bill Cosby. He has a daily radio show and a website at http://www.saveus.org/. He also carries archives of his daily show at http://www.soundwaves2000.com/viewpoint/. Chuck Crismier often exposes the moral decay in America and he addresses subjects like the high divorce rate, the problems in the American church and corrupt politics, just to name a few. When it comes to the racial issue, he is not afraid to mention the fact that there is a racial problem in this country. However, he does expose the problems facing the modern black community, along with the other communities, and several black people have called his show to express their gratitude for his bold message. I appreciate the boldness and true messages of people like Chuck Crismier and Bill Cosby who tell people what they need to hear and not what they want to hear.
posted
Just where are the "non-public" venues where Black people get to lay out their criticisms and empower themselves to minimize all the problems "VERY PUBLICLY" in evidence to everyone witnessing them?! Maybe they need to be published, privately I suppose, so that more people can attend them.
Seriously, I think more progress is being made by airing the 'dirty laundry' than not - the White people Black people need to counteract aren't listening to Bill Cosby (or any other Black person), anyway.
Posts: 97 | From: Milwaukee | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Speaking on moral issues, it is great that President George W. Bush is taking a strong stand on moral values when it comes to funding abstinence education. http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/25/secondterm.abstinence.ap/index.html It is a shame that congress doesn't see the importance of abstinence education and fully support the president's funding request. Hopefully, President Bush will soon challenge the television networks, record companies and radio stations to become more responsible in their entertainment distribution.
posted
One of the reasons I support adult chaperoned youth activities on a constant basis is so that kids can have safe venues within which to practice abstinence, non-drug use, non-drinking, non-violence and all the other non-s that decent people learn to get out of their system. Without such PRACTICE all the talk in the world (read: brainwashing) isn't going to help them when the first enticing opportunity for wrong comes their way.
One of the keys to all that, of course, is getting churches involved in opening their doors to neighborhood kids - the kids who know each other from interaction on the streets where they live most of their lives. That's happening, very slowly, but it's happening - mostly now with the kids from within their own congregations who, in the case of Milwaukee, DO NOT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD where the church is located and, therefore, do not have much of a role modeling impact upon the kids within the neighborhoods where they do live who need the decency instilling opportunities and role modeling the most.
Posts: 97 | From: Milwaukee | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
When Bush speaks, money moves. His administration has given plenty of tax money to various organizations that practice the good values he speaks of.
Its not the money that is going to change anything though. The views of the people in the area are going to have to change in order for change to better take root.
Posts: 1673 | From: Suwanee, GA, USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
I heard that once. But given the money required to buy a major network I was not so sure. Not unless he had a partner with much bigger bucks than him.
quote: "Cosby called on the faithful to put their religion to work.
"You call yourselves Christians? Jesus didn't sit in the house," Cosby said. "He walked in the streets."
Parent Malinda Russell-Williams agreed with Cosby about apathy in the community.
"He's so right," she said. "We all sit there, and we don't do anything. We've got the power. We are no longer the minority. I hope it starts in the church."
Cosby said that systematic racism is a problem, but it's not insurmountable.
"Maybe we can't get back to the old days that we old-timers used to see. But I tell you, now 87 percent" of the city is black, Cosby said. "We are not a minority. ... It costs no money to open your mouth. It costs no money to tell people to stop. It's something in us."
The audience was packed with active parents from community groups who now say they must take the message to the streets.
"Yes, the parents are listening. That's why he's getting so many reactions," said Keith Davis, whose son is a freshman at Cass Technical High. "The solutions are very straightforward lessons from when we were raised. Why abandon them?""
Amen brother Cosby!
Posts: 1673 | From: Suwanee, GA, USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:Cosby specifically had asked that "single parents, parents of children who have been labeled 'at-risk' and parents of Detroit Public Schools students," attend Thursday night's meeting, according to a news release from Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's office prior to the event.
"Our children are trying to tell us something and we are not listening," Cosby told the audience of about 1,800. "And the poverty pimps and victim pimps keep telling the victims to stay where they are, 'you can't get up, you can't do this, you can't do that' ... I'm telling you, you better get up."
Posts: 1673 | From: Suwanee, GA, USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:Originally posted by dmcn: Bill Cosby is a Black-on-Black racist. He's going around the country publicly criticizing Black people and getting standing ovations from them. How crazy is that?
There is a time for being polite and a time for telling it like it is. The above statement was ob- viously made out of ignorance, plain and simple. It's just like I've said on this forum many times. We as Black people have got to stop putting off discussions of our negative community issues by using the excuse that "we shouldn't air-out our dirty laundry". Believe it or not, the establish- ment knows more about us than we do. We need to wake up and put an end to this nightmare. Or are we going to continue to count on our Women to keep things together?
DC Bailey Century Broadcasting
Posts: 78 | From: Oakland, CA | Registered: Mar 2003
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