Posted on 07/01/2004 1:58:07 PM PDT by dave k
Cosby explains - but doesn't back away from - comments
DON BABWIN
Associated Press
CHICAGO - Bill Cosby blasted critics who complained when he upbraided low-income blacks for squandering opportunities afforded them by the civil rights movement, saying Thursday that the "dirty laundry" they don't want aired is the black child without the most basic skills to succeed.
"Let me tell you something, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day, it's cursing and calling each other (racial slurs) as they're walking up and down the street," he said during an appearance at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund's annual conference here with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the organization's founder and president.
"They think they're hip," the entertainer said. "They can't read; they can't write. They're laughing and giggling, and they're going nowhere."
Cosby made headlines in May when, at a commemoration of the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation decision, he criticized the poor grammar of some blacks and said African-Americans who commit crimes and wind up behind bars "are not political prisoners."
In a talk interrupted several times by applause, the longtime education advocate elaborated - but did not back away from - those comments. He castigated some blacks, saying that they cannot simply blame whites for problems such as teen pregnancy and the school dropout rates that plague some segments of the black community.
"For me there is a time ... when we have to turn the mirror around," he said. "Because for me it is almost analgesic to talk about what the white man is doing against us. And it keeps a person frozen in their seat, it keeps you frozen in your hole you're sitting in."
Cosby lamented that the same racial slurs used by those who once lynched blacks are now a favorite expression of black children. And he put the blame on parents.
"When you put on a record and that record is yelling (racial slurs) ... and you've got your little 6-year-old, 7-year-old sitting in the back seat of the car, those children hear that," he said.
Cosby made it clear that he stands behind his earlier statements about how the importance of speaking proper English is lost on certain "knuckleheads" in the black community.
"If they set up businesses in the neighborhood, then they can have their own languages," he said to cheers and laughter.
Cosby repeatedly came back to the theme that those who struggled and died during the civil rights movement deserve better than what they are getting from those who benefited from their sacrifice.
"Dogs, water hoses that tear the bark off trees, Emmett Till," he said, naming the black youth who was tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955, allegedly for whistling at a white woman. "And you're going to tell me you're going to drop out of school? You're going to tell me you're going to steal from a store?"
Cosby also said that he wasn't concerned that some whites took his comments and turned them "against our people."
"Let them talk," he said.
Jackson defended Cosby's statements. "Bill is saying let's fight the right fight, let's level the playing field," Jackson said. "Drunk people can't do that. Illiterate people can't do that."
People who attended Cosby's appearance on Thursday echoed Jackson. "We as black people are in many ways in denial about what's happening now," said Shirley McKinney, a Chicago teacher and musician. "We need to take responsibility for our children."
"I think he voiced concerns of many of us in the African-American community," agreed Sharon Ransom, a Chicago public schools official who added that because Cosby "had the courage to make those comments, attention will be given to that segment of the community."
Damn. I wish I had been able to come up with that one when Daniels threw his "three C's syndrome" out, referring to Rice, Powell & Thomas.
Thanks for the kind words though...
I figure folks will start to figure out what is what as time goes on...
I have a (white) friend who believes the fact that more blacks are in jail than whites is solely due to racism on the part of the white legal system. He refuses to believe the statistics showing that blacks actually commit more crimes.
The funny part is that the stats on race of perpetrator are taken in the police report from the victims. Since blacks are victims at a much higher rate than whites, a lot of blacks are either claiming to be victims when they are not, or reporting that their attacker was black when he was not.
You can bet that jackson was cringing thinking that Cosby's speech might actually motivate some blacks to get off the public dole. He has got to work hard to spin Cosby's words into more "entitlement thinking".
Er....looks like you are way off as I never did reply to you. Was your response supposed to be directed to another, perhaps?
My reply #27 was directed to "rageaholic".
Not unless people like you keep on harpin' about "what is what!"
Keep it up and know that you are doing more for America than any democrat welfare program!
The irony was that, at the time, some in the black community were saying that they didn't want blacks depicted as hoods, dope-heads, etc. Bill Cosby presents America with a loving family, parents who are professionals, who live in an upscale home, deal with everyday problems, and the black "leaders" still weren't happy. And, I'm sure there were some pointy-headed white liberals who felt that the family was not "angry" enough. Years ago, on BET, they ran a very funny Britcom, "Desmonds," in which the son gets a bad grade on an essay because he was not "angry enough." One of the characters, also black, stated "why are we always supposed to be angry?".
i think that The Reverend Jackson and this Sharon Ransom both twisted Mr. Cosby's words to fit their own agendas... what does she mean that "attention will be given to that segment of the community?" she still doesn't get it... it takes personal responsibility of the parents... accountability--is she willing to hold "that segment of the community" accountable? or does she expect "society" or the government to step in?
AMEN!!!!
But it's easier to play victim. It's easier to play the blame game.
Personal responsibility is something anathema to so many self-imposed minorities. If they actually took control of their lives, got up off their arses, looked their problems straight in the face, and resolved to be pro-active their lives would be so much better.
I could go on! But then, I'd just be whining and moaning - and I've far more productive things to do! :-)
"Praise the Lord! Cos has finally had enough of the PC BS!"
Cool. There is hope.
Cosby is the MAN!!!
Telling it like it is! Some people don't want to hear the truth. It can hurt!
It takes a man to digest it, accept it, and make changes.
That pretty much sums it up.
Not that it will change anything.
Where is the racism component with black on black crime which is the reason that most of the criminals are in jail.
Cosby has said more truth in 2 months to the black community than Jesse Jackson has said in 2 decades.
I'm impressed by how he's sticking to his guns in the face of controversy--he's speaking from conviction, which is a good sign.
I think what is harming the conservative message amongst blacks isn't the message itself but the messenger. Cosby was really saying that he was sorry that the wrong people agreed with him. Whatever it takes, right?
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