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A new century, a new ‘color line’ - (backs Bill Cosby, quotes Thomas Sowell)
JEWISH WORLD REVIEW.COM ^ | MAY 5, 2005 | CLARENCE PAGE

Posted on 05/05/2005 8:38:50 PM PDT by CHARLITE

Sometimes our efforts to stand up for the less fortunate actually can grease their slide backward into even less fortune.

That's what I thought of the verbal sucker punch with which August Wilson, the distinguished black playwright, walloped Bill Cosby, the distinguished black comedian.

When Time magazine asked Wilson what he thought of Cosby's controversial criticisms of black parenting, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright was dismissive:

"A billionaire attacking poor people for being poor," he said. "Bill Cosby is a clown. What do you expect? I thought it was unfair of him."

I, by contrast, think Wilson is being unfair to Cosby— and to clowns.

Black comedians have a long history of sometimes getting to the heart of the matter more quickly and effectively than most scholars, politicians or movement leaders. Anyone who dismissed Dick Gregory in the 1960s, Richard Pryor in the 1970s or Chris Rock in the 1990s as mere "clowns" would have missed something very important that was happening in black America.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: alsharpton; augustwilson; billcosby; black; clarencepage; criticisms; education; ghetto; jargon; lifestyle; parental; parents; responsibility; speech
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1 posted on 05/05/2005 8:38:52 PM PDT by CHARLITE
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To: CHARLITE

Blacks are exempt from criticism unless they are conservatives. Then it's open season.


2 posted on 05/05/2005 8:42:47 PM PDT by Ron in Acreage (Democrat or Communist? Is there a difference?)
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To: Ron in Acreage

As opposed to a truthful individual like Rev. Al?


3 posted on 05/05/2005 8:49:01 PM PDT by Nitro ( We do it with a bang.)
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To: CHARLITE

I think it's sad that they are trying to play this pathetic crap against Dr. Cosby.

They guy is concerned about real problems.

And all parents of all colors can learn something from what he is saying.

Because these problems are happening across the board.

Dr.Cosby seems like a good man.

I remember when he went down to Baylor University and they had the rally. It was after that murder happened.

Bill rallied the school and got the students to focus on being positive. I have talked to many students ......and they all said the Bill Cosby really helped.


4 posted on 05/05/2005 8:51:34 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
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To: CHARLITE

Thanks for posting the article. I always enjoy Clarence Page, both in writing and in his role as a talking head.

I respect anybody, whether I agree with them or not, if the use reason and civil discourse as the basis for their argument.


5 posted on 05/05/2005 8:51:40 PM PDT by tjg
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To: CHARLITE

["A billionaire attacking poor people for being poor," he said. "Bill Cosby is a clown. What do you expect? I thought it was unfair of him."] -- August Wilson, the distinguished black playwright



Bill Cosby wasn't BORN a billionaire;

[[Bill Cosby was born in Philadelphia, PA, on July 12, 1937. When he was 8 years old his brother James died. The next year his father joined the Navy and his mother went to work. Bill had to earn money shining shoes. He also had to watch his younger brothers....He dropped out of high school and joined the Navy. Later he realized his mistake, and would go to college on a football scholarship. He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, and would earn a PhD from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.]] http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/4547/cosby.html


And he didn't attack anybody for being poor. He criticized those people who have the opportunity to get an education but chose to remain ignorant through laziness, and he criticized those people who choose not to raise their kids properly because of selfishness.


August Wilson, YOU are the clown.


6 posted on 05/05/2005 8:53:39 PM PDT by spinestein
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To: CHARLITE

HEY HEY HEY!
7 posted on 05/05/2005 9:10:31 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: CHARLITE

Keep in mind that Mr. Page has a well-established reputation as being a liberal.

But the difference with Mr. Page and white liberals is that Mr. Page is interested in seeing blacks join the mainstream of the country, whereas white liberals want to keep blacks just where they are (as any advancement could only turn more of them into Republicans). Take public schools, as just one example - they serve the Democratic Party perfectly, as they pump out millions of illiterate minorities - the base of the party.

Who would have guessed that we'd still have slave owners (figuratively) and that it winds up being the liberals.



8 posted on 05/05/2005 9:12:11 PM PDT by BobL
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To: ArmyBratproud

Actually, this is just a compliment to Bill Cosby.

Anyone who earns their place in the spotlight through blood, sweat and tears will be attacked by this group of insecure, nonachieving, self appointing antisocial movement we refer to as the left (for lack of better words).

They can't make it on their own, so they ban together to create groups to give each other titles, awards, and attention. Then they have tantrums when we see through the self appointed status and find no substance.

This is a tantrum.


9 posted on 05/05/2005 9:24:59 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: CHARLITE

Oh Mr. Wilson....

Nah, nah, nah -- gonna have a good time
Nah, nah, nah -- gonna have a good time
Nah, nah, nah -- gonna have a good time


10 posted on 05/05/2005 9:26:04 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: spinestein

Did you see the Fat Albert Movie that was out over Christmas?

It was alot deeper than many realized.

Albert Robertson (Fat Albert) died. This movie was released as a tribute to him AND it was a Christmas present to Albert's granddaughter.


11 posted on 05/05/2005 9:36:12 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: hellbilly
"Get a haircut and get a real job."

That's very funny. I really appreciate that, hellbilly! Thanks for a very KEY-YEWT, snappy remark! I love sassy jabs at liberals!

Char :)

13 posted on 05/05/2005 9:54:29 PM PDT by CHARLITE (I have a fabulous harlequin Great Dane named "Lucy!" :))
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To: Calpernia

Fat Albert died? When did that happen?

And how does a cartoon character die?


14 posted on 05/05/2005 10:02:28 PM PDT by spinestein
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To: Ron in Acreage
"Blacks are exempt from criticism unless they are conservatives. Then it's open season."

.....which is why the Democrats had cannipshun fits over Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice and Colin Powell, and now they're are doing it all over again about Janice Rogers Brown.

15 posted on 05/05/2005 10:05:23 PM PDT by CHARLITE (I have a fabulous harlequin Great Dane named "Lucy!" :))
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To: CHARLITE

I saw Bill Cosby perform about 20 years ago and he was one of the funniest people ever. He had an astute view on people,parents, children, life that rings true no matter what color.
I applaud his courage for stepping out of the box the so called 'black leadership' has put themselves in.


16 posted on 05/05/2005 10:11:07 PM PDT by LAQueenBee3
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To: Calpernia

The Fat Albert Gang were based on real people from when Bill Cosby grew up in Phili.

Fat Albert was a cartoon based on Albert Robertson.

At the end of the movie, all the real people that were represented from the Fat Alber Gang were at Albert Robertson's grave paying respect.

It was really touching.

The cartoon drawings represented these people so well you could pick out who was who as the camera panned them.


17 posted on 05/05/2005 10:13:42 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: CHARLITE

The lure of the welfare teat and victim status are just too much for many AA's.People like Cosby are too few and too late.AA's who excell(Cosby,Rice,Sowell,etc)are a minority within a minority.


18 posted on 05/05/2005 10:33:10 PM PDT by thombo
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To: hellbilly

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1397655/posts?page=17#17


19 posted on 05/05/2005 10:34:14 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: BobL

BTTT


20 posted on 05/06/2005 12:12:36 AM PDT by lainde
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