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But Theodore Shaw, the head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, spoke after Mr. Cosby and said that many troubles faced by blacks are not "self-inflicted."

Many blacks fear the comments from Mr. Cosby, a known supporter of Democratic causes, will be used to further the assertions of conservatives that many of the problems in the black community are, indeed, self-inflicted.

Mr. Shaw and the others are more worried about losing their victim status than fixing the problems. Most of the problems are self-inflicted nowadays but if they won't admit it, they can't attempt to change it. Thank you Mr. Cosby for telling them the truth.

What is missed is this discussion is that millions of blacks who have played by the rules, educated themselves, and are educating their children have no voice. Some whites, think only about the kids Mr. Cosby was referring to, and assume that they are the rule rather than the exception. Groups like the NAACP talk about barriers that exist, and refuse to acknowledge that these wounds are self inflicted. Yep there is a barrier for uneducated, high school dropouts who struggle to read and write and talk in the Ebonic street talk that was passed on to them by their parents. Its the same barrier faced by uneducated white high school dropouts who struggle to read and write and use poor grammar in their interpersonal relationships. While my ignorant nephews get hired for unskilled jobs because racism still exists, once their bosses find out that they can't function in a job environment they are fired as quickly as unskilled minorities. The difference is that my white nephews, in this situation, are considered unemployable...they can't play the victim card. After all I wouldn't hire them.