Posted on 05/27/2004 8:58:16 PM PDT by mafree
Never mind Howard University.
The administration of the Washington institution is apparently in a bit of a huff because Bill Cosby used its podium to criticize the failings of black America -- especially its underclass. Howard's leaders, who won't release a transcript of Cosby's speech, are still not prepared to have a public discussion of self-inflicted wounds.
But much of black America, especially its middle class, is ready to have that conversation. In that sense, Cosby's speech was a watershed event -- a sign that black America is now comfortable enough with its accomplishments to discuss its shortcomings.
"Perhaps Bill did us a favor," says NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, who attended the ceremony, "and more people will now be prepared to step forward. It'll be a tough love conversation, whether or not people want to have it. And it will take opinion leaders to say those things that should be said."
Not all black Americans agree with the remarks Cosby made at a May 17 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision. Indeed, his criticism of everything from speech patterns to spending habits among the black poor was pointedly politically incorrect.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal," he said. "These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids -- $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics' " to improve their children's reading and speech.
Of the disproportionate number of blacks in prison, Cosby had this to say: "These are not political criminals. These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake, and then we run out and we are outraged, saying, 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What in the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"
After the speech, Theodore Shaw, head of the NAACP legal defense fund, rushed to the podium to serve up a rejoinder, noting that larger (read "white") American society still bears some responsibility for the failure of so many black Americans to join the economic and cultural mainstream. That is clearly so.
But isn't it about time that black Americans acknowledge that, at the dawn of the 21st century, personal responsibility has at least as much to do with success in America as race? Isn't it only fair to note that the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 50 years ago did roll back much of systemic racism? After all, if you believe that racism continues to largely limit black success, that will certainly prove itself true.
"There is no reason that black students have to do poorly in math and science, in speech, in cognitive abilities," Mfume said. "When you're quiet about those [shortcomings], young people notice, and it sounds like you're giving your approval."
Some blacks have recoiled from Cosby's pointed remarks, not because they disagree, but because they don't want to discuss certain ignominious truths in front of white folks. They fear such painful self-analysis will only provide fodder to the race-baiters -- the Neal Boortzes and Rush Limbaughs -- who work hard at stoking a white backlash.
I'm sure Boortz and Limbaugh have already made ample use of Cosby's speech to stir up the racist rants among a certain segment of their listeners. So what? They'd look for excuses to poke the tender wounds of race no matter what Cosby had said.
It is more important that black Americans have a spirited debate about the challenges of the post-civil rights era: How do we raise the academic achievement of black students? How do we curb black-on-black crime? How do we attack an AIDS epidemic spreading like wildfire in black America?
In a way, Cosby's speech was an eloquent reminder of the stunning success of the civil rights movement that followed the Brown decision: Black America is strong enough and successful enough to admit its shortcomings and gird itself for the work ahead.
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Cynthia Tucker is the editorial page editor. Her column appears Wednesdays and Sundays.
Glad to hear it, hopefully the host wasn't some lib and allowed intelligent discusion to take place. And it was a wakeup call for all people who care more about having their kid keep up with the Jone's instead of investing money in things that will get their kids ahead.
Unfortunately, most of those who most need to hear what Cosby said don't listen to any talk radio and there's no talk shows on the local hip-hop station.
Cosby said what needed to be said....and he has broad credibility.
I listen to Larry Elder a lot and he has broad spectrum of listeners, from trash to scientists. Elders show is great, I feel like a part of his family when he talks about his dad and has him mom on the air.
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SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY Co-Guest Rev. JESSE LEE PETERSON stated once again that LOUIS FARAKAHN is a Racist Demagogue.
Rev. JESSE LEE PETERSON - Contributing Author / 'MODERN DAY HEROES: In Defense of America'
http://www.ModernDayHeroes.com
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Are you serious??? Short china, make your fortune, and spend the rest of your days drinking Mai Tai's in the Bahamas with pretty women.
But really only some and it seems you only see them in the media or read about them --- the black people you work with never seem to do that -- at least I've never seen it. The one curious thing I see all the time though --- you can have a conversation with a black who is what you'd call successful and pretty often they will say something about "my people" --- for good or for bad there is a sense of "community" among them that whites don't have. The "hey bro" they'll acknowledge someone with who is a total stranger. And whites never feel pulled down as a group by the whites who are failures --- we don't feel any sense of connection with them. We don't think they reflect badly on the rest of us either.
The politics of endless victimhood are destructive for those caught in their web. Always blaming others instead of looking in the mirror.
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