Bill Cosby has more harsh words for black community

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Bill Cosby went off on another tirade against the black community Thursday, telling a room full of activists that black children are running around not knowing how to read or write and "going nowhere."

He also had harsh words for struggling black men, telling them: "Stop beating up your women because you can't find a job."

Cosby made headlines in May when he upbraided some poor blacks for their grammar and accused them of squandering opportunities the civil rights movement gave them.

He shot back Thursday, saying his detractors were trying in vain to hide the black community's "dirty laundry."

"Let me tell you something, your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day, it's cursing and calling each other n------ as they're walking up and down the street," Cosby said during an appearance at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund's annual conference.

"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."

In his remarks in May at a commemoration of the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation decision, Cosby denounced some blacks' grammar and said those who commit crimes and wind up behind bars "are not political prisoners."

"I can't even talk the way these people talk, 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' ... and I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk," Cosby said then. "And then I heard the father talk ... Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth."

Cosby elaborated Thursday on his previous comments in a talk interrupted several times by applause. He castigated some blacks, saying that they cannot simply blame whites for problems such as teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates.

"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 racial slurs once used by those who lynched blacks are now a favorite expression of black children. And he blamed parents.

"When you put on a record and that record is yelling 'n----- this and n----- that' 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.

He also condemned black men who missed out on opportunities and are now angry about their lives.

"You've got to stop beating up your women because you can't find a job, because you didn't want to get an education and now you're (earning) minimum wage," Cosby said. "You should have thought more of yourself when you were in high school, when you had an opportunity."

Cosby appeared Thursday with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president of the education fund, who defended the entertainer'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."

Cosby also said many young people are failing to honor the sacrifices made by those who struggled and died during the civil rights movement.

"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 he wasn't concerned that some whites took his comments and turned them "against our people."

I myself do not understand the people. Bill Cosby is speaking the truth. But America does not want to see the truth, white or black. White America does not much give a damn about black America. Unless black america somehow aids white america, such as in presidential elections, white america don't give a damn. and maybe racism does not surface as it did 40 years ago, but i do believe racism still exists in people much as it did 40 years ago. But because of the new era and new laws and the new "way" of society, racism is kept in secret rather than spoken out loud; however, it still exists. But the hypocrites of america would not let you know such, at least not straight up. But they damm sure will talk behind your back. or they won't hire you or treat you the same as their own. i believe white america, the majority, would never look at black people as equal as their own because there is always the subconscious mind that overpowers your natural thinking. im saying this because i believe black america is where black america is partially because of white america. and if white america did give a damn, i believe black america would be on a higher level and maybe the projects of america would help black people rather than trap them.
I said partially because black america has become ignorant and selfish in their own communities. "leaders" such as these rap artists ain't doing a damn thing to help out their people. i believe black america has forgotten how to be a people. now, they just focus on being "black." But this "black" isn't what african americans are about at all. the "oh im ghetto and i like it n****" makes no damn sense to me. rappers have made it so being ghetto and being thug is a good and positive thing when it is not. black kids all over america try to act "black" because they are black. but the thing is, being black has nothing to do with being ghetto. but the music industry has brainwashed america into thinking that if ur ghetto, u either are black or ur acting black. and the white man always has associated bad things with acting black. and now the black man is "acting black" and he's proud of it. but he aint got a damn thing to be proud of because he's an ignorant fool. now in america, acting black and acting ghetto mean the same damn thing. I believe black america needs to have leaders such as bill cosby who speak the truth. Jesse jackson ain't no damn leader. he's nothing but a hypocrite thats in for the publicity. if there was somebody to be called a n*****, it sure damn be him. martin luther king jr., malcolm X, marcuy garvey, thurgood marshall, fredrick douglas. these were good and postive black man that all has one goal in common. that was to help their people. but today, the black community has no leaders. besides bill cosby i dont see any other black leader doing anything to help his or her people. And without leaders, the igorant and selfish crowds will follow the ignorant and selfish so-called "leaders" which i believe will bring them to an eventual doom. and i believe if something or someone does not do something soon, the black community will find themselves in a major struggle and downfall.
the black community needs leadership, unity, perservence, and hope. i believe many have lost hope. but never lose hope. none of america's great black leaders lost hope and their contribution will be remembered forever. and i appreciate the bold and powerful Bill Cosby for speaking the truth and nothing but the truth. you can't blame others for your mistakes. and even if obstacles stand, which they mostly do, they can always be overtaken with the strength and power of the soul and mind.
Be easy. Be real. and always keep hope alive

The black community in our society are struggling to survive in our modern life. Society jeopardizes there future in succeeding in our world. they disclosed blacks from interacting and communicating in jobs which leads to violence and gang related problems. Bill cosby's approach has being blowed way out of proportion. it has led to an uprise and controversy on his comments. He extends his concern by criticizing the parents for not taken part in there child's education, which is correct and the truth for most parents. parents need to step there parenting skills in our black community , they need to take part in there childs progress in learning and not just waiting for that D+ in there report card. they need to consider that fact bill Cosby is speaking the truth for those who ain't taken part in there child future.

This white boy listens to Larry Elder on radio 790 in Los Angeles area.

Larry used to be libertarian. Now calls himself republitarian.

I think we once had awful racism towards blacks, in America. Like you say, laws have changed some of that.

I have a social theory that people find comfort with others, similar to themselves. Just like blacks find comfort with other blacks, some non-blacks are uncomfortable around black people (or hispanics, or asians, etc.).

I think there is some human nature along those lines. I think it is instinctive behavior, like animals. And I do not find a reason to classify it Bad on that level. I'll classify it as normal.

Check into college dorms. The various racial groups hang together. School lunch groupings.

Cosby is a man with success and self-assurance. I believe he is a political liberal.

And I respect him, for taking the risk of saying things which are true, even if not popular.

Finally and most of all, I see the black people that I meet as individuals. Some more like me, and some are less like me. If he wants to act like a thug from the bad neighborhood, I have little time or respect for him.

If he wants to spend the time, finding how we can get our business done, enjoy a time on earth. Thats cool.

But I dig jazz, r & b, reggae, and dislike rap. Probably too much a creature of the 60s, perhaps a little older and wiser.

"Society jeopardizes there future in succeeding in our world. They disclosed blacks from interacting and communicating in jobs which leads to violence and gang related problems.

The families of the people concerned jeopordizes their future, not society or anyone other individuals. Students need to come to school (PREPARED TO SIT, LISTEN, STUDY, LEARN AND DO HOME WORK). I think in places where there is trouble, that is the cause of it.
Society will value you at your worth. If you are worth a wage, you will find an employer who will pay it if you look.
If you did not prepare for life, your wages are not going to be high, your access to the better things in life will be lower and it would be their own fault.
Some communities make fun of success, some even practically make up their own language within the culture. In my opinion, that only further segregates themselves from the only ONE society that exists that is operational.

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