Posted on 06/29/2005 7:30:23 PM PDT by Lando Lincoln
Jun. 29, 2005 - It came as a shock to many last year when Bill Cosby, one of America's top TV dads and comedians, strongly criticized low-income African-Americans, and then took that message on the road.
In a series of "Conversations with Cosby" held in cities with large urban and poor populations, Cosby has said African-Americans are not "holding up their end of the deal" and need to take more responsibility for their families and communities.
During these events, Cosby has been tight-lipped with the media, often talking only to columnists in order to promote his advocacy. But the entertainer invited "Nightline's" Michel Martin to sit down for an exclusive interview during his latest event in St. Louis. Martin shared a preview of the piece, which airs in its entirety tonight, with "Good Morning America."
Cosby calls his town meetings "call outs" and has traveled to 12 cities so far, spreading his message of personal responsibility.
He has lambasted "lower-economic people," parents who spend more on athletic shoes than education, and children who use poor English and curse constantly. He has said blacks need to stop blaming whites and take control of their children and their communities.
"Nine hundred kids enter many of these high schools, and 35 walk out with diplomas," Cosby told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "The rest are in prison, pregnant or wandering around doing nothing."
Critics have dubbed it the "Blame the Poor Tour," and blasted Cosby's remarks as hurtful and stereotypical.
Martin asked Cosby about those criticisms.
"I would say they are trying to move away from the problem," Cosby said. "They're trying to deal me some cards other than the hand that I'm talking about. I don't talk about the television set that works. I call the mechanic about that one that's broken."
However, his outspokenness has made him a target due to his own conduct, including current allegations of sexual misconduct. Prosecutors have declined to press charges, although a civil suit is pending. Cosby has publicly acknowledged that he had an inappropriate relationship outside of his marriage.
Martin asked Cosby if his own failures of judgment disqualify him from speaking about others.
"No," Cosby said flatly. "I couldn't care less what you think of me as long as you begin to execute that which will save your children."
He compared speaking out to warning others against mistakes he had made himself.
"You don't have to listen to me," he said. "But you're going to be very, very sorry."
Cosby grew up in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood, seeing little of his father who was a mess steward in the Navy. Cosby himself left high school in 10th grade to join the Navy, and later received his diploma from a correspondence course while still in the service. He attended Temple University on a football scholarship, and received a master's and doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts.
Cosby is the creator of Fat Albert and played Heathcliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." He has won four Emmy Awards, eight Grammy's, the NAACP Image Award, the Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences.
Cosby and his wife Camille had five children. In 1997, their son, Ennis, was killed by a single gunshot to the head while changing a tire on his car.
Cosby has already taken his "call outs" to Atlanta; Springfield, Mass.; Newark, N.J.; Baltimore and Dallas, among other cities. He plans to continue his conversation in Cleveland, Kansas City and other urban areas.
Bill Cosby is telling it like it is.....the black community better listen. He's trying to help.
--from another sista
When I was in college, we had a foriegn exchange student from Tanzania join up with the CRs. The guy despised American blacks. He said in Africa, they valued family, taking responsibility for your actions, and self-reliance. He was offended that they were calling themselves African Americans.
Sad and frightening. I'm guessing Cosby does not have the guts that ML King had, but I sure wish he did. There is no one else I can think of who has the power and desire to do it unless a Jesse Jackson had a "road to Damascus" moment and becomes a whistle-blower against his own industry.
Not a likely scenario, but God can work wonders.
"INCREDIBLE, astonishingly obvious bias RIGHT UP FRONT.
Bill wasn't basing his criticism on income group.
Shameful."
You have a right to your opinion as I do to mine. To me, Cosby is a saint, spreading a message that needs to get out via a spokesman the blacks respect.
You don't think that Cosby's comments cross economic barriers and the media is trying to portray him as ganging up on poor people?
Read it again, FRiend.
And they o this in Africa. I can't believe he had the gaul to say that in Africa they are so righteous. Look at Africa.
Yes he was- as he should have. The media can say or take it anyway they want to. Cosby was right to point out where the problem is. Middleclass blacks go to work everyday, they try to educate their kids, they care about their communities, they save money and so on and so on. He is pointing out the difference that so many of the posters on this board fail to recognize - that there are different black americas. There is the black america that wants a future and those that are lost. And Cosby knows where most of the lost ones are. He's talking to those people. He's not talking to all of black America. That is why so many black people are so upset with what he is saying; because he "is" pointing out the differences.
No.. he was basing it on income. Many blacks have control of their kids. He's talking to a specific group of people. and that is what most people are upset about. To many blacks it's like preaching to the choir. The blacks that need to hear the message have been singled out by Cosby.
Hateful as the left is, I have to wonder if the allegations against him have a political base.
OF COURSE the Left wants to silence him.
He's trying to instill self-respect and self-support among blacks. The more who begin respecting and supporting themselves, the worse it is for the Democrats, whose handouts have become just about the only reason anyone sane would vote for them.
Ours (1970) were two cousins from Kenya. Different country, same message.
Oh, and they both spoke with a "BBC" accent, and had a very hard time understanding SoCal blacks.
Good for BC.
Good for him.
Great response to the character assassins.
< No.. he was basing it on income. Many blacks have control of their kids. He's talking to a specific group of people. and that is what most people are upset about. To many blacks it's like preaching to the choir. The blacks that need to hear the message have been singled out by Cosby. >
I disagree. Blacks from every income level are letting their kids run wild (same is true of parents of all races). He speaks of the foul language especially. From my observation that has literally taken over with youth in this country. He's speaking to all. Would that all of us listen.
Need we say more?
Nothing could be more true. My neighborhood is filled with black families and it so disgusts me to see little black kids talking on a cell phones, buying candy with a food stamp credit card and then, the real kicker. The thing that bothers me the most of all, they arrogantly toss their garbage right on the street or sidewalk or parking lot or wherever they happen to be standing. That's the biggest slap in my face and I know they know that I feel that way, making it an even bigger slap in the face.
Message 12 before 'plantation' has been mentioned. We are doing better.
The teenagers in my neighborhood do the same and it's an affluent neighborhood. It's not a black thing. It's a teen thug thing.
Not only that, but the implication is that the current civil law suit has something to do with his much earlier extramarital affair. Seemingly in an effort to discredit him further.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.