Bill Cosby: "this is how we lost to the white man"

i so agree and i'm not even black. this really goes out to everyone.

but, rather thinking it different from MKLJr's msg, it seems more fitting as an extension...like an update. strength is not in how loud but how tight.

go Cosby!

Every time he gives a speech he says what needs to be said rather than what people want to hear. No longer can AA's hide behind the vial of oppression and self pity. They need to band together, much like Asians do, and strive for the betterment of their community through the betterment of the family, hard work and dedication.

I live in Australia and there are 3 current day positive examples of AA's that we are accustomed to: Oprah, Barrack, and Cosby. For poor examples/embarrassments, all I need do is turn on MTV or the radio and see a bunch of ignorant hooligans jumping around talking about "Superman that hoe."

Fuck Cosby, he's a fucking patsy, a hack, and a two bit comedian at that. He is much funnier in Family-Guy and similar parodies than on his own...

cellularbus is scared.

This is what everyone should be doing, black, white or whatever. Great article, thanks.

wow. this clearly allows those white people like yourselves or people with totally warped senses of being to jump up at this opportunity to say proudly.....SEE GET OVER IT!!

nice job.

bill cosby as much as he may be correct, is a hypocrite and an uncle tom. just like OJ. as an AA as someone put it ( the australian, i mean what kind of racial problem is there buddy? worst in the world perhaps..i have been there...those people bleed racist!) its not for anyone else to really comment on. its an internal matter.

For the record, I tend to agree with the author of the article rather than Cosby. A snippet toward the end of the article:

"If Cosby’s call-outs simply ended at that—a personal and communal creed—there’d be little to oppose. But Cosby often pits the rhetoric of personal responsibility against the legitimate claims of American citizens for their rights. He chides activists for pushing to reform the criminal-justice system, despite solid evidence that the criminal-justice system needs reform. His historical amnesia—his assertion that many of the problems that pervade black America are of a recent vintage—is simply wrong, as is his contention that today’s young African Americans are somehow weaker, that they’ve dropped the ball. And for all its positive energy, his language of uplift has its limitations. After the Million Man March, black men embraced a sense of hope and promise. We were supposed to return to our communities and families inspired by a new feeling of responsibility. Yet here we are again, almost 15 years later, with seemingly little tangible change. I’d take my son to see Bill Cosby, to hear his message, to revel in its promise and optimism. But afterward, he and I would have a very long talk."

This issue is a thorn in societies side. We owe this schism in the black community not to those who have oppressed us but to ourselves for allowing ourselves to be oppressed.

The oppressors have attempted to subvert almost every Nation,Tribe and Culture, having subverted only those who allowed themselves to be subverted. We as people are responsible for educating, strengthening and preserving ourselves and our own culture and not allowing others to intrude unless permitted.

i watched that meeting david wilson show, and afterwards it was the same old thing...people trying to out eloquent the other in defining the problem...instead of just working. we know what the problem is. the way it is. now just change the way it is. you cant change the minds of someone that doesnt wanna change. those people will change on their own. just do. im doing my part. not enough of my folks are. that makes my job damn near impossible. but ill keep trying!

The oppressors have attempted to subvert almost every Nation,Tribe and Culture, having subverted only those who allowed themselves to be subverted. We as people are responsible for educating, strengthening and preserving ourselves and our own culture and not allowing others to intrude unless permitted
Mobius2012

Yeah, from all the foregone this post does nail it. But let me into something, how do we prevent the overwhelming intrusion into our lives by the state machinery that obviously seeks to maintain the status quo?
How do we re-orientate our families in such a chaotic world social order, Where common sense has evaded the majority?

well im black and successful...and sure as hell aint no tom.

it is true that it is an overused term used to label achieving black people by less achieving black people sometimes. but a list of people that i think are toms.

amy holmes
juan williams
puffy (the biggest tom)
oj simpson (been a tom since the 70's)
jesse owens
bill cosby
amy holmes
amy holmes
president of BET networks
jc watts ( i met the guy, we both hate each other. he knows me well!)
95% of black republicans
don king

and saying its a black think or an internal issue like i said basically means that its something that black people and black people in america alone can take care of. its an issue where white america will not listen to the core black community, but will listen to these busters because they have so much self hate that they align themselves with what they think is the "successful" line of thinking. more caucasian way of thinking. and approach to how black people should or will progress. what just happens to be for one, isnt always the case for everyone else. think about that before you make stupid comments like get the fuck over it son!

Black people are not the only race with problems. Instead of jumping down black people's throats and attacking them based on the stereotypes of the few, we should all concentrate on being better people as a whole, becuase we all have room for improvement towards tolerance and equality.

I think that Bill's heart may be in the right place, but he is far off base. If, like him, you want to think of it in terms of race then we lost to the white man the moment our African ancestors we loaded onto boats and shipped to America as slaves. There has been an imbalance in equality since then, and we still have a way to go before America is completely color-blind.

I don't know how much Bill contributes in his own community, or what he contributes, but I think he is a little out of touch with the whole of the African-American community. The people he discusses are only a portion of community. It's not all bad, in fact, it's often better than the media portrays.

Perhaps if we invested more interest and time into the inner city and low-income areas where African-American violence is high by simply offering an affordable alternative(recreation centers, youth centers, trade schools, etc) to violence, organized crime, and drug dealing then we could begin to "clean up" our communities. However, it's more likely that people would rather leave an area than fix it themselves.

where i agree with bill is saying what i always say, take responsibility for your kids. even if yoou work, instill in your kids a sense of self worth. your kids should not have to worry about the next kids peer pressure because their parents should be doing the same thing. stop letting your kids live through the eyes of rap videos, stop acting like success is putting rims on your cars, etc....you see the flaw in all that is assuming that all black people are living like that. that caters to a stereotypical view of us. i understand it, but it is somewhat off base, but in some respects true. my little girl (whose mother is deceased and mexican) likes to watch videos all day long. ok when i see it, i make her do stuff, or go to the library. this summer we are moving to michigan, actually this tuesday, and for the summer, she is going to study mandarin, why, because she will need it later in life. she already speaks spanish. i speak a little spanish, french, japanese, and engrish!! im going to law school and am already a successful banker, but i didnt wanna do that anymore. i havnt worked in over 3 months and even still have made about $17k in that time! i have my shit together. but i still monitor her in her life, i am all about her education and make sure she doesnt do dumb shit that would embarrass me or her. thats my job as a parent.

he assumes that we are coming up short because we blame the jacked up system that exists towards us, instead of rising above it. the best way to get back at those that hate us is to succeed. thats his point, which i agree. but when he labels all of us a a bunch of nothing asses that always complain, well thats something you dont say publicly, and if we do have a self help problem as he seems to think, then saying something like that isnt going to get the desired affect.

plus saying all that he says, he rarely says it to the people that he thinks needs to hear it, he says it to largely white crowds, or to successful black crowds. why not go to a community center in the hood and say that. those are the people that need to hear it.

but he wouldnt dream of it.

I strongly agree. Cosby is a great man who is a realist, not an idealist. Everyone has their faults, but what Cosby says is true. The places where people are the most openly racist is where the most black people live. Black people are racist themselves too. By being better people and rising above the fact that in a bad neighborhood the only way to thrive is with drugs, sports and crime. Black people did it to themselves. If anything they live way better here in the US than they would in Africa with all the STDs, crime and genocide.

Maybe he's too scared to go out and save the people he talks about?

Perhaps it's just an elitist thing.

“A billionaire attacking poor people for being poor. Bill Cosby is a clown. What do you expect?” -playwright August Wilson comments on the situation.

That sums it up for me as well.

As an African American woman, who has attended one of the most elite high school's in the world, The Peddie School (an American boarding school consisting of the best and brightest students from around the world; with a 2% black population), and a proud graduate of a Historically Black College or University (Howard University), and former producer for BET and current producer for Current_TV, I not only think this dialogue is beneficial, it is absolutely necessary for the survival of our African American community.

Bill Cosby, will always be a pioneer in the African American community, regardless if you agree with his personal views or not. The truth is not matter our celebrity or not, we all have a hand in our communities. Be it white, black, asian, indian, jewish, latino or anyone else who makes up the colours of this beautiful world. We are all responsible for the morals and values we instill in our selves, our homes, our communities, and our global community.

Regardless, of what nationality you are, or what personal experiences, triumphs, or obstacles you've had in your life, you're reaction in the world has a cause and effect on us all.

The movie Crash is a perfect example of how all of our personal judgments and prejudices against each other can have cause and effect on a global scale. It's called fueling the fire! Be it a slow burn or a damn explosion, it's all destructive.

Bill Cosby, is one of the only men in the "African American" but truly the "American" community that brought a new, positive and realistic face to progressive black people. Let's not forget, how all of us (black, white, whatever) ran home every Thurs. at 8pm to watch the Cosby show and a different world.

Now, I can only speak from a young black girls perspective in the 80's. But, these shows gave our community a sense of pride and accomplishment. Although, my father may not have been a doctor or my mother a lawyer, these people were not the local pimps, pushers, dealers and addicts youth would see in the streets. Too many homes are single parent homes, with no guidance and direction, or understanding of true parenthood. Bill Cosby showed the obstacles and the glory of family as a complete unit.

What is wrong with:
- a parent helping a child with their homework after school. Not after TV then homework, but right after school.
- having a young man come to meet the parents and sit down and talk with the father of a young girl before he takes her out on a date.
- a family that stays together, prays together, talks about their days, and life in general over the dinner table.
- having a sense of PRIDE in yourself and everything you do.

Does that make you an Uncle Tom? Hell NO!! Like "Xerox" said, get back to your roots.

CONTINUED....

Understand where these words come from:
- Nigger (and yes Nigga, or Niggah)
- Coon
- Uncle Tom
- Sell out
- or any other demeaning name you can call any race.

They came from oppressors who wanted you to do exactly what is going on now, and continues to go on.

A FORM OF SELF-ENSLAVEMENT!!! Through the brainwashing these terms in our heads to describe, our own brothers and sisters. Continually divides us instead of uniting, fooling ourselves to thinking "we are flipping the meaning of something that was used as a (excuse me while I laugh) term of endearment".....come on.....just because Lil` Kim or whoever wants to call themselves a Bitch, doesn't mean you can use that term to me as a "term of endearment"

WAKE UP PEOPLE!! WAKE UP!!

Procrastination is the THIEF of Blessings!!!!
No, seriously did you get that, the "THIEF" of blessings. Meaning you already possess all the blessing you need, but as you continue to procrastinate you will have them robbed of you.

Stop procrastinating on CHANGE!! We may have an African American President of the United States of America, and we as a community must rejoice and understand the responsibility behind this historical life we are living.

Our ancestors broke their backs so we could stand on their shoulders. Who's standing on ours? What is our legacy? What have we achieved? Yes, we have achieved very much, but...."To whom much is given, much is expected!!""

I have travelled this world and have friends in Africa, Switzerland to Brooklyn of all nationalities. I a successful producer at BET left, because of the demeaning content saturating our youth and media. This was my personal decision and responsibility to what I believe in.

As Barak Obama would say, "YES WE CAN!!"

Looking at racism as a "black" issue or a "white" issue is futile. Racism is a human issue. It is perpetrated by humans and hurts humans. Until we as humans stop segmenting ourselves into
opposing factions none of us will be equal.

Yes, there are vast cultural differences between us, but there are vast cultural differences between California and Montana, and to my knowledge neither has ever accused the other of oppression, sloth, or attacked the other.

genevieve, the issue isnt taking care of business. i do that. i am very successful, yet i can label a person a tom, at worst a sellout.

it is an individuals decision to give back to any community. to any person. to anything. hell to even your own family. as a black girl (woman) as you call yourself, look at it in terms of "where have all the black men gone?" sista's like to say that all the good black men or successful black men only want white women. why do black women say that? because they are reflecting on what they see. their perception. they take the attitude that once a black man gets successful, that he wants a white women, something that wasnt available to him when he was downtrodden. he left us, left the black woman behind. if yoou went to howard or worked at BET, then you know what im talking about. now put that into this context.

does that make it true? no, but the perception is the same. as a person, coming from a community that was and is in many cases subjugated, and pressed with negative stereotypes, and I understand that its the stereotypes, that your former employer peddled to make themselves successful. ( i mean lets call it like it is!! BET has done its fair share of promoting stupid stereotypes in the name of entertaining black people. any master p movie, all these prison films and drug dealer films...late night ass shakin videos and day time ass shakin videos...BET is a JOKE! its not like when donnie simpson or sheri carter used to host it. the mayor on rap city...i remember all that) you were paid from promoting stereotypes. but i dont blame you personally! why would i. Hell i might have worked there too. then.

my point is, coming from a stereotyped community, it is as a successful black man, my responsibility to represent myself as a positive influence for those that do not have very many people to look up to. I go places and i inspire people because of my class and knowledge of things. Black kids, black adults, and white people as well. usually its negating their assumptions about me. which is fine too. im accessible to everyone, that is everyones responsibility, but i also understand that as a black man, and you should understand that as a black woman, we are not judged individually like white people are fortunate to be able to be. each one of us is a representation of all of us. most white people see a kid saggin his pants and thinks we all do that, and maybe i will come to interview with that guy, and he will think i am that way. and wanna come to me and say "hey Bro" with his fingers pointing like he has cerebal palsey or something... thats my point. if you cant see that, then yes you have something missing.

and the fact that you went to any particular school means nothing. i went to schools all over the world, does that make me any better? my education maybe, but its what i use it for that distinguishes me. you went to those schools because you had the opportunity to go. you didnt pay for them, your parents did, and you also need to understand that it was their hard work that enabled you to go, not you. you do know that there are people who's parents came from nothing, expect nothing, have kids that get nothing, and expect nothing, and live around people that are the same. your parents moved you away from "those" people so your life could be better. i would have done the same thing. but remember that there are people that are less than you. of any colour. but the reason we come from that, is not the same reason that white people in this country are poor. poor is poor, but as we work our way up as people of colour, we have an exceptionally more difficult road to hoe.

honestly if BET didnt exist, our situation wouldnt be as bad...MTV would never have shown those videos. but i dont blame BET.

Slavery is what it is....but its over now. we do need to say fuck it and move on with our lives...but since our parents didnt have the access that we have had in the last 20 years, they need our help too, and we cant expect them to push their kids. they dont have it in them to push their kids to be better than them because they are embarrassed that they are adults and are going nowhere. imagine your parents growing up not being able to improve their kids lives because the SYSTEM AT THE TIME prevented them from success in life. 50-60-70's i went to school in the 80's went to school in japan, greece, germany, england (one month) sunnyvale, ca. oklahoma city, colorado springs, law vegas, and college in oklahoma, and arizona..going to law school in mich. i know the value of education...and i have seen the world many times over before 20. many of my community have not. so its up to those that have to go back and break that cycle of hopelessness. its for every community, but i and everyother black successful person has that obligation. its up to them to take it.

Ok, I am an African-American male. I'm not sucessful, I'm currently part of the service class industry. I'm working hard in my off-time to change my situation.

Now, that said Bill Cosby would probably call me a failure because I'm not as sucessful as my two African-American counterparts who commented above. We fail each other because we are measuring our worthiness in life through salary and not valuing our worth as people.

Genevieve, I don't know where you related the definition of "uncle tom" or "sell out" to one who lack family values or sucessful living, but that is simply not the case. I believe it has more to do with black people who degrade other black people to the point where if it was said by another person of another race it would elicit the air of racism.

How do you propose that black people aren't trying to live up to the legacy? I think you are proof that black people are living up to it. The one's perpetuating the stereotypes the most are the news media, in addition to some of the music industry companies (including BET, as I'm sure you experienced first-hand).

I will argue there is a difference between social corruption and civil disobiedence. Profanity is commonly used amongst youths from all walks of life and all races. Usually as people get older, they tend to grow out of that mentality. I made the decision not to use the N-word in my everyday conversations anymore a nearly a year ago.

I think Bill is being too unfair on those who did make it above all the adversity they had to deal or didn't have to deal with to get where they are today. He's also being unfair to those people who are bad position because sometimes it just happens for no apparent reason. Instead of activly trying to help those people, he would rather tear them down even further and make them seem to be the bane of African American existence. As I've said before, instead of shunning our people we should help them better themselves.

student ....exactly correct. and i too eliminated the n word from my vocab, but i did it in highschool. the point like we both said is that it is our internal issue because it is for us to deal with. often people get upset, in this case white people, because they are excluded in this argument. its the black doll test all over again. Our issues are so genetically passed down that often because we dont have any representation in our own community, we take a white person as our role model as who to follow to come up. which is perfectly fine. but no matter what you do or how successful you get, you will still be what you are. i need not say it. if bill cosby is so high and mighty then he wouldnt have made uptown saturday night...black exploitation film thowing the N word all over the place. not cussing in his comedy routine, but cussing and nigger this and that all over the place...? please! family values but having kids behind his wife CAMILLE!! (jello pudding pop voice) back. yes that is his kid, but he sued to not have to pay anymore to the mother. judge ruled that it wasnt a paternity case, but an extortion case.

my point and i think students point is when you get up to a position, i think some people get altitude sickness..and forget that there are still people that are where you come from. he is one person, out of many.....that made it. he told jokes. and entertained people. by and large he is exactly what he is telling people to not aspire to be...athlete or entertainer. in this case rappers.

hypocrite. tom, buster, sellout. him and oprah!

Let's not get it twisted...No one on any blog knows the journey we have each faced in life, me, you or Bill.

okinawanmajik, I too am a positive inspiration to many. You talk as if you know me, how I have lived and how I got to be where I am now. But, on the contrary, you have no clue. Stating my educational and professional background was just to emphasize the diversity of exposure to different cultures and people, and to state how far I've come from. Not in anyway to exploit my experiences as a level of measure of "success". What do you consider success?

You have no idea what I did at BET, no I was not paid to perpetuate stereotypes...in actuality I am one of the top producers for a gospel show and indie music show, minus the stereotypes that you think I produced.

As far as how I got to school or how I paid for it is irrelevant, and FYI you are wrong again. I did pay for my education with some help from my father only, while my mother struggled with drug addiction.

Where I think you are wrong is that you take a phrase, an misguided interpretation, or stereotypical idea and categorize it as, "all black people, men, women, or any other nationality" is like this. Your comment: sistah's like to say that all the good black men or successful black men only want white women....what??? Ok, yes there are women who feel this way, but that is not all women. Especially not all black women. Do you know that Black love is just as strong and alive as it's ever been? Personally I believe LOVE is what it is, a Godly emotion, which is colorless.

It seems that as you are trying to go against the stereotypes, you're actually pre-judging people all day long. Because of their address, their clothes, their hair, and music, whatever....

Just to be clear (Real Talk), "your" level of success, intelligence, accomplishments, travel, education, or lifestyle...is not the blueprint for "a successful man", although in many ways you may have had success professionally or personally. Not my business or concern.

But, does that negate the fact that a retired gang banger who has built a community center and may not be at your educational level, traveled the world, or drive a Bentley is any less successful than you? Again, on the contrary, in my opinion he is the more successful man, because he is organizing and leading the masses for a positive change, regardless of his mistakes. He is not afraid to fall down and get back up and then turn around and lend a hand to another fallen victim.

Seeing the world many times over means nothing, if you make no change in it. And you don't even have to get on a plane to do it! Your passport does not validate your life's success.

You use the words:
-those people
-but remember that there are people that are "less than you." of any colour.
-"most white people" "most black people"
-we are not judged individually like white people are fortunate to be able to be. each one of us is a representation of all of us.

Those, less than, most people, like white people....WHOA!! Is this is the language of a...(let me see how did you put it): "as a successful black man, my responsibility to represent myself as a positive influence for those that do not have very many people to look up to. I go places and i inspire people because of my class and knowledge of things. Black kids, black adults, and white people as well."

"Those" people are you!! You may have more money in the bank, a diploma on your wall, a shiny new suit and shoes, a vocabulary longer than the pacific, and a passport full of stamps, but you still have a connection to "those" people. May I be a bit risqué and say RESPONSIBILITY to "those" people.

I'm not trying to discredit you or have an email, resume, life experience battle, I just would love a little unity brother....That's all!! God Bless you and all that you do, may every step you take and every word you spread be a positive light for us all.

"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." -Albert Pike

WORDS I LIVE BY!!


PEACE, LOVE, CHANGE AND UNITY!!

well neither of us can speak to all individuals can we? so we can only speak in generalities. my point for bringing up your previous employer is the fact that you worked for them at all. BET got its popularity or money mr johnson's fortune was based upon the pushing of negative stereotypes. i said i didnt blame you or even said that you did any of it, i said that you were paid from it. you could have parked cars for them, you were still paid from the pushing of that stereotypes.

my passporte doesnt mean anything, you are correct, but if you read that, i was referring to my broad understanding of the world. the fact that as a young AA, i have seen the world, something that probably only 2% of any of us have done. so along with my education, i can also bring with me when i teach ( i have said this before on other threads that i tutor and mentor kids ( i do infact practice what i preach) stories about the world and can accurately talk about how there are better places in the world and opportunities around the world.

momma, im proud that you are educated, and if you were not, then i would tell you that you can count on me to help you. but being that i know you have had to struggle, not as a woman, but as a black woman, regardless of your upbringing, i will not run from you. i will not run from anyone that needs to come up, but i will have a special place in my heart for black people, ONLY because the system is already stacked against up. if a white person wants my help, (which is 98% of the people i train...i was a banker had my own company until Jan) i still will.. (YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHY THAT JUDGE IN ATLANTA TOLD EVERYONE TO LEAVE THE COURTROOM LAST WEEK) its that situation.

you are twisting my words. if a gang banger opens a community center because he changed his life...thats exactly what im saying, and if you read, when i say those, people..like white people.....means anyone that is not me or mines. you had to know what that meant. prove your point, but really?

there needs to be more people like me, like you, like the gangbanger you are referring to, but i think your POV shifted to thinking that i look down upon people with less education than me. its the opposite, its me trying to be a positive for those people with less than me...so they can some up themselves. my difference with cosby is that i know what caused it and how we can be stuck there, where he could care less. its all of our fault because we are too dependent upon blaming the white man. NO WHITE PERSON OR OTHERWISE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO GET OVER ON ME! thats just my line of thinking. i understand that i have to be the best i can be for me and my family, but some people need to see someone like them to know that that can happen. he doesnt think so. thats all my point.

and yes those are the words of a successful black man, because it takes understanding those things that makes a black man successful.

if i never went to okinawa, i wouldnt be what i am today, if i hadnt seen the story of john carlos and tommie smith, i wouldnt be what i am today, if i didnt know about the Guardians or decons for defense, i wouldnt be who i am, Malcolm X, or to sir with love, or in the heat of the night, or kenny domaign..my football coach when i was 12 in 1986 a white guy whom i will love forever for what he did for me. the families that took me in when i ran away from home and went back to japan when i was 13...alone! i had people all over me. i saw them and i said, screw that. I didnt come from poverty, i came from abuse and terrible parents, no love and selfishness, and i said, no not me. because i saw it from other people.

but i also have made a point to volunteer for Special olympics every year since i was in the 3rd grade. i got suspended from school because i lied and said i had permission to do it once...when i didnt. it has always been in me, because i saw no one else had it in my family. i learned it from others. some people need to see it rather than just expect it, because my folks didnt want me to succeed. they could care less.

dont do your part, thats fine, but i have an obligation that i will fullfill.

Mr. Cosby is correct ... FAMILY!

alright, i'll calm down. i was simply saying that, as someone who lives in a poor neighborhood with other black, pacific-islander, asian, latino, and other people of color, who are all "black" in the eyes of the rich, dealing with violent crime first hand on top of dealing with cops and racist institutions, plus the pressure of making an honest dollar, it's real frustrating when certain people act like assholes then throw the race card when they get called out.

i was guilty of that too. i'm the former gang-banger turn community advocate who was saved by family and the community who pulled together and got me to realize that it is through them i find strength. i can't stop people from being racist. i can only stop myself from being hurt by them with the strength of my community and my family.

with that, i get annoyed when other people pull the race card, just like how some white people are all of a sudden 'jewish' if they feel burned by someone of color. all i was saying is that we'd be much better off if we stop blaming white people and rich people of color for everything and start building better bonds within our family first, then neighborhood/community, then our society, instead of expecting change from the other way around.

i apologize if i was being a dick. i'm new here.

and my point was that those people that helped you, more than anything took that responsibility upon themselves. they didnt want to let you fall through the cracks for which you were securing yourself. The could have said screw you, but they didnt. my point was that I feel like as a successful person, Its my obligation to help people less successful than myself of all colo