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Post by Darryl James on Jul 7, 2006 17:07:36 GMT -5
Cosby is still sparking off controversy with his emotionally charged comments about African Americans, specifically, AFrican American men. Is he right or wrong? Vote today!
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Post by thuso on Jul 8, 2006 4:46:19 GMT -5
We Black folks in America, descendants of slaves, have a strange way of motivating one another to change. We have the eleoquence of Frederick Douglass, juxtaposed against the militant leader of the Underground Railroad -- Harriett Tubman, threatening to shoot slackers. We have the eloquence of W. E. B. Dubois, and his "talented tenth" pitted against Booker T. Washington, and his "Up from Slavery" movement. Our challenge continues today, is it the voice of Condoleeza Rice, or Bill Cosby, or Michael Eric Dyson, Louis Farrakan, or Jesse Jackson? And then there was Martin Luther King Jr. There will never be another Martin, but even he had his detractors.
We seem to look at the solutions to our challenges in Black or White, right or wrong. So, we ask, "Was Bill Cosby right?" We set off a long debate, including an entire book written by the scholarly Dyson that saps a lot of our energy polarizing our own community. All the while, our oppressors and their benefiiaries are laughing all the way to the suburbs (and the bank).
In full view of our adversaries, we continue to self-destruct, attacking one another at every turn. We tend to make our controversies larger than life. Why can't we make our successes larger than life, and use them to positively motivate more of us to improve the lot of the less fortunate? In the final analysis, I believe that is what Cosby and his detractors want.
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Post by spree1 on Aug 9, 2006 21:23:23 GMT -5
Personally, Bill Cosby in my a**assessment was never funny but people have embraced him for years. Mainly, the Euro population.
That being said I have come from the tough streets of NYC, turned my life around, over a period of time mentored youth, etc. I understand the anger with our people not trying to turn the tide on some of its behavior(no black America is not the only one but I don't care about anyone else and we shouldn't either), the old wounds, and other aspects. I think Cosby is angry but like so many people he doesn't have a clue on how to solve it. Do I think he is justified and the proper person to be speaking on this? Nope but then again should Bush be running our country? Nope.
I agree research is an avenue to travel to find out the actual numbers but the truth is we, in Black America have enough facts. We just have not been active enough to counteract our many problems. This fight takes continual work and truthfully like the obese people you spoke of in one of your prior articles we have become lazy and complacent because now some of us can own an Escalade!!!
We will have use of billions of dollars in a year or so as a community yet when you go to my old hood it will be writhe with decay, poverty, and other things of a lost and in some cases seemingly defeated people.
I don't give a fugg about excuses, pointing fingers or whatever we continue to do. It's time for some action. People such as I are tired of lip action and defensive moves. People such as I have been in the trenches and are tired of the BS so many of attempt to pass off. I don't want anymore Tavis Smiley forums, books, or any other kind of BS. Time for some action!!!!
PS Daryl it is not that I disagree with your article its just words are not what we need at this time.
Also, I think we, as Black men, need to rethink what our model of what we should be can be made into actuality. We are in a society where we most likely will never as a total base have the power to affect others in terms of the power structure. I am not referring to the occasional tokens I mean real power. Does this mean defeat? Nope but it does mean we need something more rooted in our heritage which was quite different.
We are attempting to embrace the Euro man's idea of patriarchy with the weight of his financial and legacy oriented power. Don't you think there is something wrong with that picture? I do.
A. Phillip Randolph was told by Roosevelt to make him and over the decades we have attempted to make this Euro demon do right but any right that was done was always at an expense. Look at Brown vs Board Of Education, a victory lost by the year 1989.
Are there many people in the so called criminal justice system falsely? You bet your butt there are but there are far too many who are in there on their own. You say the numbers are a million I have information more like 3 to 4 million but all in all it dont matter because there are enough encarcerated that have affected many people in our community.
We must stop being inactive when we see a brother doing wrong to himself, the community and the sisters we claim we so love. We must in conjunction with Sisters prepare the next generation to be in reality to fight a fight with a being (EUROS) that I question to be even human at this point.
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Post by robxb on Dec 13, 2006 3:10:07 GMT -5
I read and listened to Bill Cosby's speech and the moderator's question "Bill Cosby wrong or right is not the main issue.
I also listened an opposing writer's who wrote how Bill Cosby was wrong with his comments and he is a culprit of "the pot calling the kettle black" based on his production of the Fat Albert and his easy going non confrontational "I Spy" role and other roles he played the generic black man role.
Bill addressed some factual observations about African American culture. However, he is a victim of visual ignorance. We as a race have come a long and we still have a long way to go but if Bill is desirous of helping our race its best that he open up process or place where we can learn about our African and American culture.
When we lash out at the ones who real daily goal is to get some "chips in their pocket" and "be ballin" like the videos they are not listening to Bill. It just gives conservative talk show hosts from Fox News to indirectly say see we told you it's not your fault white America. It gives them too much of a pass. I want to see more yes, social programs to specifically address our problems and an OFFICIAL APOLOGY from the United States for being our slave terrorist for many years.
So much of our problems are a symptom of prolonged institutional and covert racism. We are Pavlov's test race. Treat a people inhumanely and see this is what you get AMERIKKKA!
I do not fester in hate, but I say let other's control your "chippers" and television "mindset" and you seem to believe it!
Let's focus on enhancing our knowledge of our culture. Ask yourself what was so fun about your youth and pass it on to your friends and kids!
Peace
RobDawg ;D
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will
Junior Member
Posts: 4
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Post by will on Dec 13, 2006 15:16:12 GMT -5
I want to first say hello to Mr. James and everyone in the forum. I work at a youth program as a recreational advisor, but I talk to kids about how to have good lives and great futures.
In response to this topic some folks like to complain and talk, but the truth is talk is really cheap. I'm not saying talking is necessarily a bad thing, but how much talking is needed before people actually "wake up?" Also, if there was a plan to improve ourselves and community, how many people would actually get involved? In order to make a change one has to change what's within him/herself. I commend those who have made that change.
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ace
Full Member
Posts: 11
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Post by ace on Feb 11, 2008 2:16:15 GMT -5
I was a devout watcher of both I-Spy and the popular Cosby Show,as unrealislic as they both seem,however I embraced them as two of my favorite shows to watch. Bill Cosby,who I have a great deal of repect for, only seem to voice his cynical comments after his own sucess took flight,after his sitcom took the number one spot in the T.V. ratings,and after "Different Word",and The "Cosby Kids cartoon took him to new heights in show Biz. I strongly felt he was wrong in his comments about America Blacks and Black men,simplely because every black man and every black woman does not fit the steriotype that he addresses in his comments ,there are a lot of young black men an woman who had to over come some major osticles,and had to hurdle over the racial barriers that hinder so many blacks from being sucessful,from being what desire and inspirted to be. I know of some young black females and young black males who had babies out of weblock,raising their chidren by themselves,and still some how manage to finish High School and go on to college an finish with a social degree and some a blacheor's degree,and went on to land great career jobs,as a result they were able to buy houses and new cars,not used, to better take care of their own families,and put their children througt college. So while you are partialy right about the social problems in the black community,however they do no refect all the yonug black men and women who have made great strides to get where they are.some of them had to work two or more jobs,and make some great sacrificies to get where they are today, and to be able to support their families. Mr.Cosby be more than just a mouth peice that speak about the problems in the black community,but rather be a solution to the problem,build batter programs to edtify young blacks to make better decisions,show and teach them that there are other options then the course their chooen. Become a mentor for young black males,let's show them the way that is right,not just talk about the wrong that their doing. Last but not lease ,let's be a solution to the prolems,let us not be the prblems. As James has said," let's ,"Man Up", and take back what is rightfully ours,mainly our children,who are our future leaders,who are our tomorrow,our legacy.
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Post by blackcaesar2k5 on Jul 18, 2008 14:21:38 GMT -5
Bill Cosby is basically seeking media attention.. This is same gentlement that were afraid speak on certain issuses during black liberation movement..
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