On Cosby’s Latest Criticism
Posted on November 2nd, 2006 by Tariq Nelson
James C Collier, author of “The Myth of Acting White”
Filed under: Children's Issues
James C Collier, author of “The Myth of Acting White”
Filed under: Children's Issues
I think Bill Cosby is grasping at straws when it comes to identifying with the Black community. He has always felt strongly about education and instilled this in his children at an early age. Even looking at the wikipedia entry for Cosby shows how he continued to pursue academic achievements in the “Honors” section of his biography.
Since Cosby doesn’t have the same background of a single Black parent raising children he can’t bridge the gap in their immediate circumstances and the lack of emphasis on education, generally speaking.
I can’t imagine the frustration a Black person feels when he /she beat the odds, broke out of a high risk neighborhood to stay in school and receive a degree in graduate studies — only to hear how Black kids aren’t given a fair shake by the educational infrastructure in the United States. Academic success comes with sustained effort and perseverance over many years.
People pursue what is the most important to them — that which they believe will return the highest reward for their effort. For the Asian community and the white upper-middle class Americans and Europeans this has always been education. It is just part of their culture.
Yeah, his point was taken but it needs to be reworded. Kids now adays don’t know or care about theircivil rights or the struggle our parents and grandparents went thru to attain them. The problem now is that they lack motivation due to no good educated role models. Athletes, entertainers, and drug dealers have replaced, “The First Black Doctor”, “The first Black Lawyer”, “The Nobel Prize Winner”, etc. These things are now in the history books that they do not read, so they are out of touch with their potential. Allahu Musta’aan.
Great blog post. Though Cosby’s approach may be one-sided, he is offering solutions and assisting those who attend his town hall meetings get the help and tools that they need. One thing I think we all can agree on, that we as a people, especially those of us who are well informed and educated, need to give back in a big way.
I think Cosby, like his rhetoric or not, is expressing his frustration at the same things that are frustrating many of us. I applaud (and certainly can relate to) his use of verbal shock treatment as a way to get people to at least look at and acknowledge the problems. Cosby ain’t concerned about sounding political or (ahem) pretentious. He’s just expressing his passionate feelings..in the raw. That is what is refreshing as opposed to the same old safe and predictable dreck from Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Mushrik Louie, and the rest.
My name is Rashad…and Verily, I approved this message.
My name is Rashad
Nice post. I haven’t seen that thought from G.B. Shaw before. I think it’s worth keeping. Do you know the source?