By DON BABWIN, Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO - Bill Cosby (news) 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 (news - web sites), 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. "**** 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."
"Let them talk," he said.
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Once again the man is on point.....
I feel what everyone is saying. Then again... I do understand where provAKAtive is coming from. We all know there is a problem when it comes to the youth.... so what are we gonna do about it? Stand around and say its a problem for the next 5-10 years or until all our black men are in jail and all the girls are shaking their whatnots in videos!?!? NO!!
I mean I know a child now who is 5. She doesn't want to be a doctor or a police officer... she wants to be in a Nelly video. That to me..is a problem. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT TELL U!?!? Something is going wrong and we as big brothers, sisters, moms, dads, we need to make some moves and make them NOW! Talk to them, help them with hw, keep them in school at all costs. Help them understand book smarts and common sense are the things needed to be an assest in the future.
Honestly, Bill Cosby has done many things for the black community. Why does he need to come up with a plan. Hell, he's exauhsted from "doing". It was our parents turn to "do". Many of them, however, failed. Now you have millions of young people who don't really give a damn about bringing about more change. It out turn to "do". It not our place to sit around and point fingers and complain. We haven't earned it. Dr. Cosby has earned that right. His generation worked too damn hard to give us opportunities that we casually misuse in this day and age. Let him sit and complain. He's right and many should feel ashamed.
BIG TIME COSIGN!
You can tell that he is so saddened and disappointed in how the world and society has turned out...
And can you really blame him for having such pent-up frustration because after much he as a sole individual has attempted to do to begin "fixing" the problem, things continues to digress?!?!?
He probably feels almost hopeless....helpless...'cause though so many agree with him, few are actually trying to follow through....
Honestly, Bill Cosby has done many things for the black community. Why does he need to come up with a plan. Hell, he's exauhsted from "doing". It was our parents turn to "do". Many of them, however, failed. Now you have millions of young people who don't really give a damn about bringing about more change. It out turn to "do". It not our place to sit around and point fingers and complain. We haven't earned it. Dr. Cosby has earned that right. His generation worked too damn hard to give us opportunities that we casually misuse in this day and age. Let him sit and complain. He's right and many should feel ashamed.
:arrow: Its his right?!?!?
Thats totally not even the point
Honestly, Bill Cosby has done many things for the black community. Why does he need to come up with a plan. Hell, he's exauhsted from "doing". It was our parents turn to "do". Many of them, however, failed. Now you have millions of young people who don't really give a damn about bringing about more change. It out turn to "do". It not our place to sit around and point fingers and complain. We haven't earned it. Dr. Cosby has earned that right. His generation worked too damn hard to give us opportunities that we casually misuse in this day and age. Let him sit and complain. He's right and many should feel ashamed.
BIG TIME COSIGN!
You can tell that he is so saddened and disappointed in how the world and society has turned out...
And can you really blame him for having such pent-up frustration because after much he as a sole individual has attempted to do to begin "fixing" the problem, things continues to digress?!?!?
He probably feels almost hopeless....helpless...'cause though so many agree with him, few are actually trying to follow through....
Look at what these kids are up against today...All the negativity in the media and even at home.Alot of the kids dont even know right from wrong so who is to blame for that??
The fact of the matter is, instead of sitting up here criticizing him, WE should be the ones doing more for the black community. Thats my point. Dont criticize him. Listen to what he has to say, receive your wake up call, and then do something about these problems. I'm the first black male in my family to make it into an established institution of high learning. It may be small, but its big to me. I'm listening to elders like him and trying my damndest to do my part. There's no set out plan to bring about change. There is only "DO".
(y'all are makin' my head hurt with all this intellectual discussion. i aint did this in a while.....)
Provakative was right like a couple hours ago when she said all the talk no solutions. We can yak about this all night but when we leave the board what are we gonna do? Go back to our own lives?
Provakative was right like a couple hours ago when she said all the talk no solutions. We can yak about this all night but when we leave the board what are we gonna do? Go back to our own lives?
#1...we're discussing the issue - that's a step...some don't even recognize that as an issue in the first place! and most don't even know it yet...many probably think Bill Cosby is senile and just being bitter...at least we ARE addressing the issue....
#2...when he was talkin' about young people...i mean, i may feel old, but I know I still fall under the category he's talking about...he doesn't just mean little itty bitty grade school kids, ya'll...he's talkin' about us too....and by us attending college alone and those of us who are actually applying ourselves and trying to make the most of our education are actually ones who are "doing something about it"....
i mean really....yes, many Black people are sadly apathetic to our issues and problems within our own community...but you can't ignore the rest of us who do do SOMETHING...i mean, we may not be out protesting against the wrongs of the world or even tutoring little children in every waking opportunity, but by attendin college - I mean, that alone is SOMEthing..
and think about what we are attending college to become...whether we think about it or not, everyone's occupation plays a vital role in the continuance and outcome of society and the future....so by us going to school to get that degree, there goes a little bit of our part right there!
I could see if us up here did not graduate from high school...and we're sittin' around lookin' crazy, tryin' to sell **** (or ourselves) on street corners and whatnot....or just "settling" with a minimum wage job....THOSE are the ones OUR age who he's speaking too...
OR the ones who go to college...and goof off....don't appreciate formal education, let alone BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN EDUCATION AT ALL...
so like i said...my part may not be humongous alone....but when it's combined with everyone's parts which are eqivalent (attending and making the most of college)...i know I'm doing something...
you gotta start somewhere....rather do what I'm doing than literally nothing at all...
provAKAtive wrote:
P o e t i q R e i g n wrote:
Psichotic Supa' Deuce wrote:
Honestly, Bill Cosby has done many things for the black community. Why does he need to come up with a plan. Hell, he's exauhsted from "doing". It was our parents turn to "do". Many of them, however, failed. Now you have millions of young people who don't really give a damn about bringing about more change. It out turn to "do". It not our place to sit around and point fingers and complain. We haven't earned it. Dr. Cosby has earned that right. His generation worked too damn hard to give us opportunities that we casually misuse in this day and age. Let him sit and complain. He's right and many should feel ashamed.
BIG TIME COSIGN!
You can tell that he is so saddened and disappointed in how the world and society has turned out...
And can you really blame him for having such pent-up frustration because after much he as a sole individual has attempted to do to begin "fixing" the problem, things continues to digress?!?!?
He probably feels almost hopeless....helpless...'cause though so many agree with him, few are actually trying to follow through....
Look at what these kids are up against today...All the negativity in the media and even at home.Alot of the kids dont even know right from wrong so who is to blame for that??
You're so right about that....they are definitely against a lot of negativity...
Some of us do know and see this....but many don't....
The point is that Bill Cosby has established his right to speak on this...and try to get to at least one ear that wasn't listening before...
Honestly, Bill Cosby has done many things for the black community. Why does he need to come up with a plan. Hell, he's exauhsted from "doing". It was our parents turn to "do". Many of them, however, failed. Now you have millions of young people who don't really give a damn about bringing about more change. It out turn to "do". It not our place to sit around and point fingers and complain. We haven't earned it. Dr. Cosby has earned that right. His generation worked too damn hard to give us opportunities that we casually misuse in this day and age. Let him sit and complain. He's right and many should feel ashamed.
BIG TIME COSIGN!
You can tell that he is so saddened and disappointed in how the world and society has turned out...
And can you really blame him for having such pent-up frustration because after much he as a sole individual has attempted to do to begin "fixing" the problem, things continues to digress?!?!?
He probably feels almost hopeless....helpless...'cause though so many agree with him, few are actually trying to follow through....
Look at what these kids are up against today...All the negativity in the media and even at home.Alot of the kids dont even know right from wrong so who is to blame for that??
Its fair to blame ourselves, society...cause we have all contrbuted to how things are. But it aint about pointing fingers on " whos to blame. " That doesnt matter. The damage is already done...it about putting what needs to be said out there ( i.e. Bill Cosby ) and we as a people NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL, need to help come up with a solution. But hell, how can you help a people ( OUR people ) who are arent willing to accept the facts and actuality of how things are, and gets offended when someone such as Bill Cosby, brings it to there attention. I feel like people wanna be helped but they wanna be in denial about how the things in our society have contributed to the downfall of many blacks, and acts like it isnt okay for someone to speak up about it. WE WILL NEVER FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM UNTIL WE AS A PEOPLE TAKE RESPONSIBILTY. AND ITS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS WE AREN'T WILLING OR READY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY JUST ON THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED AT WHAT COSBY SAID. ALL HE IS DOING IS PUTTING IT OUT THERE, sO THAT WE CAN START TO MAKE THE NESCESSARY CHANGES.
oh yeah...and I absolutely agree with everything the KKPsi dude said...
I definitely don't think people should get mad at him for saying that. He has been doin his part in helping the black community in many ways...even the fact that the Cosby show was a very positive and groundbreaking thing in the 80s shows where his mind has always been. He spoke up, hoping that parents and people like us would take action...what else can you expect him to do? Does he have to mentor kids 5 hours a day, on a prime time reality show, for you to think he's doing his part??
I definitely don't think people should get mad at him for saying that. He has been doin his part in helping the black community in many ways...even the fact that the Cosby show was a very positive and groundbreaking thing in the 80s shows where his mind has always been. He spoke up, hoping that parents and people like us would take action...what else can you expect him to do? Does he have to mentor kids 5 hours a day, on a prime time reality show, for you to think he's doing his part??
CHICAGO - Bill Cosby (news) 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 (news - web sites), 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. "**** 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."
"Let them talk," he said.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again the man is on point.....
