- Never mind Howard University. The administration of the
Washington, D.C., institution is apparently in a bit of a huff because
Bill Cosby used its podium to criticize the failings of black America --
especially its underclass. Howard's leaders, who won't release a transcript
of Cosby's speech, are still not prepared to have a public discussion of
self-inflicted wounds.
-
- But much of black America, especially its middle class,
is ready to have that conversation. In that sense, Cosby's speech was a
watershed event -- a sign that black America is now comfortable enough
with its accomplishments to discuss its shortcomings. "Perhaps Bill
did us a favor," says NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, who attended the
ceremony, "and more people will now be prepared to step forward. It'll
be a tough-love conversation, whether or not people want to have it. And
it will take opinion leaders to say those things that should be said."
-
- Not all black Americans agree with the remarks Cosby
made at a May 17 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme
Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision. Indeed, his criticism of
everything from speech patterns to spending habits among the black poor
was pointedly politically incorrect.
-
- "Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people
are not holding up their end in this deal," he said. "These people
are not parenting. They are buying things for kids -- $500 sneakers for
what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics'" to improve their
children's reading and speech. Of the disproportionate number of blacks
in prison, Cosby had this to say: "These are not political criminals.
These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in
the back of the head over a piece of pound cake, and then we run out and
we are outraged, saying, 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What in the
hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"
-
- After the speech, Theodore Shaw, head of the NAACP legal
defense fund, rushed to the podium to serve up a rejoinder, noting that
larger (read "white") American society still bears some responsibility
for the failure of so many black Americans to join the economic and cultural
mainstream. That is clearly so. But isn't it about time that black Americans
acknowledge that, at the dawn of the 21st century, personal responsibility
has at least as much to do with success in modern America as race? Isn't
it only fair to note that the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 50 years
ago did roll back much of systemic racism?
-
- After all, if you believe that racism continues to largely
limit black success, that will certainly prove itself true. "There
is no reason that black students have to do poorly in math and science,
in speech, in cognitive abilities," Mfume said. "When you're
quiet about those (shortcomings), young people notice, and it sounds like
you're giving your approval."
-
- Some blacks have recoiled from Cosby's pointed remarks
not because they disagree but because they don't want to discuss certain
ignominious truths in front of white folks. They fear such painful self-analysis
will only provide fodder to the race-baiters -- the Neal Boortzes and Rush
Limbaughs -- who work hard at stoking a white backlash. I'm sure Boortz
and Limbaugh have already made ample use of Cosby's speech to stir up racist
rants among a certain segment of their listeners. So what? They'd look
for excuses to poke the tender wounds of race, no matter what Cosby had
said.
-
- It is more important that black Americans have a spirited
debate about the challenges of the post-civil rights era: How do we raise
the academic achievement of black students? How do we curb black-on-black
crime? How do we attack the AIDS epidemic spreading like wildfire in black
America?
-
- In a way, Cosby's speech was an eloquent reminder of
the stunning success of the civil rights movement that followed the Brown
decision: Black America is strong enough and successful enough to admit
its shortcomings and gird itself for the work ahead.
-
- Cynthia Tucker is editorial page editor for The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.
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- Copyright © 2004 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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-
- Comment
Alton Raines
5-27-4
As early as Cosby's character "Mush Mouth" (Fat Albert entourage),
he's been making the point that a vast number of black people can barely
speak english, while they have no primary foreign language to claim as
a hinderance. Ebonics is, at best, a sick joke. Hearing black people say
"ax" instead of "ask," or studder through the start
of a word deliberately, or pronounce "teeth" as "teefers"
or "tooth" and "toof"... is nauseating. And RAP isn't
helping any, despite demonstrating phenomenal verbal capacity, what is
coming out is borderline glossolalia, whether one is "down wit it"
or not.
-
- When I was in high school in the early 70s, blacks suffered
under a system of punishment at the hands of other blacks so severe that
any administrative trouble or torment was considered well worth it, including
flunking out of school. In fact, that was rewarded by the black inner sanctum
of self-destruction. God forbid a black boy be able to read and properly
pronounce a sentence in class! They knew that if they were called upon
to read aloud, and did it correctly, the punishment they'd receive from
other blacks outside of class would be horrendous and everlasting. Speaking
properly and reading well were considered "white man's bullshit."
I used to have long, excellent, intellectual conversations with a black
classmate safely secluded under an oak tree behind the high school, talking
about Orwell and Dickens, etc... but in class, he was a marble mouthed
oaf, on purpose, so he wouldn't get his ass kicked. I brought this to the
attention of the english teacher privately, and told her that the logical
thing to do for such a smart kid would be to test him privately, separately,
and keep his scores a secret if need be. I was told I was a rabble rouser
and removed from the class. I was told "the system" knew better
than I did. The teacher had some twisted, vested interest in keeping these
remedial-bound blacks right where they were; Future floor sweepers, janitors,
garbage men and dope dealers.
-
- Despite all the liberal re-education programs where all
reading materials were reduced to comically race-based short stories in
the remedial english classes, blacks didn't give a damn. They couldn't
give a damn. Their very culture was calling them to failure as a duty in
an army against "the man." It seemed the only ones who escaped
this and suffered through it, by and large, were black females. And so
it is today, black females have surpassed black males in almost every strata.
-
- There is nothing inherently defective in the Negro people,
and those who suggest such are simply racist morons. On the contrary, when
a black person is encouraged and enabled in an environment free from the
the self-destructive "ghetto" mentality, they quite often excel
beyond whites and asians.
-
- Cosby can be a bit of a snob, at times, but this is one
ocassion where he is absolutely correct. Not "word up," but absolutely
correct.
-
-
-
- Comment
- From Jim Mortellaro
- Jsmortell@aol.com
- 5-28-4
-
-
- Unfortunately for Cosby, the case he espoused did not
go far enough. Not nearly far enough. Because 'hip' white kids, Hispanics
as well as 'you name it' race, color and creed (not just blacks) have embraced
the Ebonic trend as if it were the Hoola Hoop and this was 1953.
-
- A good example is the high school which I attended.
In the 50's it was 'the' premiere pre college place to get an education.
It still is. But with a difference.
-
- Today, the students, a mix of colors, speak the perfect
King's English.
-
- Until school is over. Then, it's 'aks' and blingbling'
until morning class. Go figger.
-
- Jim Mortellaro
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