Bill Cosby's lone stance on African American responsibility

Bill Cosby Talks 'No-groes,' Black Leadership with CNN's Don Lemon (video)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/bill-cosby-don-lemon_n_3935801.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices

This conversation is open to all but directed specifically at African Americans.

I believe (and I suspect privately you do as well) that what Dr. Cosby was talking about is what we (people of color) privately talk about amongst ourselves all the time but not publicly.

You and I both know damn well that their “is” a problem with today’s youth, especially within the Black & Latino community, and denying it, or getting offended & indignant about it isn’t going to make it go away.

Of course there are problems in poor neighborhoods of every other ethnicity under the sun, but none of them have the negative stigmatism that is attached to blacks.

Poor white folks can do what poor white folks wants to do, and everybody for the most part turns a blinds eye to it…………blacks have never had that luxury.

Blacks are already behind the curve when their doing everything right let alone when there’s problems, and I for one have completely had it with these trifling ass, hand waving, finger snapping, bad attitude, pajama wearing hoochie mama’s with 5 kids trailing them from five different men being the poster children for the black community.

I have as equally had it with all of the pants drooping, hair uncombed, sloppy attire, high school dropout, weed smoking brothers that have absolutely no ambition, no drive, and no direction being chauffeured around because their broke ass’s won’t get a car of their own. (before you all freak out too much, of course this doesn't apply to every black person on the planet)

Historically blacks have always been held to a different standard and I agree that it sucks, and that it’s always been unfair. But unfortunately that different standard isn’t going away anytime soon, and behaving like a fool because these kids "think" this is what‘s acceptable in “their culture” is NOT acceptable.

Too many young black kids have fully embraced the gangsta hip hop life style all the way from the ridiculous pornographic, woman bashing music to the clothes and the lingo, and all it does it hurt them and in turn the black community.

None of that has ANYTHING to do with being poor as much as it has EVERYTHNG to do with not having enough self esteem & pride to break free from it.

In today’s world if a black kid goes to school, gets good grades, dresses neatly, and speaks clearly enough to be understood he’s a punk, or an Uncle Tom, or a black kid trying to be white or risked being asked why is he talking "white". (whatever the hell that means)

Who the hell has a monopoly on proper English???

Are all of today’s black kids in this category….of course not, are most, of course not, and there are all black universities as well as other ivy league schools all across this country producing young black doctors, lawyers, engineers, and many other professions any parent would be proud of.

Is there enough exposure of these kids….of course not.

Are most white people aware of these sucessful kids……no, but that’s not the point or the issue.

Are there millions of white kids just as screwed up.......of course there is, but this isn't about tit for tat.

The point is we need to stop getting so freaking offended when someone from within the community tells the truth.

Let the rain fall as I realize a torrential storm is now coming my way…….

 

Well said!

 

Very well said.

And I for one would like to just listen.

I am not "colored" and therefore should excuse myself from the debate, but would like the opportunity to ask questions.

And congrats, that's brave stuff!

 

I've always wondered why so many attack Bill Cosby until it dawned on me.. The truth hurts. Instead of facing it its easier, in his words, to just get loud and offended.

 

Well said, but can you expand on what you think are the root causes of such behavior, and how to change that environment, and way of thinking. Do you think it is through more "entitlements"? Or through holding someone accountable for their actions and responsible for themselves? Do you think "activists" are the answer (NAACP, Sharpton, Jackson) or is it time to move away from that line of thinking? Now that the problem has been identified, where can we begin to find solutions?

 

Its the same thing that lead to the degradation of Roman culture, bread and games.

 

Oh, I understand completely what caused the downward spiral and created the new Democratc Plantation.

 

The truth is:

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

This is never a popular realization. It demands change and an admission of being wrong. There will be NO improvement until this truth is accepted by the majority of blacks in America.

This dysfunction virus was spread far and wide by white entertainment industry CEO's for great profits- BTW.

 

There's more to it....

 

I've noticed that even successful blacks are harder to get along with than white people. They all seem to have a chip on the shoulder, and are constantly getting angry at the slightest provocation. I know there must be exceptions, but the only ones I've met are blacks who immigrated here from other countries.

 

http://www.inquisitr.com/952155/bill-cosby-tells-don-lemon-advice-for-no-groes-really-did-rant-about-black-men/

LMAO, he called 'em "no-groes"

 

It's largely human nature. We take credit for our successes and blame others for our failures. We are self serving in that way. If a kid fails a math test, he blames the teacher for being out to get him rather than his own lack of preparation. It's easier to have a scapegoat than it is for someone to admit that they failed to take advantages of the opportunities in their lives.

In my opinion, many in the black community like having white people to blame for their problems. The worst part is that there are no shortage of whites who will be willing to take the blame in order to assuage their own white guilt. Many whites use this toxic relationship to their political advantage — getting blacks angry right before voting season.

 

That's been my experience as well, at least for blacks who are upper class or professional types. I've not noticed that so much among the middle and lower middle class. Of course, my experience, like yours, is just anecdotal so I don't know if this reflects any sort of trend or just a statistical bump.

 

Bill Cosby is a real black man. I respect his views on personal responsibility and the problems of the black community greatly. It's too bad that guys like "Rev" Jackson and Sharpton look at him as an Uncle Tom for having the never to call out the blacks on their immorality.

 

I think everybody should ask questions as questions are the only way to start meaningful dialog.

 

Maybe black men need better black women?

 

Because the black immigrants know the whole "slavery" excuse is bogus........they know that the whining American blacks would never move to Africa........and they know that 95 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa would move here, to thois "racist" society tomorrow if they could.......it kind of takes their excuses for failure away.

 

as long as black heroes represent bad attitudes and behaviors, black America will remain stagnant.

I am not hopefull.

All immigrant groups in this nation are doing better economically and socially, while blacks are stagnant.

only they can help themselves.

only they can save themselves.

I see no reason to believe they intend to do either.

 

Extremely wise words.

 

Bill Cosby....... have always had a lot of likeness & respect for that man. He says it exactly as he sees it and he doesn't mince any words about what he's seeing and he's right.........

 

I remember back in the late 60’s, early 70’s when I was a kid growing up living in a middle class, well racially integrated neighborhood in New Jersey with Polish, Irish, Italians, and Blacks all living side by side in harmony.

Everybody looked out for each other and everybody got along. Most of the father’s in the neighborhood worked at places like Delco Batteries, Johnson & Johnson, Ford Motor Company, The Board of Ed, etc. etc. etc.

Every black family I knew lived a healthy middle class lifestyle complete with a new “American” car in the driveway, one big vacation every year, and a decent house.

My “mixed” parents and all the other black parents in the neighborhood would NEVER allow any of us to walk in the door and say “I can’t do fill-in-the-blank because I’m black” or “so & so won’t let me do so & so because I’m black” It was unheard of and absolutely not allowed.

We were taught to be proud of who we were, where we came from, and to believe in ourselves. We were not allowed to go outside wearing pajamas to the store or go for days without combing our afros. (well, my hair is straight so I didn’t have an afro)

We were not allowed to speak Ebonics, and we were not allowed to use foul language in front of adults.

We got our ass’s kicked when we said “what” instead of “yes” when our parents called us, and the only time we were exposed to “adult” content was when cable TV came in – in the early 80’s.

There were no shock jocks on the radio that had sewers for mouths (like Howard Stern) and most of the music was that…………music, not curse filled lyrics about *itches, hoes, and guns.

In short…….it was the times, it was before most of the moral fiber & fabric was broken down by corporations wanting to sell more & more or the mediums like radio & television wanting to expand their markets. The drug wave of the late 80's early 90's also crushed many communities because it was a means to make quick money where there were no jobs thanks to many U.S. based companies that moved to Mexico.

The regular TV channels had to compete with cable so the standards were lowered and in came the filth. Music executives saw new markets and new demographics with the introduction of rap and it exploded.

The irony here is that early 80’s rap was cool, and for the most part harmless until the 90’s came in. Then the entire dynamic changed and it took on an ugly side that unfortunately exploded more-so than its predecessor.

How do we get all of that back?? Unfortunately it’s never coming back the same way the 50’s are never coming back so the thing to do is teach our kids that just because so much of these new things are so acceptable in so many circles – they’re not acceptable in our homes.

I always told my daughter when she was growing up that I didn’t give a damn what Lisa’s parents allowed her to do because we did things differently in our house.

That’s the answer, and that’s what it all boils down to, not accepting certain behaviors from our children just because there’s peer pressure from other places.

That takes work and it’s never easy but if we as a people, a society, a nation, is ever going to get back to sanity, then the hard work needs to be done.

Honestly I don’t see Jackson or Sharpton as major problems or purveyors of doom & gloom within the black community.

They are viewed as watchdogs in the black community, people who shine a light on injustices when they happen. One could make the argument that sometimes their methods or motives are a bit suspect, but by & large they’re not the problem.

The problem is what the president has been trying to say subtly for years now……….parents need to step up.

 

Virtually all media is headed by Jews, not whites. This is easy to verify by looking at all of the major media outlets and their CEOs.
I'm not anti-Semitic, just telling it like it is.

Respectfully,

 

most Jews in America are white.

 

True it’s in our human nature to blame others when we fail, and yes, there are many within the black community who perpetually blame white people for their woes.

Based on my own personal experiences of racism (yes it does exist on both sides) I could comfortably say that both blacks & whites have exhibited the ugliness of racism through our history.

I didn’t want to go in a political direction with this and I’m fully aware of the rights belief of how Democrat politicians play blacks for suckers just to get votes but that’s just as inaccurate as the myth that Republican politicians scare whites into voting for them by the specter of blacks being successful or taking over their neighborhoods.

All of us vote our interest yes, but what infuriates Blacks and Latinos is when they hear this lie about how they're all looking for free stuff.

Step out of yourself and your political beliefs just long enough to really think about that for a moment. Basically their saying that those two groups that have millions within their ranks that work just as hard and are just as responsible as their white counterparts, only vote for the party they vote for to get free blocks of cheese???

You can’t begin to know just how insulting & hurtful that is.

Romney got 0.0000001% of the Black & Hispanic vote during the last election yet there are thousands of Blacks and Hispanics that own business’s and make very good money………………what……………..they all wanted free stuff too???

It's a bogus argument started by Hannity & Limbaugh, and unfortunatley it caught like wildfire, doesn't make it true though.

 

Good post, except that you've seem to have absolved the Left of all blame for the social revolution that allowed the moral collapse to happen.