Musings based on Mr. Bill Cosby's words

While many people are paying attention to the questionable mothering activities of Mrs. Britney Spears, or the alleged media driven divorce of Sir Paul McCartney, Many in the Back community may have missed something important. While not directly focused on entertainment comments from Mr. Bill Cosby have been overlooked I believe. Perhaps it’s the fact that what is being said is not particularly favorable to hip hop and rap, the current cultural emphasis on ‘thug life’, or the simple fact that it places attention on the accepted shortcomings of the Black African American youth of today. I for one not only agree, but am happy to have noticed the news.


I am specifically referring to the speech by Mr. Bill Cosby to Spellman College graduates recently. This is part of several comments made in recent years that address various aspects of Black culture and its failings. There is no reason to be tactful, in my opinion, as such attempts serve only to coddle the feelings of those that most need the harsh light of direct honest. Mr. Cosby correctly states that it is becoming more important for Black African American women to take the lead in fixing the current situation. While I feel that leading the family requires a strong father figure (yes I am somewhat old-fashioned), there is no debate that growing numbers of Black males are incarcerated, uneducated, unemployed, on drugs or killed in their youth. It’s estimated that 75% of the 500,00 incarcerated in 2000 were black (on non-violent drug offenses), and the number of this group being Black men is high. Why is this? I think the better question is why do we allow this.

I can cite many of my posts where an entertainer has been arrested on violent charges, or drugs. Many times the offender has gotten off quite lightly, and it is also apparent that disproportionately the news media emphasizes the Black African American offenders. The reaction of these offenses has been played by the media and various entertainment industries as an endorsement or marketing campaign for the offender. Too often this is focused on rap hip hop artists, or sports athletes. Within my last several posts [Harper Hill - success vs. dmx - airport arrest, Breaking the law entertainer-style] there are several incidents I have spoken about. How can we not penalize these repeat offenders, and why are these individuals rewarded for their actions with increases of record sales and sporting event tickets?

As Mr. Cosby mentions, how can we allow these men to

“... know how to send their sperm cells out and then walk away from the responsibility of something called fatherhood.”

When did that become acceptable? I mean specifically when did it become a bragging point for a Black man to say that he has 5 children, each from a different mother, and that he supports none of them? At what point did women (Black African American in particular) find pride in bearing children with random men, without the expectation of support or the intent of a relationship, and knowing that they lack the means to provide those children with basic needs. How could grandparents stand by or permit their children to pass on their obligation to raise their children, either to the grandparents or to the state, or worse yet to no one.

Too often we have seen many entertainers brought into courts on charges of failing to live up to child support, or abandoning their children completely (how many rappers and basketball players fall into this group that you can name as an example?). Yet we continue to ensure their continued activities, and disrespect, with censure to those that mention how badly these entertainers have behaved.

Mr. Cosby also poses another series of questions,

“Why are we the only race of people who use that stupid word, a word you learned from your mother? Why do our girls dress up like prostitutes? Why do our young men wear clothes designed like the clothes people in prison wear?”

I can’t understand how we can permit forms of entertainment that promote disrespect and ignorance. Look at a music video, not for the entertainment but what is being sent as a message. What do you see? How many women are performing in a manner that would get them arrested were they in public. And in comparison even the women in rock videos, long known for skimpy attire, behave and receive more respect than in the average rap video. Listen to a rap song, and/or many of the entertainers in various industries. Do you notice the on-air time spent on those that cannot speak English as well as 3rd grade children. Name a performer in country music, an actor for movies or television, rock music, or sports that isn’t in rap hip hop or the ‘thug life’ that speaks badly. Not badly, virtually incomprehensibly. Other than the noted mis-spoken usage of Mr. Don King, there are virtually no others. At least Kid Rock has the excuse he is illiterate, as I recall. I’d suggest you recall how many speak well and are in the ‘thug life’ but I think that would take too long and may not exist.

Continued in part 2 ...