Cosby's Challenge

If these graduates take him up on this challenge there will be a decrease in opposition to IR since black women will know not to turn to black men.

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4902673&nav=8fap

Cosby challenges Spelman graduates 'to take charge'

ATLANTA Bill Cosby challenged Spelman College's graduates "to take charge" today, adding those leaving the historically black college for women have no choice but to lead.

Cosby told the graduates _ quote _ "You have to know that it is time for you all to take charge. You have to seriously see yourselves not as the old women where the men stood in front and you all stood behind, because the men, most of them are in prison."

In 1987 Cosby and his wife, Camille, gave a 20 (m) million dollar gift to Spelman, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center on the campus opened in 1996.

Cosby told the 500-member class of graduates _ quote _ "Our race depends upon you and your sisters graduating all across the United States to realize that what's left is you."

Cosby, 68, said he realized parts of his speech would be unsettling to many in the audience.

 

Bill Cosby, or any prominent black celeb, speaking out is well overdue in my opinion. He speaks the truth. As a black male, even I have to acknowledge that we black folks can do much, much better. So what if the white media considers his words "controversial." I don't think there is any such thing as the word. At least not in most instances. Some things just need to be said.

As for the IR thing with black women, I'm all for it. I have several cousins, black women, who are in IR relatioships/marriages or themselves a product of such. Don't bother me one bit. He was just telling them to "do you." Go out there and take care of number 1.

 

Here's a fuller version of his comments:

COSBY AIRS OUT BLACK MEN AT SPELMAN GRADUATION: Actor tells women “to take charge� because most of our brothers are ‘in prison.’
May 16, 2006

Bill Cosby held nothing back during his speech Sunday to the graduating class of Spelman College, an historically black college for women nestled in Atlanta, GA.

"You have to know that it is time for you all to take charge," Cosby said. "You have to seriously see yourselves not as the old women where the men stood in front and you all stood behind, because the men, most of them are in prison."

Added Cosby: "It is time for you to pick up the pace and lead because the men are not there. They're not there and every one of you young women know it.�

When one of the 500 members of the graduating class accepted her diploma, Cosby said, "there's no time for you to fool around anymore. …You've got to [get serious] because our race depends upon you and your sisters graduating all across the United States to realize that what's left is you."

Cosby, 68, said he realized that part of his speech would not go over well among many in the audience.

"I'm going to speak to these young women about taking charge and I know it's going to be fearful and it's going to tweak a lot of things," he told The Associated Press in an interview before the ceremony. "They have to because it's in their lives and it's real. It is there. They are going to be needed to protect the legacy that is good."

Cosby told the graduates that the same male students who are dropping out of high school "have memorized the lyrics of very difficult rap songs. …And they know how to send their sperm cells out and then walk away from the responsibility of something called fatherhood."

Cosby said his comments were not directed to all black males, but noted that 70 percent of black graduates this year are female.

"Who's running the show?" Cosby asked. "It appears that the male is, but I have news for you. It's your turn. We want you to lead in business. We want you to lead in medicine. We want you to lead in everything."

In 1987 Cosby and his wife, Camille, gave a $20 million gift to Spelman, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center on the campus opened in 1996.

 

i like this guy more and more, since the cosby show. there havent been many programs of that caliber since

 

Yes sirrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The problem I have with Cosby...is that he points out flaws but doesn't do anything to help the situation. OK...so young BM are dropping the ball...and yet you are speaking at all female SPELLMAN COLLEGE???!!! You are telling college graduates....who seemingly have their head on straight what they should do. Go to the juvenile jails and the state prisons.....and the junior high schools where so many BM get messed up and tell them what they should do. Telling older well-to-do blacks and young graduate females about the problems of young black men does nothing. I've seen too many young brothas go down by the wayside because no one cared to say anything TO them....people only want to talk ABOUT them. These guys will listen...you just have to open your mouth.

 

ChosenOne, I understand where you are coming from and I respect your opinion. I do however have to take issue with one thing you said in particular:

Spellman College is an important institution in not just the black community but the entire country for that matter. Bill Cosby is an important iconic type figure etc. Now when you put these two together, it is definitely going top make national news when he says something like that. The mere fact that two dudes from Dallas and Detroit are debating it on a on-line forum proves that his message is spreading wider than the walls of the auditorium where he gave the address.

Here are a few more things that we need to look at. There were not just black female graduates there. There were all types of people from the black community there. I think that its safe to say that there were several leaders there and many of those leaders have the ability to effect many of the people you were talking about (school teachers, clergy, coaches etc.) A big problem is that most black leaders will not speak up on these things but instead blame everything that's wrong with the black community on everybody else. Also, just because a BW gets her undergrad degree does not mean that she cannot play a role in fostering the negative, irresponsible behavior that Cosby is talking about. Many of these ladies are going to graduate and go back to the same neighborhoods where they grew up for a time until they can get a good job or whatever and some of these probably come from bad areas.

The last thing I'll say (I know I'm rambling and I apologize but I have strong feelings in support of what my man Cosby is trying to do!) is that I may be able to see your point a little better if this Spellman college speech was an isolated incident but it is not. He has been "preaching this message" so to speak for quite some time now. As a matter fact he was here in Detroit last year at a local community college to give a speech and everybody and their mother was there to hear him. He basically said the same stuff and that was a huge topic both locally and nationally. Here is a link if anyone is interested:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38675-2005Feb19.html

Anyway, like I said ChosenOne, I respect your opinion but I disagree. Have a good one my man...

 

I agree Bill Cosby is a great man! The first step to solving a problem is making people realize that there is indeed a problem. Bill does a marvelous job at that. I would also go on a limb to say the mere fact that he is mentioning the deficiencies of many BM in public serves to correct the problem (on some levels).

A lot of BM simply learn to be more responsible and not follow the path that leads to destruction. Sometimes the only way to see these paths is to hear about it.

 

Where is white america's Bill Cosby??

They need him WORSE than we do..

With all the Rampant meth addiction..pedophilia..corporate/political coruption..mofos looting pension funds and selling secrets to the Chinese..trailer parks bursting at the seems with inbred redneck yokels..grown women screwing their 12 y/o students.

WHITE FOLKS NEED A BILL COSBY REAL REAL BAD :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Better than Bill Cosby is a wonderful Black American woman, Star Parker who wrote the book White Ghetto. She really lays it out there about black america needing to get its act together.

she is brilliant

 

Uh-huh... this is why I was only going to read this thread at first.

 

This is why I can't take a lot of what he says seriously. The same thing goes for Jackson, Sharpton, Powell, and whoever else.

Too bad all of this preaching didn't keep his shows from being cancelled on TV long ago. Do they even still air on Nick-at-Nite?

 

:lol:

Too bad people only bitch and cry about black Americans 'this and that' , ESPECIALLY OTHER black Americans...

and, these are all the same folks who want to defeat discrimination and segregation proposed by other ethnic groups...

but, how can YOU rise and overcome anything, with a deep-seated slave mentality anyway?

Ah, maybe I'm just a bastard, since I despise white privilege (such as what you described) and seek to destroy it at all costs.



You can all lynch me and burn me now. :roll:

 

Man..Can you IMAGINE the shit we'd catch if WE were the ones organizing CHILD-SEX TOURS of Asian and other poor Countries??

What if WE were the ones giving little boys in Thailand AIDS...??

Or if WE were the ones that founded NAMBLA(north american man-boy love association)

I think putting all the blame on our shoulders while ignoring the shit yt folks do is a modern form of BUCKDANCING

I'm all for accepting personal resposibility..but I'll be damned if I'll do so ALONE..

 

I agree. All these so called black leaders coming out of the woodwork. Before people like Bill Cosby decided to preach to the upwardly mobile black middle and upperclass. There were plenty of blacks and black organizations helping in the prison system,juvenile system and getting kids of streets. Why doesn't he back up those organizations? Nobody needs another black man trying to tell people the obvious. Actions speak louder then words.

Also I would like to add that their bs is exactly why I'm tired of these self-proclaimed black leaders. Why don't they get a hint from MLK, Malcom x or any of the other past black leaders? They actually took action not preached on podiums all day.

 

I have to kindly disagree with this. Bill Cosby does indeed spent a lot of money to help people (tons actually) in the black community. I have noticed a lot of people (especially in the black community) get all sensitive and start acting like victims when people criticize certain unwarranted and destructive actions.

It is a fact that American born blacks (from a statistical point of view) are performing horribly economically, socially etc. While other people are progressing, the reverse seems to be happening in these communities.

There is a lot of emphasis on what can be done, but part of solving this problem is informing people of the problem. Some people believe that everything that happens to them has nothing to do with them. It is either the government, white people, or the police. Truly, this things are partly responsible, but common...what about you. Personal responsibility is seriously lacking.

For some people hearing about how bad things are prepares them or makes them reevaluate their lives. Bill Cosby is doing a great service to the black community and America as a whole. It is a taboo to criticize minority groups in America... why?

 

We don't need another black male telling how bad the black community is doing?There are plenty people helping before him or any of these other so called black leaders started spouting to middle/upperclass blacks. He should devote time on showing people of all races this is an American problem. Not just a black problem. Then alot more can change. Or even taking action with youths. Throwing money at a problem isn't a solution. Like I said before,actions speak louder then words.

 

i agree, Cosby shouldnt give another dime since he cant have a voice over what is happening to his people and he cant chastise them as well as support them. I certainly wouldnt give a red cent--but Cosby aint that bright.

 

It will take more then money. He needs to go within these communities and take real action within the schools,churches,etc. Control how money is being spent for effective solutions. Speaking on some podium at a University or anywhere else but directly within the black community.Gives black people within the community different views on him. The media won't fairly report exactly what he said. No one is going to be compelled to take action when the speaker is far away and not showing what actions the community can take. He's becoming like Sharpton,Jesse,etc. Who are some rich guys throwing money to black causes here and there. Make a few speeches and then go back to the suburbs and pat themselves on the back. They need to take a note from leaders like MLK,Malcolm X on making changes within the black community.

 

A very astute comment...

The mentality among certain white people with vain aspirations to save the black race is despickable and hypocritical at best.