'Nightline,' in Phila. interviews, lends support to Cosby (Bill)

[malachi]

Was Bill Cosby right?

A year after Cosby's rants about the self-destructive failures of the black underclass, the issue will be examined tonight on ABC's Nightline - with a strong Philly flavor.

Nightline correspondent Dave Marash spent this week interviewing residents of Cosby's old North Philly neighborhood about how the African American community can best realize its potential.

The answers surprised him.

"The overwhelming majority of the people we talked to had the feeling of, 'Thanks, Bill, we needed that,' " Marash says. "They didn't feel he was out of line."

Cosby's overall message, in Marash's words, "is that only self-reliance and self-discipline, rather than government intervention, is the answer to the problem."

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/11738732.htm

[noiretextatique]

1. sure, nothing like an insulting lecture from a kazillionaire

to get folks moving in the right direction. perhaps bill gates should try that with poor white people :shrug:

[WeRQ4U]

4. I'm curious here.

Now I am not informed enough about the topic to comment on its validity, but why does the fact that Bill Cosby has millions of dollars make him less credible here? He was born into poverty, survived it, and became rich by his own making. I would think he would have decent insight into what it took for him to overcome the obstacles present to many underprivileged minorities. If not, then tell me why. Simple contempt for the rich isn't going to satisfy me here.

[noiretextatique]

5. i am sure the people of appalachia are simply dying to hear

from bill gates. i wonder when it will happen.
bill cosby's heart truly is in the right place, however, his comments are no more or less racist just because he's black. as i mentioned to many who applauded him, i would have no problem if he went to south central la and addressed the people he was talking about at the NAACP dinner where he spoke. none of the people he was talking about were there, and i don't think the folks who were there needed his advice. i'm black, and i don't need his advice.

when it comes to black people, even some black people can't accept that we are not all the same, and that we will never be all the same. so, learning to "act" middle class may or may not address entrenched problems facing poor (black) people.

as to his overall message...i don't have a problem with it, accept that it takes this society off the hook for its responsibility to its black citizens. i understand cosby's message of self-reliance and so on...i've heard it all my life. i understand where he's coming from with that...that its futile to except this country to treat you like any other citizen...however, i think it's regressive in that it only focuses on one side of the inequality equation.
i also don't like the impression his view puts forth...that black people aren't and haven't been progressing BECAUSE of discipline, and self-reliance. we are nickled and dimed like everyone else.

i think he is also addressing hip/hop culture, and whether he likes it or not, that culture is producing opportunities for african-americans in a way that some traditional institutions of the community, including its upper and middle class have not been doing.

i applaud cosby sincere efforts...i just wish he'd shut the fuck up while doing those things that are genuinely of value.

[WeRQ4U]

7. Interesting.

Does it make any difference to the debate that he is speaking to minorities and not to society in general? Maybe Bill isn't making a generalized sermon on equality. Maybehis message sees the inequality for what it's worth and proposes an alternative solution to the problem. I would be surprised if Bill Cosby actually thinks all playing fields are level here and that the complete resonsibility for advancement lays on the shoulders of the African American community. He's not dumb and he's most likely experienced his fair share of racial inequities.

I also think we may have to dismiss his criticisms for hip-hop music as "old folks" rhetoric. LIke when our grandparents hated rock and roll. He sees it for all it's bad qualities and none of its good.

[noiretextatique]

9. very true about his hip/hop remarks

cosby made his comments at an NAACP dinner. i doubt jesse jackson and the other well-heeled folks there high-signing his message, intended for "the others" need his advice.
"the others" he was talking about probably:
1) didn't know there was an NAACP dinner
2) couldn't afford the price of the NAACP dinner
:shrug: surely that's ironic, to say the least. i know cosby isn't stupid, but surely he knew how his remarks would be framed and seized upon as gospel. i am sure charles murray and dinesh d'souza agree with him.

[cprise]

13. Those are some good points

I think some people view self-discrimination as "discipline" and selectively expect that from black men. Zero-tolerance for coloring outside the lines, so any true "movers and shakers" need not apply or it will mean prison. In business, blacks have to do everything by the book while many others take shortcuts or engage in criminality to get ahead.

With that said, looking to sports and entertainment for career opportunities on a large-scale is illusory. Yes, these are places where one can go to kick-ass... but kick-ass at making money? Probably not.

The difference between bad-boy capitalists and bad-boy hip-hop artists is that the latter are emasculated, whose innovations (and offenses) are not tolerated where they cross the line beyond matters of morality and style.

[goclark]

16. I agree with you

Bill Cosby has always been one of my heroes but he needs to take care of his own back yard before telling young people and parents what to do.

This sister wants to support him 100% but I was offended to hear him say that we should not name our children non-traditional names. Who is he to tell a parent what to name a child? Why must a English name be labeled one of beauty and an African name be met with shame?

I read a letter that a lovely/bright teenager wrote to him that was published in a newspaper. She set him straight so smoothly about her name, her academic achievments etc.

[K-W]

14. So we live in a meritocracy now?

And Bill Cosby made it in comedy, a field that very frequently makes people wealthy who have done nothing but destroy themselves thier entire lives.

This whole issue is rediculous though, this is only an issue for people who dont have a good understanding of human behavior. And in reality we only have this fight because the actual solutions to the problems of poverty are blocked by the wealthy.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi WeRQ4U!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[RandomKoolzip]

2. Talk to most black people under 50 and you'll either get a "huh?"

or an angry "Fuck Bill Cosby" in response to the question "Is Bill Cosby Right?"

[SouthernDem2004]

11. What do you base this on?

[noiretextatique]

15. there was quite shitstorm about it

try google.

[SouthernDem2004]

17. I remember it but it was not an age group and you can always find someone

to complain about anything.

[noiretextatique]

18. yep

i don't suppose you consider cosby a complainer...

[getmeouttahere]

3. Did Cosby bother to outline...

exactly how people go about this? We're always told that if we can't get a better paying job, we should better ourselves. So if we are lucky enough to be in a situation where we can actually attend school, we now find that the government is scaling back pell grants & other ways to help pay for college. And even if we are fortunate enough to finish college, who is creating the better paying jobs? Wal-Mart?

[tishaLA]

6. What about Bill's dating tips, too?

I grew up in Philadelphia and Bill is a god there. Of COURSE people are going to say positive things about him--he's a constant promoter of the city and its universities, culture, sports teams, etc. And Philadelphia is kinda provincial, too, so we don't dog our folks to outsiders.

To top it off, you'd have a hard time getting an African American Philadelphian from North Philly to say a cross word about Bill to any white reporter from Washington, even if they might say it among themselves.

[noiretextatique]

8. oh yeah, he is from philly

fair and balanced, as always. they should also go to south central...i wonder how popular he is there? he's lived in southern california for many years. they should ask about his 'indiscretions' while they're at it. i seem to recall he had some choice words for other black men about that.

[malachi]

10. Bill's had a few problems with dating etiquette

Cosby's attorney seeks gag order

He also told the judge in the assault case that the entertainer has facts on his side he has not shared.

By Tina Moore

Inquirer Staff Writer


Bill Cosby's attorney told a federal judge in Philadelphia yesterday that the celebrity has "some great information" on his side, but wants all discovery in the sexual-assault case against him kept secret until trial.

"What we need here is some gag order, some control," Patrick O'Connor said. "We don't need to try this case in the newspaper."

U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno heard pretrial arguments yesterday in the civil suit filed by a former Temple University employee, who alleges the comedian sexually assaulted her in his Cheltenham home.

http://www.macon.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/montgomery_county/11623862.htm home.

[PassingFair]

12. This guy's a horn-dog

...he has ZERO credibility in my book. I'm sick to death of morality speeches from hypocrites. Sick...to...death.

[Strawman]

19. How are these two things mutually exclusive?

Whay are we constantly presented with this false choice between gov't programs to provide opportunities where few exist and so called "self-reliance"? It's a complete bullshit dichotomy that only serves the rich and greedy.

[noiretextatique]

24. Strawman gets it

:applause: short and sweet...and right on the money. some get sidetracked by race because of the propoganda put forth about "the black condition" being so "different."
i was minding my business the other, when a guy starts telling about the benefits of postive thinking, which i don't deny...then he starts talking about how that would help black south africans. i told him: people need housing, education, jobs, and resources...that would help anyone "think positive." :eyes:

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Didn't He Drop Out Of College?

I'm sure he's earned his right to his opinions, but it's still pretty bougie of him to do that.

[Igel]

22. My understanding is that he has a PhD in

Education.

Which obviously means he has no standing to deal with educational issues.

[wellst0nev0ter]

23. Actually, He Dropped Out Earlier To Pursue His Comedy Career

It was after he found success in comedy that he sought his degree. Because you know, kiddies, that even you can postpone your education and embark on an uncertain avenue and realize your dreams.