"N!GGA PLEASE!!!"

[Drewbacca]

Everything starts with words, and these two fine men have begun an uneasy but necessary conversation. Perhaps someone should tell the rap generation that the degree to which they cling to their impoverishment is strengthening the enemies who do not want them to succeed. That alone should be enough to move them.

So true.

Why is he wearing those shades all the time?

Probably thinks they make him look sexy.

[Calliander]

Cosby rules. It's heartwarming to see him do this and it's wonderful to see the discussions that his words have provoked. Diff really hit it on the head about the rap, too:

I think rap music is a huge part of this, honestly. It's changed so much over the past 15 years. Nowadays its made by the huge record industry (made up of rich white people), for white kids in the suburbs. It glorifies the shitty lifestyle that blacks struggle through. So that (A) white kids will think thats what all nigggers are like, and (B) black people will think its cool to join a gang, do a lot of drugs, treat women like shit, etc.

Basically, the record execs only care about getting that money. In doing so, though, they're helping perpetuate this culture of blame that REALLY needs to stop. In that article McShig posted, the woman makes a point of referencing Frei. His quote is one of the most pertinent things I've ever heard and that article is dead on:

We ought to be independent not only economically but spiritually. If we always look outside for our blame, that is in itself a form of dependence. We must look for our own blame to find our own independence.

Like I said before, this isn't just a black problem. Nobody possesses any common sense and nobody takes any responsibility for anything they do. Nobody makes good fiscal decisions, either, so they stay poor. It sucks.

Opaque, I think, missed the whole point of what the Cos was trying to do.

Why is he wearing those shades all the time?

In honor of Ray Charles, who was forgotten because of Reagan.

[Fe 26]

I didn't forget him, I miss ray more than reagon.

[kuro]

Opaque its nice that you want Bill Cosby to be nice and throw people a softball, but you gotta realize that he's mad. He was alive for the Civil Rights Movement (which you were not) and he sees it all being thrown away because black youths think its cool to call each other nigga, join gangs, drop out of school, waste all their money on big rims, not learn how to speak properly, etc.

Bill Cosby is a black man who rose above the situation of the day. He now sees black youths giving up. He's mad as hell. You got to cut him some slack and realize that yes, he knows more than you and he's been through more.

If I wasn't stuck in Cleveland for a week with no internet access I would have said the same thing. Opaque, you're acting like this is the first attempt to whip the black community back in to shape. Many past attempts were made by Cosby, and many were done well after you were born.

[ROBOTRON]

What Cosby says is essentially true. Needs to be said. The problem is its coming from a billionaire. The wrong people are hearing the message. Cosby's peers (to whom he was speaking that night) already have their lives together, at least most of them. Poor blacks who were not at the banquet that night won't hear it. The message needs to be repeated throughout the black community by blacks in the community where the problem exist, not among millionaire actors and businessmen at a banquet.

Most of the people I talked to in my neighborhood didn't know about Cosby's comments even weeks after he made them.

[Roufuss]

Amen. But it will take another generation.

And for that generation, needs to be a new Cosby show.... again.

[Bacon McShig]

Nah, they should resurrect Picture Pages as an outlet for his rage. Make that magic pen act all ignorant like those he derails, and then Cos gets pissed and goes off on tirades. It'd be great.

[Gymkata]

Im partial to the grumpy old Cosby show that they had on CBS. I didnt even see any of it till It went to syndication. It had Doug E. Doug and he was like Uncle from the Jackie Chan adventures.

When I get older, Im going to be the wisest, grumpiest person on the face of the earth.

[Gymkata]

Lets take a look at what he is saying.
1) Go to school
2) Get a job
3) Become wealthy enough to take care of yourself.

......and what people are complaining about
1) he is discrediting his own people.

Let me tell you something. Cosby is doing this not just out of anger like some abusive parent. Cosby wants the best for a generation that he fought for and he is not just some rich dude that is sitting on his pile of money in front of his house and throwing Van Gogh paintings through poor black peoples windows in the valley below

He has been for education for years. He loves kids and he sees so many of them suffering because not enough people care to get outraged or do anything about this. And Im not talking about people who have already made it. I am talking about every family in our country. Its as if being intelligent and educated is not cool enough or in the worst scenario "not being black".

There is probably more for me to say, but at this point ill wrap it up.
Less complaining about how mean Mr. Cosby is and more working on education is a start.

[MVS]

So, it's probably safe to say that The Cos would not like Cnote.

http://www.bsdterritory.com/img/mvs/cnote.WMV

Aka, the "Oh nigga, dat's muh bazooka" video.