In the presence of NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and other African-American leaders, comedian Bill Cosby took aim at blacks who don't take responsibility for their economic status, blame police for incarcerations and teach their kids poor speaking habits.
Cosby made his remarks at a Constitution Hall event in Washington Monday night commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that paved the way for integrated schools, reported Richard Leiby in his Reliable Source column for the Washington Post.
Leiby said Cosby's remarks were met with "astonishment, laughter and applause."
When Cosby finally concluded, Leiby said, Mfume, Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert and NAACP legal defense fund head Theodore Shaw came to the podium looking "stone-faced."
Shaw told the crowd most people on welfare are not African American. He insisted many of the problems his organization addresses among blacks are not self-inflicted.
Cosby said, according to Leiby: "Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids – $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics.'
He added: "They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' ... And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. ... Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. ... You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"
The Post said Cosby also targeted imprisoned blacks.
"These are not political criminals," he said. "These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake and then we run out and we are outraged, [saying] 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"
Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America
By Jesse Lee Peterson
While increasing numbers of Americans have come to regard Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and other establishment "black leaders" as con artists, gaining money and power by promoting racial tension and class warfare, never before has a book ripped the "scam" wide open like this title from WND Books.
This is a book people like Jackson and Sharpton will try to discredit and suppress at all costs.
In "Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America," Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson – a true black leader whom many affectionately call "the other Jesse" – shows how the civil-rights establishment has made a lucrative career out of keeping racial strife alive in America.
He reveals how establishment black leaders endlessly promise solutions to the problems of America's inner cities, but deliver only ineffective Band-Aids. From the dismal failure of the welfare system, to the farce of the slavery-reparations movement, to the problems within black churches and the hypocrisy and corruption of current black "leaders," Peterson argues compellingly that the real crisis we face is spiritual, and that no economic solution will suffice. He skillfully weaves the realms of politics, culture, psychology and religion into this profound and relevant book.
Rather than promote perpetual victimhood, Peterson offers a platform of true empowerment, teaching individuals and families how to tap into the power within, rather than depending on handouts.
Peterson is a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and founder/president of a highly successful nonprofit organization, the Los Angeles-based Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny or B.O.N.D. – whose purpose is "rebuilding the family by rebuilding the man."
Featured on many news programs, including CNN, Fox News, "World News Tonight With Peter Jennings," and "Nightline" with Ted Koppel, Peterson also hosts his own live nationally syndicated radio talk show on Information Radio Network, hosts a television show on God's Learning Channel, a satellite network, and is the author of "From Rage to Responsibility."
Well-known for his public criticism of "black leaders," Peterson considers Jesse Jackson a "racist demagogue, a David Duke in black skin." In fact, for the past four years, "the other Jesse" has held an annual event called the "National Day of repudiation of Jesse Jackson."
"We will hold this event every year until Jesse Jackson repents of his ways, and stops attempting to tear the races apart for his own personal gain," said Peterson. "Dr. King is turning over in his grave seeing what his movement has become, thanks to people like Jesse Jackson."
Unlike the limousine-riding establishment "black leaders," Peterson is the product of a fascinating life experience and longtime grass-roots community work on the streets of riot-torn south-central Los Angeles.
"The exact opposite of the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, Jesse Peterson is a truly authentic 'black leader,'" said WND Vice President David Kupelian. "An eloquent and principled defender of traditional values, Jesse is also one of America's best counselors. He has the kind of genuine, street-smart authenticity and inner strength that it takes to be able to grab a hardened gang-banger by the scruff of the neck, talk to him, shake him up, and make him look at himself and turn his life around."
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
posted on May 21, 2004 06:22:21 AM new
I can't believe more people haven't commented on Cosby's statements. Although certainly true, I get the feeling it's something that the black community doesn't want to admit or deal with.
Between the language (Ebonics, hee hee) the promotion of the thug lifestyle, rap music, manner of dress, I really feel that black youths are really their own worst enemy.
It ain't 'Da Man' holding you down, it YOUR OWN LIFESTYLE that's doing it.
But Bear, although I agree with what's said in your second article as well, I think I do also think your second article reeks of self promotion by someone. "... is a truly authentic 'black leader,'" said WND Vice President " Yeah, the publisher of the book is probably the only one who has heard of the guy.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on May 21, 2004 07:06:37 AM new
With a little bit of skill and with the absense of good journalistic intent, anyone can take the remarks of a comedian out of context and twist them to conform to the agenda of a conservative, right wing viewpoint such as this.
posted on May 21, 2004 07:16:55 AM new
Did you actually HEAR the speech? He wasn't joking, and it was clear that he wasn't joking. That's why the NAACP guys were 'stony-faced' they just didn't know how to respond to Cosby's statements.
Cosby has always been VERY pro-education. Good for him!
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on May 21, 2004 07:30:12 AM new
Not much of a scandal considering the crimes committed by Jackson or Sharpton. Either of those 2 would be in a federal pen if they were white. They make Jimmy and Tammy Fae look like absolute pikers.
posted on May 21, 2004 08:13:01 AM newis a truly authentic 'black leader
That may just be one person's stated opinion - an opinion I agree with - because I think the black community needs to hear - from leaders like this what they could choose to do differently that would improve their situation, rather than expecting someone else to make it all better for them.
I've seen him [and other black leaders] interviewed on Fox News about a handful of times...and I believe they've been able to clearly see what's holding them back....they're holding themselves back.....by the life choices they make.
They ask black men and to take responsiblity for all the fatherless children they're producing....black women to ask more of a commitment from their men before bringing children into this world. Some believe affirmative action hurts rather than helps blacks.
To me, black leaders like this....and the Cosby's of their race who find the courage to speak the truth....are the one's who truly want to see them succeed....rather than the Jesse Jackson's of the world.....who promote the 'they owe us' theory.
posted on May 21, 2004 11:28:38 AM newWith a little bit of skill and with the absense of good journalistic intent, anyone can take the remarks of a comedian out of context and twist them to conform to the agenda of a conservative, right wing viewpoint such as this.
Typical lib comment on a verbatim quote, in a feeble attempt to discredit the report.
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Associated (CAN YOU SPELL LIBERAL PRESS) press reported:
Comedian Bill Cosby wants black Americans to follow the example of civil rights leaders in improving their neighborhoods and reaching out for higher education.
"These people marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around," he said Monday evening at an NAACP gala commemorating the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision 50 years earlier.
"Take the neighborhood back," Cosby said, chiding parents who do not take an active role in caring for their children. . . .
In one of the lighter moments, comedian Dick Gregory pretended to run off with the medal he presented to Cosby.
"This is what happens when they get old," Cosby joked of Gregory.
Seems the AP report was edited to be POLITICALLY CORRECT for the idealistic liberal lifestyle. After all these libs don't want a little thing like honesty in reporting taxing their idealistic brains
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Cosby, Saying the Darndest Things
• Bill Cosby was anything but politically correct in his remarks Monday night at a Constitution Hall bash commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. To astonishment, laughter and applause, Cosby mocked everything from urban fashion to black spending and speaking habits.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal," he declared. "These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids -- $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics.' . . .
"They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English," he exclaimed. "I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' . . . And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. . . . Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. . . . You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"
The Post's Hamil Harris reports that Cosby also turned his wrath to "the incarcerated," saying: "These are not political criminals. These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake and then we run out and we are outraged, [saying] 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"
When Cosby finally concluded, Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and NAACP legal defense fund head Theodore Shaw came to the podium looking stone-faced. Shaw told the crowd that most people on welfare are not African American, and many of the problems his organization has addressed in the black community were not self-inflicted.
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
posted on May 21, 2004 12:30:41 PM new
Jesse Peterson: Cosby is right
Author says entertainer's comments on blacks long overdue
Posted: May 21, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, author of Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America, yesterday gave a hearty endorsement of entertainer Bill Cosby's recent comments criticizing blacks who don't take responsibility for their economic status, blame police for incarcerations and teach their kids poor speaking habits.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Cosby made his remarks at a Constitution Hall event in Washington Monday night commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that paved the way for integrated schools.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal," Cosby said. "These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids – $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics.'
He added: "They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' ... And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. ... Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. ... You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"
Peterson, an African-American leader who has promoted a path vastly different from the mainstream black "activists," says Cosby, speaking in the presence of NAACP leadership, hit the nail on the head.
"Bill Cosby is right!" Peterson declared in a statement. "It's about time that high-profile blacks openly spoke the truth about the problems in the black community. This is what most blacks say in the privacy of their homes, barbershops and amongst other blacks. I'm surprised that he [Cosby] made these comments in front of NAACP leaders."
Continued Peterson: "The establishment black leaders don't want blacks to take responsibility for their mistakes. They want blacks to continue blaming the 'white man.' This type of honest dialogue is long overdue. It's the only way to help black Americans."
Peterson is founder and president of Los Angeles-based BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny.
"The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why — with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him." —Jay Leno
