Hey hey hey! The Cos is at it again!

[Deja Q]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6732651/site/newsweek/?GT1=5936

He's railed at black kids for choosing bling over books. What they think—and what Cos must do to reach them.

(snippie)

"It is not all right for your 15-year-old daughter to have a child," he told 2,400 fans in a high school in Milwaukee. He lambasted young men in Baltimore for knocking up "five, six girls." He tongue-lashed single mothers in Atlanta for having sex within their children's hearing "and then four days later, you bring another man into the house." "The audience gasped," reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

People have been gasping since May, when Cosby blasted "lower-economic people" for "not holding up their end," for buying kids $500 sneakers instead of "Hooked on Phonics." His words (and tone) set off a raging discussion over whether Cosby's comments make sense and whether they can do any good—over whether the problem resides in the poor people he criticized, or in forces largely beyond their control. No group has a larger stake in that debate than the poor urbanites Cosby presumably is trying to save. Yet they don't exactly seem to be rushing to Cosby's church.

(snippie)

Kenny, 17, a onetime stick-up man, puts it plainly. "Cosby is ... talking about me holding up my end of the bargain. Listen ... I robbed 'cause I was hungry. If he's going to put food on my table, if he's going to give me time to pursue education vigorously, then fine. But if he's not, then I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain and make sure I get something to eat."

Kenny was one of several young offenders called together, at NEWSWEEK's request, by the Fortune Society, a nonprofit that works with at-risk youths and ex-cons. None saw salvation at the end of Cosby's crusade.

April, a 16-year-old Latina from the Bronx, scoffed at the notion that poor mothers were buying $500 shoes. The only people she knew with such pricey sneakers were those "on the block pitching ." "Times are different" than in Cosby's heyday, said Sonia, 20. "Back then even if worked at a factory they'd get up every day and go to a job in a suit. Nowadays ... most black males don't have good enough jobs."

(article has more)

I dunno. His heart is obviously in the right place, but the youth rebelling against the elders is not uncommon in America and Bill Cosby is not immune. Will his ranting truly get his target audience to change their minds?

[mhr]

I See A Lot Of Hood "Hanging Out" In My Neighborhood

As if that is the epitome of life and aspiration in the US.

Most of these kids are from lower middle income families.

They see "Bling-Bling" as more important than knowledge.

This all comes from TV and parents that are too busy with earning a living to notice or care.

From that perspective, the Cos is right on.

[Squatch]

5. Bling is more important to them than amassing generational

wealth, so their children won't have to work as hard as they did.

[bleedingheart]

6. but even in upper class areas, kids are choosing bling...

I can't tell you the number of 30 somethings I know who expect mom and dad to provide them with their creature comforts...
Grandma babysits the kids while they work for free...
Grandparents buy the grandkids clothes...and pay for the furniture in the house...
Grandma and grandpa send the kids to preschool

[InvisibleBallots]

22. right here on DU, people said that not giving expensive Christmas

presents was "violence" and that if your Dad didn't replace the car you wrecked, he was being abusive. Go figure.

[MemphisTiger]

1. I think he's right on

will it hit the target audience? I hope so. I see this stuff everyday in my city. I think if he keeps repeating his rant people will start to catch on and everybody will be saying it. Then people might believe it.

[Mabeline]

24. Me too..I agree...

We have many instances in our family alone...a niece with two babies from different guys before she was 18, another had one last Jan at 18, a friend of ours has a daughter who had 2 within three years by an older married man...it goes on and on.

[PassingFair]

26. I might give it some credence...

If he had acknowledged his own OUT OF WEDLOCK daughter.
What a hypocrite.

[bleedingheart]

2. What is anyone doing to bring stable jobs into the depressed communities?

and to be honest...where are the stats that show that any low income group is spending $500 on the latest shoes??? More than likely they are getting the cheap knockoffs...if that at all.

Sounds like the Cos is pulling a Ronald Reagan (welfare queen tirade) and instead of trying to be a positive voice of encouragement he is just screaming...

[Deja Q]

8. *DING* *DING* *DING* We have a winner.

A prosperous economy is far more likely to give the youth something to look forward to.

Most people see naked capitalism and no future, so they're going to do what it takes for everything from bare necessities to "bling".

Bill Cosby does have an EXCELLENT point about education and being smart, and sounds like he gives a damn about society, but he sure is hell out of touch.

And maybe he has a right to scream but, yes, a voice of encouragement would be rather better.

Now if only he can convince corporate whitey to give people something to look forward TO. (that's not sarcasm, corporate america IS white and they do discriminate, extort, cheat, lie, steal, et cetera.)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. Cos is not out of touch

it's a 2 way street you know.

[Deja Q]

15. Okay, so if I told you what to do in an insulting tone, would you do it?

Sorry, many will see him as being out of touch.

Again, I hear what he says and agree with it. But the presentation is all wrong, as is the pillars of society (corporate america, they want and have the power so they are responsible) preferring to enhance their own greed and damn society in the process.

[Bandit]

9. I am an employer and without reading skills I won't hire

Cos is absolutely correct. Spend $500. on a pair of sneakers but nothing on education and then cry that they aren't given any opportunities. Without education they will never be offered anything. When they get that simple fact things may turn around.

[bleedingheart]

14. sadly children are the victims of their parents lack of competence

my cousin graduated from high school, but her only ambition was to become a wife and then mother so she started early with a shot gun wedding right after the graduation. She had two kids with the first husband and she had one with the second husband who was a utter moronic drunk. Her life is not easy. She lives half the time on public assistance and she has had to work many jobs to support the kids.

In spite of the fact that she was exposed to how her own family used education as a way to accomplish a better life...she missed the message...and her first son dropped out of high school and is barely literate...

Her second son is in a drug/rehab center and the next time he is caught it will be jail.

The third kid seems to be a bit "charmed" so far...perhaps he might just overcome the fact that his mother isn't too swift.

Now if I was a social darwinist, I might say..."survival and success only go to the fittest"...but it just seems a damn shame for those boys....

[Deja Q]

16. And those who have reading skills can't get a job worth a damn...

Once again, what's the damn point of nobody sees hope for the future?

[InvisibleBallots]

25. who is spending $500 on a pair on sneakers?

Are poor Black kids buying sneakers for $500? No - it's a racist smear, just like Reagan saying that poor Blacks on welfare were buying and driving expensive cars.

[underpants]

12. For one-Magic Johnson is

He has done a great deal to open businesses in such neighborhoods.

[KurtNYC]

20. Magic Johnson

I would drive companies through places like South Central and say, "I want to bring your business here," and they would look at me like I was crazy. I knew it would work, though.

When I was an NBA player, I was always dreaming of business plans. As a black man you have to. Minorities make money, but we don't generate wealth. But a business generates wealth—it is power, it is something that you can pass on to the next generation. That is what is needed in the black community. We can pass on problems—it's about time we passed on wealth. Kids look to ballplayers as idols, but Bob Johnson is my idol. I'm watching his moves.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness/articles/0,15114,551745,00.html

Go Lakers Go

[solinvictus]

28. Magic and Birmingham..

He bought the local Burger King franchises (Pride, Inc.) which were black owned, but had been grossly mis-managed. Magic has absolutely turned them around and people are spending their lunch $$ there again and in turn, he's giving local people job opportunities. Yes, I know fast food doesn't pay well, but it is a start in the job market.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. It works here

Bill lives here in my community in W.MA, and he does a great deal of work with youth in the area. Donates a ton of money to inner-city and rural schools, puts deserving minority teens through college, etc. Good for him.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. someone has to stir the pot.

Cos's only mistake is that he was too general in his criticism. He should have pointed out to areas where these things do happen (and there are documented cases of boys banging up girls and counting the number of pregnancies, like a game.) and then proceeding with his criticism.

I do believe that Cos would have put the boy who stole the loaf a bread in a different category. BTW, this same scenario was brought up before a white attorney-teacher and his response was, well, he could get a job to feed himself. What jobs are out there for young black men these days that don't lead to depression and suicide? I might be a bit dramatic in that last remark, but, tough.

[bleedingheart]

7. and young black men have an abnormally high rate of incarceration.

[Sara Beverley]

10. I hope he makes a difference. Too many good minds going to waste.

I wish the Cos could speak to white children as well. We are not any different than blacks. All you have to do is realize that the "Phoenix" FedEX commercial is not an exaggeration.

[underpants]

13. Again I ask-IS there a negative response to this in the black community?

When he first stated the obvious Fox News (and RW'ers I know) tried to paint a picture that many in the black community were upset by what he said. All of my black co-workers(I am in the minority by far at work) told me they agreed 100% and the Richmond Free Press (black newspaper) had several "leaders" of the African-American community supporting Cos.

[Maria Celeste]

17. No, there is not

Except among the professionally outraged.

[cheezus]

18. Hey hey!

maybe he should be out there helping instead of making a retarded fat albert movie

[idiosyncratic]

21. See Post #3. He is doing a lot in his community. n/t

[bo44]

19. Cos is out of touch and wholly unaware of what is going on

When your mom has done time for her part in the game and is barely hanging on to her temper, job and kids, your dad is dead, locked up or to the curb, it is all about not coming off as a victim to the game. No one wants to be the kid with nappy hair, zits and dookie stained drawers.

If a kid fits the bill you can bet he is not learning is school he is instead dodging insults and bully's fists.

Any kid that is properly fitted has at least a chance to fit in without drawing fire. Properly fitted is dickies or jeans, not too tight or raggedy, clean chuck taylors with folded socks under the tongue, a thick 100% cotton t shirt and a clean hooded sweat shirt and a basic fade. This the minimum for proper fits.

If the unfitted can take a joke, not show out and blow up the spot, or sleep a fool for talking shit, they can expect to earn some respect. If in the long term they are proven to be loyal to a crew or set they can expect to be hooked up. Hooked up with a spot in the game to make some money. Burglarizing or stealing cars, selling drugs, or jacking other fools in the game.

This is what makes up a high risk kid in my neck of the hood.

A mild to wild version of this kid is what Cos is really talking about. So tell me Bill, how do we educate and train these kids for the work force. They have already proven in their own world they are trainable and worthy of respect. Test them to death and call them stupid? Shit on their identity however far outside the norm it may be? Are you willing to accept these kids as they are and go forward or just run off at the mouth?

[Ron Green]

23. I can't speak for Bill, but being a victim of the game is simply what

anyone has to go through sooner or later. Being properly fitted, earning respect of a crew or set, and eventually being hooked up to make some money is all about the small picture, not the big one. The big picture, in my opinion, is not worrying about the local game but looking at the big one. Yeah, it's about making money at some level, but eventually we have to look beyond all of that, go beyond "getting respect" and learn to do the things that get us in touch with a true self. Anyone in the most dire 'hood or barrio who thinks that a fine ride or nice clothes are what he should be going after is being a chump. And I'm not saying we're not all chumps at some time or another. Being a chump is what you've got to go through to find the real self, and that's probably why we're given such a long life to figure it out.

And I think Cosby is discouraged that so many young guys aren't living long enough to even start to get a clue.

[bo44]

30. I agree totally and thank you for your response

The trick for anybody that tries to reach kids creating the bridge to the point of view you describe. How do you flip it from "smile now cry later" to "work, survive and get paid without having to look over shoulder later"?

We need help. Community policing, probation officers that model social worker skills and not cop skills, teachers that can build relationships with their students that foster learning, support and counseling for parents and families when they need it the most, neighborhood rec programs that meets the needs and interest of the kids and families in the hood, and an army of listeners and helpers, not preachers and finger pointers.

[fortyfeetunder]

27. Read Ellis Cose's online discussion

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6732301/site/newsweek/

Read his discussion. What Mr. Cose Said I would have to agree with, with bolding for emphasis....

"Ellis Cose: There is certainly much truth in what Mr. Cosby has had to say, which is one reason people have responded so strongly to his comments. The basic question is whether simply criticizing such behavior is enough to change it."

My answer to Mr. Cose's basic question is NO, it will not change if someone is being dogged. After all this talk about positive reinforcement? Well, if you are giving attention to negative behavior, then more likely it will proliferate.

Next...

[theboss]

29. I think Cosby is on to something, but he is way too negative

The point he is making is valid: the far too many black youth have essentially given up on themselves and that black youth culture (and all youth culture for that matter) is far too nihilistic. But he would be better served by offering alternatives as opposed to a harangue.

However, he is still damn funny. He was on the Tom Jordan (or maybe Donnie Simpson) show before Christmas and told a hilarious story about watching the Vibe Awards when Dr. Dre was attacked.