I don’t know about you but I love it when Bill Cosby shows up to guest speak at public functions. The Jell-O king never minces words and his tough talk is always dead on.
Yesterday the 70-year-old comedian appeared at a conference of community associations to address the ills facing African Americans. As he often (see: always) does at events like these the award-winning actor dished out yet another harsh analysis on the state of African American culture by targeting families in which “babies are wearing $40 sneakers while their mothers are feeding them Oodles of Noodles.”
Ouch, right?
Not so much maintains Cosby. “The Cosby Show” star characterized his own words as “blunt, but not harsh,” and then turned his ire on black leaders who have accused him of downplaying the effects of long-term discrimination.
To his critics (some of which he deemed “intellectual panhandlers”) he pointedly proclaimed: “Stop looking for somebody to blame.” He then told audience members not to be brainwashed by people in the community who enable destructive behavior by staying silent or blaming racism.
“You’ve got these idiots who’ve got these degrees and some of them are ordained ministers and they say, ‘Bill, you’re picking on the poor,'” Cosby said. “Well, so did Jesus then. Jesus was always telling someone, ‘Go ye.’ Jesus was always telling people to go somewhere. And ‘don’t do this again or don’t do that again.'”
The legendary entertainer saved some of his harshest criticism for radio station execs who make money by playing music he considers “pro-murder and anti-women.”
“I haven’t seen the demonstrations saying, ‘I’m not allowing my children to listen to this,” Cosby said. “It’s killing us. We’re not talking about it, and we’re not beating it down.”
The comic’s tell it like it is lecture comes just weeks before his new hip-hop album is scheduled for release. “Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency” combines the comedian’s straightforward concepts and stories with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack.
Of those attending the conference most told news reporters that they were not at all offended by Cosby’s candid remarks. In fact, many praised the actor turned advocate for not bowing to political correctness.
What do you think about Cosby’s candor?