Social Advocacy

If you caught Bill Cosby on Oprah yesterday, you were shaken to the core. He spoke poignantly about a number of social dilemmas shaking and (mis)shaping America today. He and his co-author, Dr. Alan F. Poussaint, spoke powerful to the problems the intercities face. With a core of family, the problems can be turned around, but it takes courageous action! He reminded parents that you do not need to knock before entering your child's room, it is your house! Remember they are the child and you are the adult, responsible for the proper rearing of your children!

The Huffington Post's Earl Ofari Hutchinson drew a powerfully incorrect conclusion that Cosby is saying, "Stripped away it's the same stock claim that blacks can't read, write or speak coherent English, and are social and educational cripples and failures." Well, as a half-African American, can I take this analysis at face value? Hell no! Hutchinson draws this conclusion with out substantiation and struggles with the simplest understanding of the book. Observe his review:

Here are two choice Cosby whoppers from the opening pages of the book:

"There are whole blocks with scarcely a married couple, whole blocks without responsible black males"

This is a big, sweeping unsupported by any survey, stats, or factual data to back it up. And:

"The problems start early for black boys, and we can all see it. Call it ADHD or learning differences. Young black males can act up a Level 5 storm in class."

Here's another big unsubstantiated statement and there's those broad brush indicting words "all" see it" (who is all?); "young black males" (all young black males?); and they act up a level 5 storm (all black males are disruptive in class?)

The first statement is descriptive and something that I believe at Mr. Cosby's word. Perhaps its my middle class sensibility speaking, but when I drive through certain LA neighborhoods, I get nervous. It is always the men of these neighborhoods that scare me. A responsible male does not need make threatening stares and postures to cars driving down the street. We are more (for back of a better word) evolved than that. Dogs chase strange cars on their street. Not men! I am far from a threatening person and my car, a beige 1994 Camry is ubiquitous and clean. Clearly not the car of a yuppie or drug dealer.

The second statement that Hutchinson attempts to discredit is a generalization without question and could be rewritten with more tact. I would hope there is support later in the book, but it is an easy cop-out for Hutchinson to say that it carried no merit. More over, I believe Hutchinson has taken an easy way out in the way quoted a single line from the book.

Having worked for four year in Special Education, I can attest that many of the students were capable of far greater work. There are issues that run deep causing children to perform at low levels in the classroom: family issues, emotional issues, self esteem and others.

Underprivileged children are perhaps most underprivileged by the lack of support they receive at home. Absent parents open opportunity for their children to get involved in the first group (or loudest) group in the community that calls for them. This may be a youth center, or it may be a gang, but as the parents remain absent, older siblings raise younger siblings and follow in the path of their blood-surrogates.

Hutchinson points to statistics (ironically without citation!) that homicide, physical assualt, and teen pregnancy are at decade-plus lows! Sir, I will accept your numbers on your authority. As I do with Dr. Cosby and Dr. Poussaint. That said, as an analyst myself, I would be interested to see the statistics drilled down to look at both class and race. Those numbers might be more telling, although I make no promise. But we need to be honest in our self-assessment.

Perhaps Hutchinson's greatest concern is my favorite comic (turned activist) is appearing to point his finger at all blacks I think it is abundantly clear from the first statement that Cosby makes that he is especially concerned with the demographics of the inner city.

Although I was initially bewildered by Hutchinson's article, I can see his point of concern more clearly now. The truth hurts. Mr. Cosby, you have come a long way from your early comedy albums and I applaud how courageously you tackle this issue. But perhaps we can address your "gangsta gangsta" appearance at a later date? Suit and sunglasses inside? I understand if your eye was red, but I think that would just make you look crazier and more empowered.


PS Mr. Cosby, if you need a new personal assistant, please e-mail me!

Copyright © 2007 David ben-Avram