Effect of Bill Cosby's book and TV appearances?

Question

Bill Cosby and Alvin Poissaint have written a new book called "Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors." They speak at some length on Meet the Press about the problems of the American black community, how to decrease illigitimacy and drug use, and how to combat the relative disappearance of two-parent black families.

Transcript can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21293963/

These two men -- both black, one an academic and one an entertainer -- are speaking some "hard truths" about personal responsibility.
1) Do you think Cosby's and Pouissaint's efforts will be effective? Why or why not?
2) How does their message compare to Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's message?
3) Which of the two "couples" has more credibly within the black community? Why?

$0.02 -- LOL re: Meet the Press. You raise a good point.

Also, here's a reference to the Dyson book OneLove points out: http://www.michaelericdyson.com/cosby/points.html

Great answers -- good discussion. In true democratic fashion, I'll let the Y!A community choose the best answer. Thanks for the thoughtful comments.

Answer 1

bill cosby knows his stuff. too bad more people aren't like him.

Answer 2

I personally agree with most of what he says & said in the interview (only read 1st pg so far).
1. I don't know how effective their efforts will be when so many blk ppl look at Cosby as a sellout. He grew up poor, struggled, went to a historically blk college-to whom he has made donations to & has other charities -so I don't know "why he's considered a sellout." Ppl says he's a hypocrite bc of his marriage problems & daughter out of wedlock-so they dismiss what he says regardless of how truthful or great of a point he makes.
2. Their messages really aren't that different except J. Jackson and Al Sharpton are POLITCIANS & all politicians capitolize off of social chaos-whites ones too-I mean please!
3.J. Jackson & Sharpton-like I said Cosby is looked at as a sellout now.
It makes me wonder if ppl know what the definition of "sellout" IS. His comments about single blk mothers was right on, so are his comments about black men. Do ppl realize the situation we are in with drugs, gangs and HIV?!?! This is really no time for using "kid gloves". We live under harsh conditions, so harsh words are necesary. Each generation is getting progressively worse, what's it going to be like 3 gen. from now. Yeah so he doesn't use that magical word "SOME" enough, but please there are enough high profile successful black ppl to know its not ALL of us-what idiot wouldn't know that. For those who don't agree what's YOUR solution?

Edit: $0.02 I think being a rapist & being accused of rape is vastly different. I don't know wheter he settled out of court or not but I'm always suspicious of a woman who just takes the money. Doesn't she want justice? & she can just sue later anyway. Why let a rapist run free? With the kind of money he has he could rape a woman every year for the rest of his life & still not go broke.

Answer 3

Bill Cosby started speaking out against this stuff a few years ago and a large portion of the black community went Ape. They were calling him an "Uncle Tom" a "Sell Out" and lots of other things.

Personally, as a minority myself, I find what he's saying to be courageous. It IS time that all minorities (and whites too) stood up and started doing something in the HERE AND NOW to stop these things from occuring. Sadly, though, many minorities HAVE slowly and steadly been indoctrinated into the Victim Culture throughout the course of their lives.

I'll definitely pick this book up.

Answer 4

cosby and pouissaint go way back. Pouissaint was a consultant on the cosby show. Cosby was attempting to do for the black family what "father knows best" did for the white family , which is present an idealized reality that people will immitate.


Although I appreciate Cosby 's point of view, it seems to me that he doing little more than point the finger. Besides, he is an accused rapists. He is hardly in a posistion to lecture anyone about morals.

edit: I guess to anser your question:
1. no, because they are both way out of touch with average black people. (as are sharpton and Jackson)
2. Not sure what messsage you're talking about.
3. I dont think black people are paying either of them any mind. I assure you, that the people whom Cosby is complaining about, are not watching Meet the Press.

Answer 5

I'll have to check out his book.

There is a growing battle in the black community over this issue.

Unfortunately, many are determined to maintain their love affair with "victimology." After Cosby made his public remarks, Eric Michael Dyson wrote a book about Cosby and of which I believe attacked him.

Answer 6

Bill Cosby is more effective than J.Jackson and A. Sharpton

Answer 7

i in my opinion believe maximum of what he says & suggested contained in the interview (in basic terms study 1st pg so some distance). a million. i do not comprehend how useful their efforts will be at the same time as such an excellent style of blk ppl look at Cosby as a sellout. He grew up poor, struggled, went to a traditionally blk college-to whom he has made donations to & has different charities -so i do not comprehend "why he's considered a sellout." Ppl says he's a hypocrite bc of his marriage issues & daughter out of wedlock-so that they brush aside what he says regardless of ways straightforward or large of a level he makes. 2. Their messages extremely are not that diverse except J. Jackson and Al Sharpton are POLITCIANS & all politicians capitolize off of social chaos-whites ones too-I mean please! 3.J. Jackson & Sharpton-like I suggested Cosby is looked at as a sellout now. It makes me ask your self if ppl comprehend what the definition of "sellout" IS. His comments about unmarried blk moms become top on, so are his comments about black adult adult males. Do ppl comprehend the placement we are in with drugs, gangs and HIV?!?! that is rather no time for utilizing "infant gloves". we stay less than harsh situations, so harsh words are necesary. each and every era is getting gradually worse, what's it going to be like 3 gen. from now. Yeah so he would not use that magical be conscious "some" sufficient, yet please there are sufficient extreme profile effectual black ppl to understand its no longer all individuals-what fool would not comprehend that. should you do not agree what's YOUR answer? Edit: $0.02 i imagine being a rapist & being accused of rape is fairly diverse. i do not comprehend wheter he settled out of courtroom or no longer yet i'm continually suspicious of a lady who in basic terms takes the money. would not she opt for justice? & she will in basic terms sue later besides. Why enable a rapist run free? With the variety of money he has he might want to rape a lady each and every 365 days for something of his existence & nonetheless no longer pass broke.

Answer 8

Cosby may not be that credible among all blacks, but he will be very credible in the general population at large.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 9

1)No, because a lot of blacks will dismiss them as sell outs & uncle toms
2Cosby & Pouissaint's message is of self reliance. Jackson & Sharpton's message is to call white people racist, protest, & hope that someone gives you money.
3)Jackson & Sharpton because they are the established leaders of the black community.