Sadly, Bill Cosby Is Right

Recently, Bill Cosby, the man who managed to let America view a black family as just a family, recently spoke out against the sad state that many young members of his race talk and act.

“These people marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we’ve got these knuckleheads walking round…the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal.  These people are not parenting, they’re buying things for kids — $500 sneakers, for what?  And they won’t spend $200 for “Hooked on Phonics”…I can’t even talk the way these people talk:  “why you ain’t, where you is…”

Tragically, Bill Cosby is right. Way more than a small percentage of young African Americans fail to see the importance of education, of proper speaking. Instead, as directly as Cosby put it, they are too busy trying to make the kids look fashionable.

I asked an African American friend of mine what he thought of Cosby’s remarks. His reply, “That man is right, outside of music and sports, the only way anyone gets ahead is by education. If I didn’t speak properly, I would not have gotten anywhere in life.”

A few weeks ago I was at the International Science Fair in Portland, OR. Every single student (of all races) there that I talked to was well spoken and articulate. I have no doubt that they all will find success in life. Many came from economically challenging backgrounds. But the point is, that they all prized education, that is something that is taught and supported in the home.

Sadly, too many leaders of the African American community refuse to accept the notion of self reliance. All the while they pass blame onto the government. Instead they should be looking at each other and promoting the success stories of their racial community. By doing this students will discover true role models in careers that interest them.

The final words I leave to my friend, “I hope Cosby, Oprah, JC Watts, Colin Powell, Halle Berry, use their position to promote in the media that education is their best ticket to a successful future. Because it is the only thing that all of us have fairly equal opportunity to experience.”