Bill Cosby putting his money where his mouth is.

[Weedmage Princess]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/07/08/cosby.students.ap/index.html

[Hulkein]

Good for Cosby, and good for those two guys who kept working in school and didn't expect someone else to help them.

[DeV]

"So to find two young men whose values are on the right side, it's refreshing," he added.
I know more than two. I think it's great what he's doing however if he wants to talk the talk, he needs to do alot more walking than that.

[Weedmage Princess]

Eh, yes and no, DEV..depending on what exactly you mean there. If you're speaking in regards to his giving these two kids money for their college tuition, and needing to give more money to others...I disagree. He just gave his opinion on what he feels is a major issue in the Black community. That doesn't mean he should have to reach into his pockets and shell out cash for a bunch of people just because he's done so.

[DeV]

No, Im not talking cash money. Im talking about going to the ghetto, and saying the same things he stated previously to those who NEED to hear it. What good is his message if the educated, and the educators are the only ones to receive it. I had to give it some extra thought and I could see how the black people he was addressing might have been offended or put off by his words. Most have their Masters and Doctorate degrees and are successful yet here is Cosby telling them about the downfalls of a community they are probably no longer associated with on an economic level. Money is not what will make the biggest difference. Education is the only thing. I'm referring to getting your message actually heard. He gave two young men free college passes which I'm sure they deserved, and would have attained by any means possible considering the obstacles they already had overcome. I feel his message was lost to those who deserved to hear it, to feel the sting of disgust at the hopelessness their lives have taken, and the dispair they passed on to their children.

[Edited on 7-8-2004 by DarkelfVold]

[Scott]

The problem with that is..... When Bill Cosby goes down to the "ghetto" and tells people this, it doesn't make the news. It's just Bill Cosby telling 100 people to "stay in school." When Bill Cosby goes to a NAACP meet and says it, the news picks it up and is all over the place. Bill Cosby knows what he's doing, and he got his word out.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Gemstone101
The problem with that is..... When Bill Cosby goes down to the "ghetto" and tells people this, it doesn't make the news. It's just Bill Cosby telling 100 people to "stay in school." When Bill Cosby goes to a NAACP meet and says it, the news picks it up and is all over the place. Bill Cosby knows what he's doing, and he got his word out. Funny thing is, he's never been to the ghetto to say anything like that. His word did get out however, his message was not reached. It's easy to talk when you have millions. Had he gone to the ghetto and at least tried to get the message heard I could definitely have given credit where it's due. Who cares if it reaches the news, as long as it effects and changes lives.

I'm pretty biased at this point.

How do you know that he has not done so DEV?

[DeV]

Originally posted by The Edine
How do you know that he has not done so DEV?

If he has made his message known in the ghetto then I omit my previous statement. And then I ask you, How do you know that he has? More people in the ghetto have seen his 'Fat Albert' cartoons than heard the message we are currently discussing.

I think in some ways Cosby is out of touch with the community. In another sense he wants to see change just like myself and so many others. He got fed up, and that I can understand.

Well, how do you think he will be able to get that message across aside from being on TV? Hopefully as people scan though to the next Jerry Springer, Judge Judy, or other shit show they might catch what he is saying on the news.

The people with the masters, the people like Jesse Jackass are the ones who are the lead in any movement in their community. They are the ones you have to start with, once they change their views and push towards a better goal, they will convince others and so on down the line.

Going and having a Town meeting in Cabrini Greens wont get him anywhere because only the people that want to listen or already feel the way he does will show up.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by DarkelfVold
Funny thing is, he's never been to the ghetto to say anything like that. ... Who cares if it reaches the news, as long as it effects and changes lives.I think the point is that because it doesn't reach the news, you don't hear about it. You not hearing about it doesn't mean that it never happened.

[DeV]

Originally posted by Latrinsorm

Originally posted by DarkelfVold
Funny thing is, he's never been to the ghetto to say anything like that. ... Who cares if it reaches the news, as long as it effects and changes lives.I think the point is that because it doesn't reach the news, you don't hear about it. You not hearing about it doesn't mean that it never happened. I am in touch with the community, so Im pretty definite in the sense that I would know. He means well, and I don't fault him for what was said. I agree with his words. The audience intended was not reached, news or not.
I don't think this is how Weedie intended the thread to go.. so to get back on track. I applaud his efforts. :rah:

[Sean]

Originally posted by Gemstone101
The problem with that is..... When Bill Cosby goes down to the "ghetto" and tells people this, it doesn't make the news. It's just Bill Cosby telling 100 people to "stay in school." When Bill Cosby goes to a NAACP meet and says it, the news picks it up and is all over the place. Bill Cosby knows what he's doing, and he got his word out.

Yea until he tries to make a point to the illiterate community who can't read and don't watch the news. Then its just speaking to you and I, in the general sense, and it becomes all about the helping hand rather than helping yourself.