Bill Cosby
Purveyor of Truth
by Ambra Nykol
A few weekends ago, I witnessed something amazing. Thousands of regular people drove a considerable distance, stood in the Seattle rain, and paid a good amount of money to watch a 67-year-old black man in college sweat pants, Birkenstocks and socks, sit on a stage, and talk about his life. That man was Dr. William H. Cosby.
What is it about this man that drew so many people? My best guess is his comedic reputation. But I was there for entirely different reasons. Many simply came to be entertained; I came to show my respect.
This time, I felt a special sense of awe as I watched Cosby. This was a man who late last spring, said some very unpopular things at a certain NAACP Brown v. Board of Education 50th anniversary celebration.
Anyone who isn't familiar with Cosby's famous "Pound Cake Speech" by now, must be in a cultural coma. "Pound cake theft" of course, was the example Cosby used to describe petty criminal behavior often resulting in unnecessary police brutality. At the time, Cosby made it plain, "People (are) getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake and then we run out and we are outraged, (saying) 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"
Yes, he said that. "Mothers Against Police Brutality" weren't too happy about that comment.
A good percentage of the black community was incensed when Cosby cited the fact that material possessions and improper prioritization of values have created a sub-culture of parents who "are not parenting," and publicly suggested that "The lower economic people are not holding up their end of the bargain." He brought things a little too close to home when he noted, "They are buying things for kids - $500 sneakers for what? And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics."
Cosby's words were pointed and should be taken in the context of his speech, spoken against the backdrop of an anniversary celebration of a Supreme Court decision that was intended to revolutionize the educational opportunities available to black students. Against that backdrop, Cosby delivered a hard message some in the black community were either unwilling, or unable, to accept.
The aftermath of Cosby's remarks led to even more press, which included his explanation of his remarks in interviews and radio shows. It was the talk around many dinner tables, and scholars and overpaid intellectuals picked apart the speech, many of them declaring that Cosby broke one of the unwritten rules of black community membership; he aired our so-called "dirty laundry".
Nothing Bill Cosby has said over the last six months was new, deeply profound or revelatory, but it was painfully close to the truth. One of the major mistakes many have made was to pass off his remarks as the simple rantings of an old, disgruntled man in sunglasses. Of all the people of influence that could speak on the subject of community, proper parenting, and education, Bill Cosby certainly has credibility. For years, Cosby has sought to speak the truth when it comes to matters of his heart.
Like many who grew up watching The Cosby Show, I always admired how Cosby single-handedly changed the perception of the American family, and more specifically the black family.
At some point, who didn't want to be a Huxtable kid? I certainly loved my parents, but at the time of the sitcom's peak, I would have gladly traded in both my kidneys and perhaps my left toe for a chance to have Cliff & Clair as my parents. Like all things, the Huxtable family was simply an extension of Cosby's life. He built the show on his own family's life experiences. He built the show on truth.
Anyone who's seen Bill Cosby live or on television knows that he has a unique ability to extract comedy out of every day life. As a stand-up (and nowadays, sit-down) comedian Cosby is incredible.
As he sat in dreary Seattle weather, dressed down like he was about to do yard work, he held an entire audience captive with his ability to articulate a story. He spent the first fifty percent of his "routine" (that word is hardly fitting) gushing about his wife. The remainder of his time he spent pontificating on child rearing, gender roles in marriage, and other common life issues.
Not once did he curse or use profane language, completely avoiding dirty or off-color jokes. If I had a dollar for every time the average comedian worked clean, I'd be broke. Besides being a "legend," the fact that Cosby keeps his routine clean shouldn't really warrant recognition. Unfortunately, in the age of exponential raunchiness, comedy is far from "wholesome" and the decency Cosby exhibits is made to look antiquated.
The standard of integrity and ethics exemplified in Cosby's work is worth noting. The man puts his money where his mouth is. Philanthropists and educators, both he and his wife Camille have donated millions of dollars to colleges and universities over the years.
Also worth noting is the fact that many of Cosby's television endeavors have been centered on a positive representation of the family. His newest venture, a cartoon featured on Nickelodeon called "Fatherhood" accomplishes that by portraying a Huxtablesque family with a strong, educated, father figure.
Throughout his history as an entertainer and producer, Cosby has championed the family unit more than we give him credit for. For that reason among others, we should be listening to every word he says on these matters.
Much of his philosophy on family and education is indeed a framework for what communities need. In Dr. Cosby, there is a wealth of insight we should be tapping into.
And it's worth noting that 100 years ago, no one could have been convinced that a black man would be drawing masses of white people not to see him do a jig, dribble a basketball, run around shouting with his pants around his ankles, or sing, but simply, to talk. I think we should start listening.
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