Great Black Speakers | Bill Cosby and Racism

The Cosby Divide: Racism vs. Personal Responsibility in the African-American Community
by Craig Miller; Student at Georgia Tech University

In May of 2004 Bill Cosby set off a fierce debate with his infamous “pound cake speech.” The speech was given at an event to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Cosby was critical of members of the black community highlighting the use of inappropriate English, emphasis on material gain and other taboo social behaviors. The speech gets its name from these lines…

“But these people, the ones up here in the balcony fought so hard. Looking at the incarcerated, these are not political criminals. These are people going around stealing Coca Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake! And then we all run out and are outraged, 'The cops shouldn’t have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand? (laughter and clapping). I wanted a piece of pound cake just as bad as anybody else (laughter) And I looked at it and I had no money. And something called parenting said, 'if you get caught with it you’re going to embarrass your mother.' Not 'you’re going to get your butt kicked.' No. 'You’re going to embarrass your family.'

Cosby’s words stunned many, especially because of his lovable image. He is the face of Jell-O and everyone’s favorite dad. In the black and non-black community critics immediately began to takes sides. Some people say that Cosby was right on point with his accusations and others argue that it was no way right for him to speak out against the black community.

Bill Cosby is Right

Some critics say that Bill Cosby was right on point with his criticism of Blacks living in poverty. They say that low income blacks are not keeping their end of the bargain and thus pulling down the rest of the race. Many say that personal responsibility is the root of the problem in the black community. Blacks are consistently blaming whites and others for their economic conditions instead of looking in the mirror and holding themselves accountable

Bill Cosby is Wrong

Others say that Cosby was way off target. They first criticize him for speaking out in front of a mainly white audience. They also have issues with Cosby putting the blame on lower class blacks instead of putting some of the blame on the middle class. They also say that racism is this country breeds many of the problems that blacks living in poverty face. Some say that blacks such as Cosby have abandoned the rest of the black community instead of trying to lift them out of poverty

Bill Cosby on NBC "Meet the Press"

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