Today's version of The Black Slate deals with some random thoughts on Cosby and on the NAACP. Because Jelani, Neal (I think), and Izrael already offered their thoughts on homeboy I was going to take a pass. But when the Bush NAACP thing came up I thought there might be a way to weave the two in together. I don't like the NAACP as far as I can throw them, and to a certain degree I sympathize with Cobb when he throws down the gauntlet. I even agree a bit with McWhorter here.
But the bottom line is a simple one. In making the decision to speak to the Urban League instead, Bush is taking the line that he's taken for a while--that the poor shouldn't rely on government to deal with their problems. In as much as we need an inside/outside game, SOMEONE has to talk to Bush with that perspective in mind, and the Urban League is the best thing we've got going here. In fact, they are probably the closest thing to a conservative black organization that we have--Armstrong Williams and the rest of the black conservative crew don't really have mass black organizations to stand on.
However at the same time we need someone to push for changes in government policy. The Urban League doesn't do that. The NAACP barely does it. But right now, especially because of the loot they are giving out to organizers...I'll take them.
Fitting Cosby in was a bit of a stretch I think...but I was able to push his stomach in a bit and get him in there. With all of his bluster he is pretty much saying the same thing that the conservatives are saying anyway--fuck politics. The more I think about it the more we need conversation starters like this. All we need afterwards are the folks with policy proposals in hand for those in agreement with Cosby, and for those in disagreement.
As an aside I gave a few workshops at the League of Independent Voters Smackdown 2004. I have never been more hopeful in the future than I was seeing those young brothers and sisters. We've been waiting YEARS for them. As opposed to the pie in the sky approach taken by many (we want reparations NOW), they fully recognize that we're running a relay marathon, not a sprint. I can't wait.