Bill Cosby, What's Not Being Addressed

The Cos is on the case:

Bill Cosby might be embroiled in a doping-and-groping scandal, but that's not going to stop him from talking morals.

In an interview with ABC's Nightline airing Wednesday and previewed on Good Morning America, Cosby's first TV sit-down since being sued for sexual assault, the entertainer says that any mistakes he may have made in his personal life will not keep him from urging African-American to take more personal responsibility. Such comments provoked a firestorm of controversy last year.

I find it interesting that some want to ignore the messenger, in this situation, and focus on the message. That doesn't get said from some of those people about Jesse Jackson or Lewis Farrakhan.

But that's not the point of this entry. The point of this entry is to mention, again, what I've mentioned before:

Chances are, the people who need to hear "Cosby's message" and to take it to heart, are not the people going to hear him speak or take it to heart if they do.

Here is something for you to consider: Blacks formally and informally adopt children of family, and friends, at a rate that is higher than white people. As has been the case in my family, it could be because of a tragic circumstance that leaves the children without parents, or it could be a temporary situation while the parent gets their living situation in order, or it could be a situation where the parent is in jail or on drugs or living a criminal lifestyle.

In the cases where the parent is living a criminal lifestyle or is on drugs, what would they care about what Cosby has to say? My suspicion is that they could not care less.

From what I have witnessed and/or heard and/or been a part of, are people close to the situation trying to encourage those lacking appropriate parenting skills to do a better job.

From what I have witnessed and/or heard and/or been a part of, are people close to the situation taking over the parenting role.

I want you to think about what it takes to handle a situation where you tell someone that they aren't parenting correctly AND get it to be heard, thought upon, and the behavior changed.

Do YOU think Cosby's tactics will work?

Or, if you have seen the situations I have, you already know that it will probably take a long period of time before things change for the better. (That could be the parent changing how they handle their duties, or the parent getting help to help themselves, or the parent giving the parenting duties to someone who could do a better job).

In that context, think about what I mentioned earlier: Blacks formally and informally adopt children of family, and friends, at a rate that is higher than white people.

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Comments

[Temple3]

Let he who possesseth the best "mickey" cast the first net.

While the allegations may be with or without merit, Cos' message is timeless and really is not about him. His message resonates with the media's need to demonize - after all, it pays the bills. It bleeds and it fuels schools and prisons and reduces competition for jobs, land and resources.