AP: Cosby not finding support in black community

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141223/us--cosby-black_community_support-f714e82e94.html

Dec 23, 12:07 PM (ET)

By JESSE J. HOLLAND

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bill Cosby hasn't been "America's dad" for years. For some blacks, he is the cranky uncle complaining about young African Americans who, in his view, dress and behave in a way that drags down their race.

The shift in perceptions of Cosby, from revered comedian to more of a public scold, may be costing him support in the black community as he battles decades-old accusations of drugging and sexually assaulting women.

Few people outside Cosby's circle of family and friends are rallying around him. Besides the gravity of the accusations, Cosby's own words may help explain why.

"He's asking people to pull up their pants and act right," said Fredrick Harris, director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University. "People are questioning, 'Why were you unzipping yours and pulling yours down?'"

FULL story at link.



FILE -This Nov. 11, 2014, file photo shows entertainer and Navy veteran Bill Cosby speaking during a Veterans Day ceremony, at the The All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors in Philadelphia. Bill Cosby hasn{2019}t been {201c}America{2019}s dad{201d} for years. Rather, some have likened him to a cranky uncle complaining about young blacks who, in his view, dress and behave in a way that drags down their race. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

[Skittles]

1. so glad to see his legacy going down in flames

telling black folk to "act right" while he was drugging and raping women

[Stuart G]

2. I agree with you..couldn't have said it better...no text..

[951-Riverside]

3. "Hey Bill Cosby, pull YOUR damn pants up,"

[FirstClassTicket]

6. Now THAT is funny!! n/t

[Initech]

4. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Read my mind.

[ZX86]

7. Black community has been down this road before.

OJ received almost universal support from the Black community, especially from Black women. And how did OJ thank all those in the community for their undying support? By hopping on every blond haired, blue eyed, Nicole Simpson look alike he could find. That's how!

By the time OJ's second criminal trial rolled around people got tired of of putting all their emotional and political energy behind a cause that in the end only helps one dirt bag get laid by White women.

The core of the civil rights movement is not ensuring that rich Black celebrities who have pervy desires for White women that includes raping and killing them get the same robust defense an Emmet Till or Trayvon Martin .

[Judi Lynn]

8. What kind of "robust defense" did Emmet Till or Trayvon Martin get?

I think I must have missed absolutely EVERYTHING about their lives, which, in my view, had them both being murdered and NOT standing trial.

Did you hear that on Fox News? It seems to fit the view of the world they try to stuff down the throats of their hate-loving, terminally racist, low-information audience.

[ZX86]

16. I think you missed my point.

The defense of Till and Martin is in the moral sense, not a legal one.

[BrotherIvan]

9. I alerted on your racist post

But it was already alerted on and the wisdom of DU was to let it stand. Please don't spread that old trope about black men and white women. It's fucking offensive and incredibly racist.

[Judi Lynn]

10. It's offensive enough that a rational person would never have considered writing it.

Whatever anyone's race is who dates anyone else is something which doesn't require approval from others. People who imagine they need to add their two cents are simply racists waiting for a chance to express their hatred for someone.

It's so low and shabby I would think no one would ever have the nerve, or impulse to bother other people about it.

Who is he/she trying to contact? Only other right-wing racists would be able to agree. It's a shout-out to fellow racists.

Thanks for at least trying to alert on it. The first alert must have been timed to go through at the same time a lot of racist trolls were rooting around here.

[BrotherIvan]

13. Well I guess he found a soul mate because check out the crazy response below

I alerted on that one. We'll see what happens.

Most racists I have met are so ignorant, they don't know that what they are saying is incredibly racist. Like our two resident thread racists, they might be surprised to be called on it. I've seen it happen a million times, when someone leans over and starts spewing the hate and then a chuckle and a nudge. Just between us white folks right? Reverse racism and PC won't let us say what we all think, but we all think it, right? The irony here is, I'm not white. That's how stupid they are.

[ZX86]

21. Wow.

Who said that anyone needs approval to date outside their race? I date outside my race on a regular basis. So do the vast majority of my friends, family, and acquaintances. I fail to see how condemning Cosby for being a serial rapist and OJ for being a murderer makes one right wing or a racist.

[Skittles]

26. it's your insinuation that black women would demand racial purity from OJ that is offensive

that does indeed sound racist

[ZX86]

27. No. Black women do not demand racial purity.

But they can recognize a fool. OJ post acquittal has done nothing to recognize the Black community. Nothing. Nada. Zero. The Black community went out on a limb and took a beating in the media for supporting OJ. And what did OJ do? Give thanks to his supporters? Champion some causes close to the Black community? Make a personal appearance? Do some fund raising for charity?

No. Every time you saw him he was either on a golf course or grinning on the arm of a Nicole Simpson clone. Black women do not demand racial purity from OJ or any other celebrity but it's hard not to notice the only women good enough for him are of the blond haired, blue eyed, Stepford Wife variety. It's creepy. It's creepy when White guys need some 3D version of a Barbie doll. It's creepy when Black guys need it.

It's no accident support fell like a rock for OJ on his second criminal trial. And while there is plenty more evidence for OJ being "set up" I don't know anyone inside or outside the Black community that gives two sh*ts he got convicted or is rotting in jail.

What changed between his first trial and the second? The Black community waning thirst for parity in the criminal justice system or just recognizing OJ is an ass and doesn't deserve support?

[Skittles]

28. I don't remember black people demanding anything from OJ

they felt he was innocent despite the overwhelming amount of evidence, likely because of past injustices with law enforcement folk

[ZX86]

29. I don't think it's a matter of demanding anything.

It's how he's revealed his true character. You ever see OJ in the company of a Black woman? Ever? There was his first wife and his kids. Outside of that I never seen him with a Black woman ever. Not as his girlfriend, colleague, employee, friend. Nothing. Black women are like kryptonite to this thankless jerk.

[Skittles]

30. I'm pretty sure they knew all that when his murdering ass was set free

[BronxBoy]

33. This is what happens....

when White people try to get into the minds of Black people. You get it all fucked up!

The Black support you think you saw for OJ had less to do with us thinking OJ was innocent and a hell of a lot more to do with us thinking that a fucked up decision by the system went in favor of Black for once. I and a lot of Black folk felt OJ was guilty as sin. But he represented a symbol of a Black person, a rich Black person at that, using the justice system to get off.

I have posted this before and will restate this here: I'm ashamed of the fact that although I thought OJ was guilty as hell, I reconciled his acquittal with the fact that for once the tables had been turned and the deaths of Nicole Brown and Rob Goldman were fodder to be laid at the feet of the feet of the God of social justice. But that shame are tempered by the fact that too many folks are not as willing to look at their views when it comes to Mike Brown, John Crawford and a lot of other Black men in that same light.

[ZX86]

34. A lot of what you're saying is true and I can understand but...

the brutality of the murder for such petty and selfish reasons turned my stomach. Add to that the behavior of Johnny Cochran pandering to the jury with nursery rhymes, African themed clothing, etc. I was completely disgusted. Having said that, the judge, jury, prosecution, LAPD (featuring renown super racist Mark Fuhrman), and the media were shamelessly incompetent to outright corrupt. The entire affair was cluster f*ck of biblical proportions from start to finish. No one did their job properly. They should all be ashamed.

[ZX86]

17. You are wrong.

No where in my post did I say or insinuate that all Black men desire White women. Having said that to deny that racial fetishism exists is to deny reality. To acknowledge this fetish does not make one a racist. No more than acknowledging that BSDM relationships exists makes you a sexist.

[BrotherIvan]

14. MIRT

[NuclearDem]

18. Stormfront's thataway, champ.

[ZX86]

19. Oh FFS.

You really dilute and diminish the fight against racism if anytime someone mentions race and it's effects in society.

[NuclearDem]

20. Was this even a sentence?

You really dilute and diminish the fight against racism if anytime someone mentions race and it's effects in society.

Seems like there should have been a second half to that.

[ZX86]

22. Well I was going to say something like

"guys like you have a hissy fit" or something else equally as mean spirited. But calling out racism important. In this case you happen to be mistaken.

[CBGLuthier]

25. Dear Lord what an ugly racist load of bullshit you dropped here.

Are you like 120 years old or something?

[ZX86]

32. Yeah, if you use Fox News definition of racism.

You ever see some Fox News pundit accuse a Black person of being racist because they call out Clarence Thomas for being a Black man trying to dismantle every advancement the Black community has fought for in the last 50+ years? As if by merely mentioning the fact that Thomas is Black is somehow racist. We in the Black community aren't supposed to notice race or 400 years oppression or that Thomas is nothing more than a Vichy token for the right wing. And if you do, that's racist. That's the load of bullshit you're smelling.

Nothing is more insulting in the Black community than people (some well meaning) from outside the community that say, "I don't see race". WTF! What are you saying here? My comment is racist because I happen to notice that OJ has a decades long White, blond, trophy wife fetish? We're not supposed to notice that or we're engaging in racism?

We're not supposed to notice that OJ never dates, befriends, employs, or associates with Black women ever? Some White people have the luxury of never having notice race but if you're Black you'd have to be brain dead not to notice Clarence Thomas is a Black man who works against the interests of the Black community or that OJ has never associated himself causes close to the the Black community or dated a Black woman since he became rich and famous.

It must be nice to live in a color blind society where the antics of Thomas and OJ can be over looked because race shouldn't matter. But being a Black woman, giving OJ the benefit of the doubt, supporting his acquittal, and then only thanks you get is to watch him play golf and parade his latest Nicole Simpson look alike girl friend around town and not notice he's a thankless moron with a White/blond trophy wife fetish is a bit much.

[ecstatic]

11. it's not that simple...

In Cosby's case, there isn't a corrupt and racist police department at the center of the accusations--and now 20+ women, including Beverly Johnson, have come forward. Even without Cosby's grumpy speeches, I don't think anyone would be defending him.

On the other hand, if the accusations were linked to a corrupt police department or some other racist organization, the element of doubt would be introduced and he'd have a LOT more defenders--despite his past comments.

[BrotherIvan]

15. I agree

I think he is not getting support because his crimes against his victims are reprehensible, not because of some speech.

[ZX86]

24. He is not getting support from the Black community because

the Black community has tired of Black celebrities behaving poorly then running to them for unconditional support. Look no further than the recent Daniele Watts scandal. Initially the Black community was supportive then dropped her like a bad habit as soon as it became clear she was guilty as sin and using race to cover her ass (literally). Granted her crimes are no where near the seriousness of those committed by Cosby and OJ, requiring no more punishment beyond admitting you've been naughty and picking up trash on the side of the freeway for a couple of hours but the principal remains the same. Don't run around showing your ass then run to us expecting us to give you a "get out of jail free card" just because.

[Nye Bevan]

23. A serial rapist expecting black people to support him just because he is black

is extremely presumptive and offensive.

[uponit7771]

31. Racsist ass'd article, the "black community" isn't 5 people in the entertainment community ....

... what kind of of homogenizing shit is that!?

I'm like Goldberg, what else is coming out.... I'm withholding judgement ...

There's no statistical evidence or anything else showing "the black community" is anything relating to Cosby...

Stupid ass'd article