Previously when I wrote about race and the need for new black leaders, some commenters asked wh [...]

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Cosby made no mention of what he d have blacks believe or their political agenda. Cosby, instead, talked about how blacks should dress, talk, and be educated. By those standards, Farrakhan is virtually a model.

I thought that Cosby’s essential point was that blacks need to engage and participate in American society; rejecting every vestige of it will not advance blacks in it.

@Beth C -

The CBC does indeed have some great people. I don’t know Lee well, but Obama is promising, I like Ford, and though I disagree violently sometimes, I have great respect for Conyers. Unfortunately, I think the name of the CBC is as likely to conjure the image of Maxine Waters as of any of these.

I don’t feel the need to bash Sharpton or Farrakhan. Their limitations as leaders are readily apparent to anyone blessed with the gift of sight and an IQ commensurate with their shoe size. I take issue with the criticism of Jesse Jackson. Despite his manifold limitations and gigantic ego, Rev. Jackson has consistently lead in the right direction for the right reasons. There is nothing in his 88 platform for President that I could take issue with. He is a visionary progressive leader that applies his principles to action. Name one hostage Colin and Condi negotiated out of bondage. I take issue with the impulse to march about every damn thing. I think that is tired and played out. I also agree that in the abstract the CBC is usually right. Their coordination could use a lot of damn work. A coordinated caucus could have saved Haitian President Aristide from being overthrown. Could have eviscerated the NAFTA like AGOA act for Africa and could have averted Rwanda and the AIDS pandemic. I agree with them as far as they go but their reach needs to go damn farther than it has.

http://ipinions.blogspot.com

p.s. Oliver, I think you’ll find the author of this blog a genuine political soul mate.

For example, Conyers is as persistent in his investigations as Waxman. He’s a leader. I absolutely love Barbara Lee, who obviously fears no one. Yes, Obama too, he’s very persuasive and looks good on camera. Harold Ford Jr. kinda lost me with the Hillaryesque pro-war bit.

Yes, progressives and Democrats–heck all Americans need better leaders. I think seems to me that we have some great talent and energy in the CBC.

Exactly! I find it insulting that people honestly believe that blacks need a leader or that ONE person would represent all blacks if they did. MLK wasn’t supported/loved by all blacks.

And frankly, I would prefer to see some of them focus their energies and resources locally, before they reach out overseas… and that I don’t see. All I do see is the agrandizement of individuals under a purported banner of religiousity… hmmm, kinda like Jesse.

Right… these would be the same churches (not all mind you) that promote the wealth and status of their leaders, build giant mega plexes and recruit members so they can increase their tithes

The same churches that promote bigotry, homophobia, etc.

The same churches that retreat to their aforementioned megaplexes and do nothing for their inner city communities?

How in the name of all things holy do expect these organizations to do any better than the corrupt and false ones already jockeying for position of leadership?

Oh, wait. He’s not American.

Oliver Willis » Million March Revolt I agree with Oliver Willis. No, he s n [...]

No different from most other politicos.

And pretending that many are all these things and worse is what has gotten us into the situation we re in now.

I think you meant “aren’t all these things…”

The problem with most of Cosby’s remarks is that they weren’t true; they’re stereotypes. Are there blacks who fit the stereotypes? Sure. And there are Poles and Italians who fit their respective stereotypes.

I’ll give you a f’r'instance: Cosby rails about the black athletes who make millions of dollars who can’t read and write, who involve themselves in criminal activity or other bad behavior. Sorry, this isn’t a function of being black–it’s a function of being involved in a sports system where there was no structure or discipline off the court/field–it’s a function of being 20 y.o. and seeing $20M in your checking account.

And if you think a guy like Farrkhan, a conspiracy-spouting racist hatemonger, is the epitome of what Cosby is encouraging,

Cosby made no mention of what he’d have blacks believe or their political agenda. Cosby, instead, talked about how blacks should dress, talk, and be educated. By those standards, Farrakhan is virtually a model.

that blacks are lazy, stupid, don t care about their kids, looking for a handout, etc.
And pretending that many are all these things and worse is what has gotten us into the situation we’re in now. If it takes Cosby to point that out, so be it. He never held himself up to be God. He’s a black man who’s creative talent has allowed him to be blessed with a ton of money, and a pulpit. Better he use the pulpit to tell black Americans to straighten up and fly right than to once again “blame whitey”.

And if you think a guy like Farrkhan, a conspiracy-spouting racist hatemonger, is the epitome of what Cosby is encouraging, well — I’m curious what the weather is like on Mars?

Actually, I believe that the church is going to have to produce the leaders who save black America, certainly it would be better to have men/women of the cloth than men/women of hip hop.

You mean that unlike white people they don’t need to blindly follow a leader? I guess that’s good news for black people. HAHAHA!

Strangely, so does Jesse Jackson who endorsed Cosby’s remarks. And, truth be told, isn’t Louis Farrakhan-he of the impeccable diction, the well-tailoredconservative suits, and the classical violinist–the very epitome of what Cosby seeks to achieve?

The problem with Cosby’s remarks–aside from the fact many of them weren’t true–is that it affirms the beliefs of many bigots; that blacks are lazy, stupid, don’t care about their kids, looking for a handout, etc.

There’s also an element of hypocrisy here. OW dings Jackson for promoting PUSH (”his remedies more often than not involve cutting a big check to Rainbow/PUSH.”) but ignores the fact Cosby had his own daughter prosecuted rather than submit to a DNA test which may have put Cosby’s commercial deals with Kodak, Jell-o, etc. in peril. And let’s not forget Cosby made a ton of money speaking the very same way he now portrays his community as speaking.

Now, I understand Cosby has generated an awful lot of money for historically-black schools–which is a great thing. But Cosby really needs to sharpen his attack to target those who deserve it, not to just shotgun his attack across a race.

OW also accuses Sharpton of the crime of liking publicity (”Sharpton never saw a camera he didn t like”). Wow. Again, all politicians start yapping when they open the refrigerator and see the light come on. As for inserting race into issues–well, that’s his cause, his constituency. Some politicians are anti-tax, pro-choice, military hawks, doves, etc.

( There is a pattern here - the REVs Jackson, Sharpton, Farrakhan).