Resources / Ripples & Wipeouts

One of the more interesting discussions on this week’s Sunday morning talk shows was the discussion between Bill Cosby, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Rep, Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington, DC on Meet the Press with David Gregory.  The discussion centered around the book, “Come on People,” written by Cosby and Poussaint and what impact an Obama administration will have on the black community.  The book is essentially a call to arms to black folks to parent responsibly, for men to take fatherhood seriously and for those who feel marginalized in the black community to stop playing the victim. 

Considering that Obama was raised without a father, he could have easily assumed the role of victim, which would place the U.S. in a very different position today given the current climate.  In a Father’s Day speech last year, Obama challenged the black community to “step up,” giving credence to the Cosby/Poussaint argument and, by extension, to the Million Man March organized by Louis Farrakhan in 1996.  Although Obama was criticized for the harshness of his remarks, most notably and ironically by Reverend Jesse Jackson, many people welcomed what he had to say.  Read the full text of the speech at politico.com.

Gregory did a good job at facilitating what was a lively, delicate and rare discussion for a mainstream news show about the challenges facing black families.  What struck me about the show was how thoughtful and reasonable Bill Cosby was.  He’s come a long way from the insults and vitriol he first spewed in 2004 with his ranting about irresponsible parenting in the black community There’s a saying that goes, “When America sneezes, blacks get the flu.” There is no doubt that communities of color have been disproportionately affected by structural discrimination in schools and the justice system, among other institutions.  At the end of the day, we don’t know what the ‘Obama effect’ will be.  It’s been 25 years since ‘The Cosby Show’ hit the airwaves and now we have our own, live Huxtable-esque family about to inhabit the White House.  Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 25 years for the ‘Obama effect” to kick in.

-- Joan Grangenois-Thomas