|
|
Cause For The Cos!
It just goes to show – you can’t please everybody. In the 1980’s when “The Cosby Show” – designed to portray blacks in a positive light – first aired, it was applauded by the black masses. Finally! A show, on a major television network, that did not cast blacks in the usual stereotypical roles.
Some critics have been pointing out that “The Cosby Show” failed to depict the true black experience outside of the Huxtable (TV family name) household. So much for imagination! Remember, it was still entertainment – nothing more, nothing less. We were supposed to use our imaginations to bring us to where we first were introduced to the Huxtables. Anyone with insight could imagine the challenges and discouragement the characters of Cliff and Claire undoubtedly endured to become a doctor and lawyer respectively. It was a given for the black experience in America! We could’ve even used our imaginations to ponder how much hell Mr. Cosby must have caught just to bring such a show to major television. But noooo…we chose to point out the negative.
At the time “The Cosby Show” was at the top of the Nielsen ratings, Bill Cosby used his clout and his money to tackle many other fronts to help enrich the black culture. He literally put his money where his mouth was. People are now offended that his mouth is not as “whitewashed” (some say) as “The Cosby Show”. His recent remarks about personal responsibility within the black community, has sparked a long overdue debate, and I’m glad about it!
For years I have advocated what I refer to now as “low-hanging fruit”. There are enough things beyond our reach, or of which we have little or no control over. But the things we can control – we should. And with diligence! I often hear, “they won’t do this” or “they won’t do that” for the black community. And to that, I ask, who is the “they” of whom we speak? Let’s be real. How many of us have taken time to even find out who our Congressperson is, or our City Council Representative? How many of us have ever called a county service office (listed in the phone book) to report a streetlamp needs to be replaced, or an alley needs to be cleaned up, or a street needs to be repaired?
Chances are, most of us haven’t, and are not the least interested in doing so. But we are the ones who complain the most and the loudest amongst ourselves. Do we wash our windows on our homes, sweep up the trash around our homes, and make it appear that someone even lives there? If we don’t show that we care about ourselves, how in the world can we expect others to? Presentation is everything! One of my roles is to recruit and interview candidates for work, and in my experience, let me tell you, many blacks are lacking in personal presentation know-how.
I think that’s the point Mr. Cosby is making, and I’m sure our ancestors are cheering him on out of concern over the way some of us are representing them after all they endured to pass along some tried and true, basic human values. I think Mr. Cosby’s message would be crystal clear if people would stop adding larger issues to the equation. If we can’t prove ourselves in the small things, how can we ever get into the larger arena? This is no time for making excuses. It’s time to tell the truth, and show one another how to apply it to everyday living.
|
|