There are two reasons why I love doing this blog. First, I get to talk about whatever I want, and because I really don't care if people disagree with me or get pissed off (I actually encourage my readers to disagree with me, that's what generates discussion), that's a lot of freedom. The second reason is that it's a place where readers can do the same. Political correctness is not needed here, and tact is a four-letter word.
That being said, this is how I view the world in general. There is too much pussy-footing around issues because people are afraid to offend someone or a group of people. With the exception of racial slurs and the occasional personal insult, if someone says something that offends you, get a thicker skin! But even more, if the so-called "insult" is the truth, why get mad at it? I will be the first to admit, that I can be bitchy on occasion. Ergo, if someone says that I'm being a bitch, I won't get mad at them. In fact, I'm likely to agree wholeheartedly with them. Now if a stranger walks up to me and calls me a bitch for no reason, then there might be some issues...
Another way to piss me off is to assume that the stereotypes apply to me (or any one person, for that matter). I was meeting a friend's parents for the first time (they were white), and after a few minutes, the mother looked me in the eye and said in a surprised tone, "You're so well-spoken." I smiled and thanked her, but on the inside, I was indignant. Why wouldn't I be well- spoken? I'm a college educated young woman with a degree in English. But I'm black. I know she didn't mean anything by her statement - in fact, I was a bit surprised by her innocence. But I couldn't shake the feeling that because I was black, she expected me to sound like a ghetto baby mama.
Bill Cosby has become less than popular in recent years because he points out the brutal and honest truth about the stereotypes (and the reasons behind those stereotypes) of his own race. He doesn't insult them, he doesn't call them the N-word, nothing like that. He simply calls them out and urges them in no uncertain terms to take responsibility for their actions. Listen to the following clips:
That being said, this is how I view the world in general. There is too much pussy-footing around issues because people are afraid to offend someone or a group of people. With the exception of racial slurs and the occasional personal insult, if someone says something that offends you, get a thicker skin! But even more, if the so-called "insult" is the truth, why get mad at it? I will be the first to admit, that I can be bitchy on occasion. Ergo, if someone says that I'm being a bitch, I won't get mad at them. In fact, I'm likely to agree wholeheartedly with them. Now if a stranger walks up to me and calls me a bitch for no reason, then there might be some issues...
Another way to piss me off is to assume that the stereotypes apply to me (or any one person, for that matter). I was meeting a friend's parents for the first time (they were white), and after a few minutes, the mother looked me in the eye and said in a surprised tone, "You're so well-spoken." I smiled and thanked her, but on the inside, I was indignant. Why wouldn't I be well- spoken? I'm a college educated young woman with a degree in English. But I'm black. I know she didn't mean anything by her statement - in fact, I was a bit surprised by her innocence. But I couldn't shake the feeling that because I was black, she expected me to sound like a ghetto baby mama.
Bill Cosby has become less than popular in recent years because he points out the brutal and honest truth about the stereotypes (and the reasons behind those stereotypes) of his own race. He doesn't insult them, he doesn't call them the N-word, nothing like that. He simply calls them out and urges them in no uncertain terms to take responsibility for their actions. Listen to the following clips:
For those of you who have heard people like Reverend Al Sharpton talk about racial issues, especially regarding blacks, tell me what you DON'T hear in these clips. You don't hear Cosby blaming anyone but blacks themselves. He's not blaming the police, claiming that their racial profiling is putting black men in jail (it happens, but it's a minority of the time). He does blame certain media (hip-hop/rap, BET) for their negative influences on black culture, but admits that it's the job of parents to make sure their kids don't listen to that stuff.
So why are people, especially black people, so displeased with Bill Cosby? Because he doesn't let them hide behind stereotypical lies. Why are so many black men in jail? Because many of their friends are there...because the rap/BET culture makes incarceration look and sound cool...because they were out on the street corner experimenting with drugs after school...because their parents didn't make sure they went to school in the first place. Cosby grabs the fingers that people are pointing at everyone else, and puts them right where they belong: back in their faces. And it scares the living hell out of them.
So why are people, especially black people, so displeased with Bill Cosby? Because he doesn't let them hide behind stereotypical lies. Why are so many black men in jail? Because many of their friends are there...because the rap/BET culture makes incarceration look and sound cool...because they were out on the street corner experimenting with drugs after school...because their parents didn't make sure they went to school in the first place. Cosby grabs the fingers that people are pointing at everyone else, and puts them right where they belong: back in their faces. And it scares the living hell out of them.