The news media insist on publishing comments and concerns from Bill Cosby about the state of Black America. In all of the reports, the overtone is slanted toward him rebuking Black parents and how they raise their children, how Black couples are conducting their relationship business, and how Black children are acting in public.

The issue is an issue and many people, including Blacks, are in agreement with what he is saying, yes, there is an issue. However, just as many Blacks feel that Cosby is in over his head and out of place. The media, however, will publicize anything that demoralizes the efforts and attempts of Blacks in America so once again Blacks are in a bind to prove their worth.

If anyone is concerned about the reason some Blacks are disappointed in Cosby, and would care to know what the other half thinks (as if we would get any coverage), the reason is that there is no one to stand before the same media and defend Black lifestyle against Cosby's remarks.

No where in the news have there been an equal amount of coverage on someone who is defending Blacks, they are all in agreement with Cosby, thus the media continues to leave the laundry in plain view, whether it has been washed or not. Just to see Blacks in a negative view is becoming enough for them to fulfill their stereotypical views of Black America.

The truth is, there are thousands of Black families and children who are succeeding and who do care. The truth is there are Black fathers and mothers who do not curse in front of their children and fathers and mothers who do not drink forty ounces and smoke weed at dinner time. The truth is, there is thousands of Black children who are trying hard to succeed at school and who do not do drugs and belong to gangs.

Furthermore, there are twice as many white parents and children who do fulfill the picture of what Cosby has painted, but do we hear about them? No. There are thousands of other hyphenated American families that are dysfunctional and whose children are headed in the wrong direction. Have we heard anything from their self-appointed national speaker/criticizer? No.

When the media decides to hear the other side of Black life and focus on the positive of Black America, then the field will be equal and Cosby can be justified in his theories, until then, he is out of place because he has no antagonist. And he will remain out of place regardless if what he says is true or not. The fact is, his theory is true for other races as well, not just Blacks.

This is simply another way for the white mainstream to undermine Blacks and they have the best excuse to do so, one of our own. As long as Cosby bewails Blacks, the media will publish it. As long as there is no one Black who has the courage enough to stand up against such defamation, white America will continue to see Black America as inadequate.

What makes this more hypocritical is that Cosby stands to make another million from royalties off the Fat Albert movie, which will probably be viewed and supported by the very Blacks he has insulted. Blacks watching too much TV? What about the Blacks who act on TV, are they not responsible for the meltdown of moral values?

© 2004 by CR Hamilton