Bill Cosby doesn’t want to talk about race and may actually dislike Black
people. Others races shouldn’t worry because Bill’s slowly becoming not a people
person period.
Perhaps I should explain.
In a recent call-in interview with the
DomNnate Radio Show,
the comedian was asked his unbridled opinion on the George Zimmerman verdict.
Cosby’s open to speaking about guns, the prosecution of the case, and the
media’s coverage but race isn’t on the table for discussion. In Cosby’s
estimation, race was never an issue in the case because, well, nobody can
determine if George Zimmerman’s a racist.
“This racial stuff goes into a whole bunch of discussion which has stuff that
you can’t prove,” Cosby explained. “You can’t prove somebody is a racist unless
they really come out and do the act and is found to be that.”
My honest reaction. But, let’s carry on because Bill wasn’t done there.
Cosby also disregards Zimmerman’s history of calling 9-1-1 to report mostly
suspicious black males and notes that “the prosecution did not tell the story
well, and they lost.” Cosby also cites the Casey Anthony trial and used both
incidents to state that the media’s a major culprit. “I found the media were
jumping and had this woman guilty,” Cosby remarked. “I will never pay attention
to information given to me by TV, radio or whatever about a high-profile case
until the jury says what it says.”
The prosecution comment, I can give him that because I’ve made similar
statements in the wake of the verdict. The media holding sway over the public is
a fair assessment as well. And while I appreciate Cosby’s honesty and
willingness to say what’s on his mind, a part of me thinks he’s either angry
with Black people or just a grumpy 76-year-old man or a combination of both.
Whatever the case may be, Cosby continues to lose my admiration every time he
speaks. He’s less fun-loving Jell-O man and more like
the angry Black cop in
Boyz In The Hood.
Coming of age in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the two most prominent Black
males in sports and entertainment were Cliff Huxtable and Michael Jordan.
Neither was too outspoken during the time period, choosing to lead by living a
positive example that included a squeaky clean image. While Mike has never
positioned himself to be seen as anything more than an athlete and a brand, Bill
Cosby did inject implied messages in episodes of
The Cosby Show.
Then, he got old. The show ended, his son was killed…and Bill Cosby took it
out on everyone, but especially Black people. He became outspoken, taking the
race to task over and over again with any speaking opportunity he was given. The
community cried foul and Bill barked back even louder. He’s slowed down his
crusade for the past few years so it was only a matter of time before the
comedian came out with more terse statements that would ruffle feathers.
Now, he’s implying that race and prejudice played no role in Zimmerman
shooting Trayvon Martin and I’m going to go out on a limb and say he harbors
certain feelings about Martin’s parents that he hasn’t said publicly yet (give
him time). Whatever he’s thinking privately and saying publicly doesn’t bother
me because of
what he’s saying. It’s the
delivery and
word
choice – and his position as still a popular figure in American culture –
that stings every time he talks. As someone who’s always led by positive example
in film, TV and comedy, Bill’s negative viewpoint of most things runs contrary
to who he’s always portrayed himself to be.
I used to love Cliff Huxtable. Now, I just don’t like Bill
Cosby.
Trayvon 
