Bill Cosby is a funny man, but he also has a very serious side as well. The comedian, who has a doctorate (in education, I believe) from Temple University, has for a number of years been active in supporting historically black colleges (if you remember during the "Cosby Show" years he would often appear in scenes wearing sweats of various colleges) and helping improving the ability for young African-American young people to earn a higher education.

Not long ago during an NAACP event commerorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown -vs- Board of Education decision, Cosby strongly criticized many facets of African-American culture...from speaking habits to spending to urban fashion. And he was right on target! The only thing is, The Coz could have been speaking about the overall culture today of many young people, regardless of race or skin colour.

I include some of his comments here, courtesy of the Washington Post

"Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal," he declared. "These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids -- $500 sneakers for what? And won't spend $200 for 'Hooked on Phonics.' . . .

"They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English," he exclaimed. "I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' . . . And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. . . . Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. . . . You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!"

The Post's Hamil Harris reports that Cosby also turned his wrath to "the incarcerated," saying: "These are not political criminals. These are people going around stealing Coca-Cola. People getting shot in the back of the head over a piece of pound cake and then we run out and we are outraged, [saying] 'The cops shouldn't have shot him.' What the hell was he doing with the pound cake in his hand?"

Please note here that he did not specifically refer to African-Americans here. I know quite a few white folks that would fit these comments to a tee. Those people who are choosing to criticize Dr. Cosby's comments are simply short-sighted and need to take a moment for a reality check.