A friend mentioned this book and I thought I’d probably be worth my while to pick it up and give it a read. So, I grabbed Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors, by Bill Cosby, from the library and gave it a quick read. It was decent, but I’m not sure how I feel about it overall, this is a review, not an endorsement of Cosby or the book.
As Cosby has begun speaking out on issues within the black community, the biggest critique he’s received is that the issues he’s addressing our ‘in house’ issues, for the black community, not society at large. He’s airing the dirty laundry in front of everyone, which leaves justification for the society at large not to address more systemic issues. Basically, his speaking out gives many white people a token person of color to point to that they agree with, and let’s them off the hook from addressing the issues of systemic racism that they are in a position to address. And, in large part, I’d agree with this critique.
The book is good. It covers a lot of issues, suggests solutions, encourages action, but overall I think it was a poor choice of medium for the message. I don’t believe the book will reach it’s intended audience. Interestingly, I’ve only heard Cosby’s name and his statements referenced by white people, when his audience is clearly African American’s who have been the victims of oppression for years.
So, whether you read this book or not, understand this it isn’t intended to let anyone off the hook. It should simply be an encouragement to everyone that we are all working on and making an effort to address the problems that exist in our neighborhoods and communities.
A couple quotes I found interesting. The first is to counter what people commonly refer to as Cosby’s critique of Hip-Hop. He actually has some positive things to say about Hip-Hop; his critique is mainly against the misogynistic, violent, drug-promoting and demeaning lyrics of some more popular rap music. Here is a brief quote:
Expressions like “right on,” “give me some skin,” “give me a high five,” not to mention “cool” and “hip” and “jazz” for that matter, all drive from the black experience. No ethnic roup in America has had nearly our influence on spoken English, much of it energizing. In music, the use of black vernacular in the lyrics of blues, jazz, and today’s hip-hop are a part of the richness of American culture that has been embraced by people around the world. Black people can be proud of their contributions to American language and speech.
And this one I just appreciated,
Parents and caregivers, have you heard a kid say, “well, I can either flip burgers or go out here and make some real money selling drugs?” When you hear that, do you stop the child and say, “Wait a minute, fool. You don’t flip burgers for the rest of your life. You flip them to become the manager of the place. You flip burgers to move from manager to owner of the damn franchise”?
You have to say this to your kids more than once. So do their teachers. If the kids give you lip, ask them to identify a middle-aged, home-owning drug-dealing grandpa with a family that loves him. That will keep them quiet-and busy.
That’s for you folks who work and raise kids who brought up that question, not for those standing from afar critiquing the community.
With the conventions inching upon us (and VP nominees to come), November will probably be here before we know it. I believe discussing politics is important, if for no other reason then to be actively in touch with our society. I have friends that think it is our ethical duty and Christian obligation to vote, and others who have the same motivations to abstain from voting. I know some here are staunch democrats, others Republican, and a few third party stragglers.
I recently finished reading 
, by Daniel Radosh. It was another Ooze Select Blogger book that I received. I really enjoyed this book and I think it lent some great insight into the Christian culture in the United States.