Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 19 August 2004 — Page 10

Page 10 • The Mencie Times • August 19, 2004

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Cosby’s comments open hornet’s nest among blacks

A few weeks ago actor and philanthropist Bill Cosby made critical remarks of poor African Americans. He criticized parents who choose to buy expensive sneakers rather than phonics programs for their children. He spoke out against senseless violence, whereby young black men. Are shot “for a slice of pound cake.” He criticized those who speak incorrect and unintelligible English, remarking that they would ever be able to become doctors speaking such slang. An uproar ensued. Some African Americans have agreed with Cosby, saying that at last someone is willing to tell the truth and talk about problems within our community. Others, while agreeing with much of what he said, argued that “airing dirty laundry” publicly would only give ammunition to conservatives, who often have blamed the problems of the poor on the poor and who have worked to take away governmental support from them. Indeed, some conservative talk show hosts and pundits quickly picked up Cosby's remarks and used them to argue that the problems of poor African Americans are due to their laziness and moral

unworthiness. I agree with Bill Cosby. 1 agree that the African American community must take responsibility for the loss of values which have enabled us for centuries to survive in a hostile environment. Too many of us have lost the values of integrity and respect and a commitment to excellence in education, service and community. Too many of us have succumbed to materialism and consumerism and selfishness and individualism. Too many of us have forgotten that dedication to excellence which was the hallmark of great African Americans like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DeuBois and Mary McCleod Bethune. Too many of us are making wrong and poor choices about life’s most important decisions. But it’s not just poor African Americans who are doing so. That's where I diverge from Mr. Cosby’s remarks. Just as the poor must be taken to task for detrimental behaviors so too, must those of us who are not poor. Scripture tells us that that to which much has been given much is required. The truth is that too

many middle class and wealthy African Americans have abandoned our poor brothers and sisters. Too many of us not only have moved into the suburbs, but we never go back to the city to mentor, to tutor to teach or to serve. Too many of us have allowed our own children to accept the style of the “thug” in their clothing, their music, their attitude. Too many of us have blindly followed the search for the dollar, without thought of the moral and ethical consequences ad this is the model which our children have adopted. But while many poor African Americans have made bad choices in life, many can never work hard enough or long enough to get our of poverty when the minimum wage had not been increased in 7 years and many working families earning less than the poverty level must pay for child care, social security taxes and out of pocket medical expenses. Moreover, the dramatic rise of homeless Americans over the past 2 years is not necessarily because of their bad choices, but because of our nation's bad choices not to build enough low-income housing, while providing tax cut for the wealthiest and

Bernice Powell Jackson

spending our tax dollars on war and defense. Even as I write this, the administration is trying to cut $1.5 billion from Section 8 subsidized housing for the poor. And, while we all agree that the senseless violence must stop, as Ted Shaw, the new president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Inc., put it, an unarmed Amadou Dialo had not stolen a pound cake when he was killed by 41 bullets by the New York City police officers. The truth, I believe, is like a three legged stool. Poor African Americans must take responsibility for their families and their choices. Middle class and wealthy African Americans must take responsibility for their families and their choices. Middle class and wealthy African Americans

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must do our part. Government and institutions must take responsibility for those who “are made poor” in the words of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who reminded us that there are systemic reasons for poverty in our world which only government, can deal with. Only if we see changes in all three segments will we see real changes in behavior and lives. Mr. Cosby, truth is more complex and responsibility is ours. Bernice Powell Jackson is executive minister of the United Church of Christis Justice & Witness Ministries you can contact her at 70 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, H 44115-1110 or by calling 216-736-3700.

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