a wonderful showing on Oprah! i am a totally disabled published author/poet. i have written a poem entitled RESPECT. it has been put on a T-shirt and i have one if you would like. i would be honored to see you in it. thank you for letting me share....... david

African Immigrants:

African-born blacks comprise 16 percent of the U.S. foreign-born black population and are considerably more educated than other black immigrants (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000). The vast majority comes from minority white countries in East and West Africa (e.g. Kenya and Nigeria), and less than 2 percent originate from North or South Africa (World Factbook 2004; Yearbook of immigration Statistics 2003).

Illegitimate birth is clearly the number one cause of all social problems in the USA. Take race out of it; try starting life with one pair of hands helping instead of 2, one weak income instead of one strong one and 1 weak one, 2/3 less income, etc, etc. This, coupled with the basic irresponsibility of someone who will have a child outof wedlock, 33% of all births!! This is the fundamental problem in the country, and all the money you want to spend on education and handouts will not solve the problem until we reduce this illegimate birth rate to no more than 10% max.

I am from Jena, LA. I ran a search on Google because I'm curious if Cosby has actually spoken about the events in Jena and what his take is. I take him to be a very intelligent man, emboldened by his convictions, and fully capable of making REAL change in his community. Anyone who is black and is reading this, I want to say:

MOST white people in this country are totally fine with a black person succeeding. In fact, I'm betting you many of them are like me. I get this warm & fuzzy feeling when I see a good-natured, successful black man or woman in this country. I throw in good-natured because many successful people are not good natured and I don't believe some of them are deserving of success (that's just me, though). But I honestly feel inspired when I meet a good-natured, successful black man or woman.

I think some in the black community feel like they are being shackled down by the white system and by white-on-black racism. Though I think they are both blown severely out of portion, I believe the issues need to be resolved. I PERSONALLY think that the most critical issue in the black community is the victim mentality. The feeling of helplessness from being a minority, from being taught that there IS a white system and it is not in your favor. It's a defeatist way of thinking. I hope people like Bill Cosby allow the people who are shackled down in the black community by this victim mentality to realize that THEY are in control of their lives. They are capable of so much; this country is 100% theirs as it is any white Americans'. Their opportunities for success are just as attainable.

I'm sorry if I come off as a racist for discussing the issues in the black community. I know there are a MULTITUDE of issues for the white community to work on as well. I just feel knowledgeable on the topic since I feel this mentality has been the main reason the Jena 6 case has been unfairly judged by people in this country (of course, the horrible media swing was a large contributor as well).

Anyway, just wanted to put in my two cents. KEEP ON PREACHIN' BILL COSBY! Maybe we'll have a white leader come along and help put the white community in it's place and help address issues in it.

Let's step back from the hand-clapping nouns: parenthood, education, responsibility (we all agree these things are gooooood), and analyze the systemic reasons why "black" communities are deteriorating~

Dear Mr. Cosby,
As you relax in the comfort of your hard-earned elite status, do not disregard the knowledge that you are a token black man. At some point in time, some white man or men, opened the door of opportunity to you. Granted, you set at ease through assimilation, his mis-perceptions born of your skin color. But there are only so many tokens needed in this world. It helps none for those allowed through the door, to disparage those to whom the door is SHUT for whatever the reason. For as they say, "There but for the grace of God, go I."
~Demothenes

Its time for Cosby and all the rest of the complainers to put their money where their mouth is. We are starting a new network called Benteractive which features several channels of Ethnic programming in english for the entire Blatino market. Yes Blatino = Black and Latino market. Our kids are one and the same. They all need guidance and the box we have baby sitting them needs a tune up. Tell Mr Cosby and Oprah we need their support to put their money where we are and help us launch this Venture. God Bless Bill. His heart is in the right place. He had so much hope for his son and when he lost him we became his children. So he means us well. Bill is the father to many of us who didn't have one. Thanks for your inspiration.

Bill Cosby is in no position to judge anyone, Black or white. Information and questions from various sites on the Internet:

What was Cosby’s son doing with that 50-year-old white prostitute the night he was shot by a Hungarian immigrant?

What was Cosby’s daughter doing on drugs at college?

Why is it that 15 plus women have come forward with sexual harassment suits aimed at Cosby?

Other articles report that Cosby paid the white woman with whom he had a "brief" affair with $100,000 over the course of several years. I really don't think I need to take any advice from someone like him!