THEODORE SHAW COMMENTARY: Beyond What Cosby Said

Commentary (Washington Post)

The NAACP's legal defense's head evaluates Cos's comments. While he agrees with some of what Mr. Cosby said about personal responsibility, he believes systemic racism was missing from the discussion. Mr. Shaw contends that many of the problems Cosby addressed "are largely a function of concentrated poverty in black communities -- the legacy of centuries of governmental and private neglect and discrimination."

We disagree. When we were truly ignored or abused by government, in certain ways we were better off: Our marriage rate was 63% in 1950, it's now 35%. 80% of our kids were born in wedlock in 1960, it's now 25%. Unlike in the 1960s, most of today's black kids do not grow up with fathers in the home. In 1960 only 10% of black men experienced incarceration before age 30, today it's 35%. Education was once viewed as the ticket to upward mobility to "uplift the race," now many youth view it as "white." We were far less prosperous back in the day, but our core values were way better. It was when "Great Society" social programs, which rewarded bad behavior and punished marriage, and increased secularism rolled on the scene in the late 1960s that our values spiral began.

Stage I of our equality battle was addressing society, Stage II must be about the growing gap within our communities. Black America is now split in two: an upwardly mobile (even prosperous) 3/4, and a poor 1/4 who are mostly responsible for our bad stats. Those who are taking advantage of our post-civil-rights opportunity era to improve ourselves vs. slackers on our ancestors' legacy. In the "beyond what Bill Cosby said" era, black leaders should preach what they practice. E.g., NAACP head Kweisi Mfume grew up very poor, did some jail time, and was a deadbeat dad. He changed his life, went back to school, and has now become a fine citizen. He didn't dwell on victimology. Why do black elites like Mr. Mfume and Mr. Shaw believe these life lessons are so difficult for ordinary folks? Instead of the NAACP whining about black TV shows, how about addressing urgent issues like illegitimacy, education, and crime? Mr. Shaw argues that we should work on both personal responsibility and eliminate racism. While we believe Mr. Shaw excuses some folks' bad ways, we agree with his final point.