We didn’t expect that Russell Simmons would be the one speaking out on the comedian’s upcoming rap album Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency, which is dealing with the problems of the youth today as Bill sees it from his very “elder uncle” perspective. In a post called Bill Cosby, The Face Of Intolerance? Russell had this to say:
There are a lot of great entertainers who do great things. Bill Cosby is one of them. He has always used his voice to right what he thought was wrong. However, I believe that too often Mr. Cosby has wrongly placed the blame.
Bill Cosby is an example of someone from the older generation who has consistently blamed the poets and asked suffering community members to bear the full burden of guilt for the struggles that they endure. It is certainly not that he and the rest of the elders don’t care, because they do. In fact, their intentions are pure and good. All the things they say are actually true. What they don’t understand is that the young people who they criticize did not create their own realities. They did not create the crumbling education system that we school them in. They did not create the drug epidemic and drug wars that have resulted in a dysfunctional family structure. They did not create the health care crisis that does not treat them. They did not create the culture of violence that they fall victim to.
We love Cosby and all the older types who judge and blame the poets or culture for the sadness that the poets point to from their realities. From a place of love, I am letting the older generation know that they must admit that young people are less racist, less sexist, less homophobic, less prejudice than their parents and far less than their grandparents. Mr. Cosby, you know that your generation is carrying a lot more dirt, you are all just smart enough to cover it up. Old people are quicker to destroy the planet, abuse the animals and promote wars and then act like young people are violent. Young people are more compassionate, giving, promote gay rights, animal rights, human rights, protect the environment and want to end the wars. When they point out the contradictions that come up and say it on a record and say it LOUD, you can’t believe it! The culture and the poetry is a mirror of the realities that they expressing. Instead of criticizing, let us recognize the faults of adults, because until that happens you all will continue to turn off young people from your message and further alienate them from your generation.
Read the whole thing HERE.
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I agree with Russell but I also think that at some point we as blacks have to be held acountable for changing the things that are within our reach to change. I’m in no mood for a finger wagging, reprimanding lecture from Bill Cosby either, but we do have to stop embracing the powerless role and do more to help ourselves.
I agree with you. Russel does make a point that I think is true about the past generations, BUT we still have to own our own. We can’t not keep pointing to the tragedies in the street and make that the reason why we get the worst of everything.
Quite honestly there are too many people in our community willing to destroy rather than create. We need to stop blaming what happened in the past on where we are today. We already know its true, lets build on that and move on. Enough with the pointing fingers at past racism that doesn’t exist ANYWHERE near the level it used to.
Our children have WAY more opportunity to become anything they want more than any time in the history of Black people since the days we were in Africa. Lets start taking advantage of the freedom instead of acting like fools and claiming its our environment. SOONER OR LATER ITS NO LONGER THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVEMENT, ITS YOU.
Here in is the problem…you have Russell making EXCUSES for the shyt that’s going on in our communities. When will “WE” wake up and realize that WE helped to create the issues in our community and that WE must except responsibility and STOP making excuses.
You see the probblem is russell is the father of rap music, and all his children spew the same nonsense, that the school system is crap, the police are out to get me, the “man doesn’t want me to succeed. I doubt any of the rappers on most labels have a college drgree much less high school, so he’s forced to make excuses for these men he employs and that has led to him trying to make excuses for us all. The man has been in his ivory tower too long to see what is really going on, he’s receiving his intel from lazy individuals who would rather rap than look for real employ.
Oooooooooh! I agree! I don’t mean any disrespect to Russ, but I just think he’s a lil out of touch with this. It’s not his kids banking each other, it’s not his kids beating up teachers and all that. Why? Because he knows what it takes to raise a kid and I’m sure he wouldn’t approve of his kids acting out in that manner. So why should we accept that type of mentality or behavior from our own kids?! Russell has set a standard for himself and his kids and HE ensures that they adhere to those standards. We should do the same! But he needs to recognize the same thing that has built his success has help taint the image of what’s REALLY important here.
they are both half right…. the school systems aren’t in the best shape that they can be in… “They did not create the…” even though they didn’t create it, they are the only people who can change it.
“When they point out the contradictions that come up and say it on a record and say it LOUD, you can’t believe it!”
When was the last time this happened??????????????????? (stanky leg, swag surfin’, rick bobby, swag on, a rab money, pop bottles, every girl, wasted, party like a rockstar, baby by me, money to blow, ice cream paint job, blame it, take your shirt off, etc. )
All I’m saying is it doesn’t happen often.
not so much the entertainment… its hard to judge culture… so what if one dances to stanky leg… I’m not condoning the words portrayed but prince didn’t give the best example.. madonna didn’t… heck if you want to be real… marvin gaye and luther got a lot of sexuality.. that is not the point… the point is… the poor, rape, killing, lies, etc… this is the major issue… once the core is reflected then the rest will diminish… changing a song is not going to change the mentality of a young man or woman… there is more to it… in most cases begins with love. from a parent, brother, sister, elder… never have I seen so much hate cause goodness… the factor does not add up… positivity must be promoted.
Bill Cosby is just saying, control what is within your power. Teenage pregnacy, School dropout rate, Black on black violence, Single Parent Homes etc. These are things that we as a people have let spiral out of control. This further compounds the impact of systematic issues that we can’t control. I can’t disagree with that…. Actually the opportunities are much better now than they ever where, but our value systems are jacked up. We don’t want delayed gratification.
Good point regarding value systems…they are virtually non existant! Atleast parents of older generations wanted for their kids what they couldnt or didnt accomplish for themselves. The more recent generations are far more concerned with this whole “baby daddy/momma” “shaking my a*s in the club”, “he got me so I gotta get him” mentality. Parents are more willing to spend money on flashy clothes etc than books or educational programs. It’s sad!
so, do your part… judging never gets anything done… buy a book for a kid, be an example, join organizations to help… all are accountable.
I have done that and continue to do so! But you are so typical lash pack instead of perhaps taking heed to what is being said!
Back*
Exactly! We do things backwards. We’ll go see our sons in jail and support them while on the inside, but won’t DEMAND that they go to school and get an education. We’ll throw a baby shower for a teenage mother, but won’t guide her and support her in her dreams. We have to encourage marriage and family…instead we applaud how many women we bed and how to get over on others.
We have got to start having better values and respect for ourselves and others, that doesn’t make you a sell-out or uppity.
TOTALLY AGREE!!! To be quite honest, its the reason why I am working on a site that entertains and educates with a focus on people of color.
We got to control what we have control of. We have to learn how to be better professionals, business persons, and start creating wealth instead of just spending it.
No black person (or anyone for that matter) should not know what a 401K is, a 457K, IRA, IRA Roth, P/E ratio, or anything else related to finance, or retirement is. Education is power. Financial freedom helps protect that.
end rant…
he makes very good points, it is true, the problems of our parents become to the problems of our children and each generation keeps passing the buck…literally…and the dollar is losing its value….95,000 cases added to the state of wisconsin for public assistance health care and food stamps….from june to october, the economy is NOT getting better.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal 11/03/09 Front Page.
this mentality will keep you in a bad economy… think in terms of fruitfullness… I never got home thinking my car was broken… you think for what you are… period.
I was afraid to look in this section because I feared only the morons who look for scapegoats would reply in agreement with Russell Simmons! I was sorely mistaken!!! Yes Russell is just making excuses for all the things we have no control over! But just because we have no control over them doesn’t mean we have to fall victim to them. If the school system is failing, then that should make it easier to pass. All that means is that we have to work with out children at home at the end of the day, I don’t care how busy you are you should have 30 minutes to help your child with homework. Teach children about protection, condoms, birth control, and so on. No one forces our people to do drugs it’s a choice. Besides Russell has so much money and friends with money if your going to make excuses donte 50 million to buy new computers. I think Cosby is right WE NEED TO BE HEKD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES!!!! The white man isn’t selling weed in my lobby, or pissing in my elevator, or spray painting my walls, or telling my child forget school let’s go chill in Kings Plaza mall all day!!! Life is made of choices we need to teach that, that you have a choice to be a low life scum vagabond, or make something of your self, your environment doesn’t define who you are, you define who you are!
Thank you for speaking the truth!!
@The white man isn’t selling weed in my lobby, or pissing in my elevator, or spray painting my walls, or telling my child forget school let’s go chill in Kings Plaza mall all day!!!—-Amen to that!
I saw a young mother on the subway this morning going through flash cards of verbs with her daughter…it was so good to see. My mother doesn’t have a college degree but she made damn sure I got one…she wasn’t always able to help me with my homework so she found me tutoring (even if it meant her not getting a new pair of shoes or a coat)…ppl sacrifice for what they feel is important PERIOD!
It’s not always that easy to help either…your advice or help is not always accepted…but all you can do is continue to try.
Not a matter of what is and what was… its done.. its about what WE will do NEXT to begin with what WE do NOW. Bickering doesn’t solve issues… work with what ya got and make it happen… but all the way positive… negative energy never got the boy to read a book… especially one afraid… quit frightening.
Fuck all this positive shit. Selling dope and robbing is the only thing I know and the only thing I care to know. I simply do not want to do good things. Most of you will probably down me for saying it but I make no excuses for myself. I rob and steal because I enjoy it.
never down… hope is too much to doubt.
As Chris Rock would say, “You have Black People and then you have Niggers”
@Kiss…my sentiments exactly!
You are right… I fully embrace my genetic disposition as a nigga… I rob, steal, sell and smoke weed and use my big black nigga dick to impregnate as many “bitches and hoes” as I possibly can. For me, this is living life to it’s fullest. None of us are promised tomorrow so do what comes naturally to you and live for the moment.
I agree with Rico, what he’s doing is absolutely right… he’s chosen to make those choices in his life, this article isn’t about people like him, it’s about people who do things like him, then try and pass the blame on to other things for making them do it. Rico takes responsibility for his actions, he understands what he’s doing, and still does it becuase it pleases him, just because we think he’s a scumbag for his actions is one thing, but atleast he’s not blaming others for his dispicable actions…
We don’t need a tongue lashing from Bill Cosby or excuses from Russ. What we need is to come together as a community and figure out how to repair the broken family structure? The parents are the make it or brake it factors here. And most of them are just as immature and dumb as their kids. People with no education and money are the ones who are reproducing at rapid rates. So how do we stop critisizing from the sidelines and actually help those parents who aren’t ready for their roles as parents? How can WE refocus our energy from the seduction of pop culture and make sure that ALL of our kids are instilled with good educations and values? Once we figure that out then we’ll be able to raise over achieving self sufficient productive adults again.
Bill and Russell need to send me some of that paper..LOL
That was sooooo WELL said, Russ!
FUCK YOU RUSSEL LET USELESS NIGGERS BURN, WE DONT NEED EM. SOME OF US COME FROM THE CRAPPIEST NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WORST PUBLIC SCHOOLS YET WE STILL MAKE IT TO YALE AND PRINCETON. SO FUCK YOU AND THAT LAZY NIGGER MENTALITY THAT YOU HAVE PROMOTED FOR HOWEVER MANY YEAR OVER AT DEF JAM.
SINCERELY
Love Blacks Hate Niggers.
I agree.