Reply #269: you are exactly the kind of DUer I was talking about-

[Snarkturian Clone]

the one who acts like a inner city race relations expert from their cushy rural/suburban home. You know nothing.

I agree with Cosby because I experience most of what he said every day. I heard the same points Cosby made from the parents at my school who actually care, long before Cosby ever spoke about it. The problem is that they are on their way out of the neighborhood and will never return. Should I call these parents up and say "NOOO!! You're wroonnnggg! Stop being racist!!!"? The community group whose school I work for is trying desperately to help this community, not hurt it. We're trying to stop the cycle, not continue it.

Our group is trying to be real about what the problems are in the community that can be solved. We are trying to keep the local culture and community from destroying itself. We are trying to break the generational cycle of poverty-- we are trying to give alternatives to the gangs, drugs, welfare, and crime. We offer all kinds of services that give people second and third chances in life- anything to help. At no time do we say "sorry, it's useless to try and help you because the rich white men will keep you down. Have a nice day." Part of solving these problems is acknowledging the fact that they exist- something that certain people think it is racist to do.

The worst part is that only about 20% of the people we try to help make good use of it. The other 80% squander and abuse it. We offer free welfare-to-work classes and 75% of the students will stop showing up after the first week. For the week they were there, they showed up late and talked on their cellphones in class. We give people in the community jobs within our organization. Sometimes it works and great things happen, other times we get robbed or some horrible incident leads to a firing.

You want to call me a racist? Go ahead. It doesn't mean jack shit coming from you. You can also call up my bosses and let them know they are racists too. The admin at my school has been trying to get Cosby to visit from some time now.

As I was trying to say in my other post- my experience is anecdotal. It only represents the community I know about. So as far as the local community I work in goes, Bill Cosby is right.