JaBbA's Hut

There's an old concept of the 'truth-teller' - someone who speaks the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, or even dangerous.

Bill Cosby is using his stature and the respect he's garnered over the years to become America's truth-teller.

"They think they're hip," the entertainer said. "They can't read; they can't write. They're laughing and giggling and they're going nowhere."

In his remarks in May at a commemoration of the anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation decision, Cosby denounced some blacks' grammar and said those who commit crimes and wind up behind bars "are not political prisoners."

Cosby elaborated Thursday on his previous comments in a talk interrupted several times by applause. He castigated some blacks, saying that they cannot simply blame whites for problems such as teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates.

THe only problem is that he was talking to today's black parents - and the problem isn't just in the black community. I see plenty of white, hispanic, multi-colored kids acting the same way. We're losing a generation, and Bill is unafraid to tell the us about it.

[The article's been sitting on my desk for a few days...I'm a little behind. Tennyson, in the Ode on the death of the Duke of Wellington:

Truth-teller was our England’s Alfred named;
Truth-lover was our English Duke;
Whatever record leap to light
He never shall be shamed.

for whatever it's worth]