By Tom Dodge, KERA 90.1 commentator
Dallas, TX – Bill Cosby, who has a doctorate in education, attacked black kids and their parents recently for the way the kids emulate the ghetto style of dress and talk. The only thing he proved by this was that entertainers may safely sound off about politics as long as they attack the most vulnerable elements in society and not the powerful. The Dixie Chicks singer, and more recently, Linda Ronstadt, learned the consequences of criticizing the president.
In any case, I heard little but praise for Dr. Cosby's remarks, even from black columnists whose only reservation was that he should not have aired dirty laundry, that this is a topic that black leaders should not broach in public. Everyone is familiar with the details of his rant, but the implications were that black kids have baggy britches and bad communication skills, and these are detriments to success in life.
I can't rebut him in the fashion department, which I know nothing about, except to say that it is normal for kids to avoid dressing like adults. But grammar and lingo I know. Ghetto teenagers talk the way they do in imitation of rap stars because to become one of them is their goal in life. They can see few other legal avenues to wealth. Also, in some cases, their lingo is kind of a ghetto code. A subculture always in danger of imprisonment can't afford the luxury of plain speaking.
Dr. Cosby's belief is that bad language usage leads to a bad end. In order to succeed, these kids ought to take school seriously and learn good communication skills. President Bush, who used to bring up education a lot, agrees but, unfortunately, as he said, "The illiteracy level of our children are appalling."
For example, a ghetto kid might say, "Do the homeboys be learning?" This kid could never expect success in life. But, if he happens to be a member of the elite he might say, as President Bush once, did, "Is the children learning?"
The President is not a condemnatory man, however, as Dr. Cosby seems to be. He has conservative compassion, especially for those required to study in school and do the work. "I understand," he said, "that taking tests aren't fun."
The President has often said that education is vital in order for you to find employment and "put food on your family." And to insure that education functions as it should, we need to keep a close watch on the teachers. "How do you know," the President said, "if you don't measure, if you have a system that just suckles kids through?"
Dr. Cosby should have kept abreast of this suckling method before judging these kids. As a doctor of education, he should know that it explains how many members of the elite manage to get their education. President Bush seems to be personally familiar with this special legacy system, not available, of course, to ghetto kids.
But as the rules are not the same for all kids, neither are the opportunities. Plain speaking has not been necessary for the President's success. "We have to struggle not to proceed," he stated cryptically, "but 'precede' to the future of a nation's child." This, I think, is code to be interpreted as, "Just because I was suckled through doesn't mean everybody can be."
Tom Dodge is a writer from Midlothian. If you have opinions or rebuttals about this commentary, call (214) 740-9338 or email us.