Feb. 18. 2008
The News Argus
3
OPMnN/EPlTORIAL
Maybe Cosby does know best
Tiffany Ross
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
After the discovery of
nooses on display around
the country and racist
remarks made in the
media, the stability of the
black community has been
examined in the last year.
Perhaps because of all the
scrutiny, the black commu
nity has learned the impor
tance of unity. Some may
question whether this reori
entation of unity can birth
a better community and
establish the foundations to
improving the image of
blacks.
It seems as though actor,
comedian, television pro
ducer and activist. Dr.
William Henry "Bill"
Cosby, Jr., and Alvin
Poussaint, professor of psy
chiatry at Harvard
University, have solutions
to the questions and issues
regarding the development
of the black community.
The two have released a
book, " 'Come on people!':
A Path from Victims to
Victors." Cosby and
Poussaint argue that their
book's purpose is to
empower African-
Americans to make transi
tions "from being victims
in America to becoming
victors."
The book focuses on
Opinion
issues such as avoiding the
tricks of racism and parent
ing, and suggests solutions
to the downfalls within the
black community such as
corrupt values and the neg
ligence of character correc
tion.
Cosby and his co-author
decided to write the book
after Cosby
received
harsh criti
cism for his
speech at
the 2004
NAACP
event com
memorating
the 50th
anniversary
of the landmark court case.
Brown v. Board of
Education. He was criticized
after claiming that lower-
class blacks were not hold
ing up their end of the deal.
He pleaded with blacks,
asking them to no longer
blame their limited success
on white people, and to cor
rect broken values within
the community.
Many blacks were not
only displeased by Cosby's
statements, but also by his
method of delivery; claim
ing that he was attacking his
own people. Meanwhile,
others agreed with his state
ments, claiming that he was
telling the truth and that
those who disagreed were
only angry because he was
being honest.
So far, Cosby's new book
has received heavy criticism.
He has also been criticized
for the method he used to
promote his book. For
example, Cosby and
Poussaint appeared on tele
vision shows such as "Meet
the Press,"
yyi^ei.e the
majority of
viewers are
not black.
Some blacks
felt that
Cosby's
method of
promoting
his book was
harming the black commu
nity by revealing critical
problems within the com
munity to white audiences.
I agree with Cosby's
statements, as well as those
that he made in the past,
along with his purpose for
writing the book.
Even though I was born
well after the civil rights
movement, I still under
stand and know the effects
that movement had on the
black community. Talking
to older blacks, many of
them talk about how there
is a lack of values in the
community.
They also spoke about
how they had to fight to
have the things that we
take for granted today.
It seems that at a time
when our elders had noth
ing, they really had every
thing that they needed,
which was each other. That
is something we can't confi
dently claim today. In ear
lier days, the black commu
nity understood that they
had to work together in
order to survive. If we were
to return to those values,
we could make a change
within our community and
in our society.
No matter how others
criticize our race, or even
members of our own com
munity criticize younger
generations for the way we
dress or the things we do,
one thing that they cannot
deny is that we have the
power of influence.
Our music, art, opinions,
styles of dress, and lan
guage (good or bad) have
integrated societies around
the world. Therefore, it is
urgent that we take a stand
to change the circum
stances within our commu
nity.
Instead of bashing Dr.
Cosby and Poussaint, those
who disagree should not
focus much on how he said
what he said, but should
examine themselves and
their community to make
sure that anything Cosby
Photo by: MCT Campus
Cosby’s new book “Come on People” is causing a stir.
mentions in his statements
is not occurring around
them.
It is time for a change.
Cosby, being one of the
most visible blacks in the
U.S., must be upset to see
his brothers and sisters con
stantly downplayed the way
we are on television.
movies, and to each Other.
I know if I were in his
shoes, I would not know
how to define my success
if I saw my community
and my brothers and sis
ters presented the way
they are to the world, and
I would make it my obliga
tion to awaken my people,
as well.
Warning: Campus parking situation
could harm community relations
By Steven J. Gaither
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It's no secret that on-cam-
pus parking at Winston-
Salem State isn't getting any
better. Every year the school
accepts more and more
freshman and transfer stu
dents, yet does little to noth
ing to accommodate their
parking needs. For years, the
university has prided itself
on being the fastest-growing
school in the University of
North Carolina System.
However, other than the
occasional story from The
News Argus, little has been
said or done about alleviat
ing the congestion.
As I was getting to my
car, parked at an off-cam
pus location, an elderly
woman, who seemed
slightly irritated at my
appearance stopped me.
"I wish you kids would
give us a break and park on
campus," she said. I nodded
as she continued to vent and
then walked into church.
As I drove home, I nearly
kicked myself for not telling
her just why her church's
parking lot was packed with
WSSU students at 6 p.m.
Students park off-campus
because buying a decal is no
guarantee that a spot will be
available when needed. The
choices are limited: Either
purchase a decal and pray
you can find a space or park
outside of campus.
The university must do
something to alleviate the
parking problems or risk
deteriating relations with
the greater community.
It is unfortunate that over
100 years of building rela
tionships with the surround
ing community could go
down the drain for six years
of growth.
Photo by Grant Fulton
Parking spots are hard to come by, so many students park illegal or off campus.
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The Student Newspaper of
Winstori-Salem State University
Editor-in-Chief
Steven J.
Gaither
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Douthit
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