Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

Enough is enough

It is said that journalists write the first draft of history. Juan Williams, a senior correspondent for National Public Radio and former editorial writer and op-ed columnist for the Washington Post, has contributed his take on an issue central to the development of African American progress. His new book, entitled “Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure that are Undermining Black America — and What We Can Do About It,” provides a supportive account of what has come to be known as “the Cosby debate.”

An extraordinary event for the future welfare of African Americans occurred on May 12, 2004, when Bill Cosby addressed an elite audience at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Rather than limiting his speech to the conventional platitudes, Cosby criticized the failure of blacks to perform.

After praising those who “… opened doors … [and] gave us the right[s],” Cosby shocked the audience when he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic and low-middle economic people are not holding [up] their end in this deal.”

Up until two and a half years ago, there was a tacit understanding among prominent African Americans that the blame for the failure of blacks to perform would always be placed on institutional racism. A breach of this agreement was always roundly criticized as “hanging out your dirty laundry.”

This policy had dire consequences on the mental attitudes of African Americans. It forced them to concede that they were perpetual victims, incapable of succeeding because of racial discrimination. While this was damaging to the black psyche, it was beneficial to the so-called “poverty pimps,” who were able to persuade government and private benefactors to provide financial resources intended to solve conditions that rarely seemed to substantially improve, no matter how much money was made available.

The significance of the Cosby speech has become blurred in the endless debate over its appropriateness. Opponents of Cosby’s view have been reluctant to answer the question, “What conduct can society reasonably expect from African Americans despite the existence of racial discrimination?” Cosby critics also fail to ponder the question, “At what point has discrimination diminished enough so that it is fair to assert that opportunity for academic and professional progress exists?”

Williams points out in his book that blacks come to America from Africa and the Caribbean in search of opportunity and they succeed. They are black, but they move ahead despite racial discrimination.

The media have had a field day with this dispute. It has become a “battle royale” among prominent blacks, though it hasn’t had much impact on the policies of so-called black leaders. “Enough” compiles sufficient information on the speech and its detractors for cerebral leaders with no interests to protect to reflect objectively on the crisis.

It is clear that the struggle for civil rights made black society stronger. However, a number of successes — such as the Brown verdict and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — seemed to trigger the process of cultural implosion. History will show that Cosby took a courageous stand by attacking the status quo and risking the hostility of those whom he counted as friends. With Williams’ book, Cosby’s heroism can never be lost and forgotten.

Only time will tell whether African Americans respond favorably to Cosby’s warnings to seek education and live with discipline or suffer the consequences for failing to do so.