An actor with decades of experience in the entertainment industry, a father figure, and opinionated when it came to speaking real truth about our people, Bill Cosby could have, should have, and would have had something to say about Ferguson. He lost a son via a shooting. Some said he sold out for fame many years ago and others looked at past events and called them "unfortunate, disappointing..." But whatever the personal view on all that has recently come out full throttle about Cosby, he and his connections would have been significant in organizing protests, pushing agendas toward change, and getting the attention of those in powerful positions. He could have got other entertainers on board--those not fearful of the establishment, uncaring about the elite power structure in the entertainment industry, and too old to worry about what "they think..." But...
What is in darkness comes out in the light sooner or later, doesn't it? At a time when once again the African American community is being attacked by unseen organizations using triggers like: interracial relationships between white women and black men paraded in mass media, civil disobedience, gun violence, whore images, animal references, and big, scary black man related stuff, those that could speak out against such psychological tactics are shut down before they can even think about protesting.
People of all ethnicities would have listened to what Cosby had to say and may have joined a movement (if he had one) when it came to black family issues and how stereotypical images are still prevalent in media whether overt or covert. The root of the matter wasn't with the young man lying face down in the street, the real issues was what led up to him walking in the street in the first place--taking a chance with his life. Our parents warned many of us, "Don't play out in the street!" There was a far deeper meaning to what they said then we realized. Being out in the street puts you in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many black males and females have gone to early graves due to being idle--having nothing to do but roam the streets.
What few bold African American speakers who have national as well as international attention due to movies, music, art and more they have done, are quiet. Understandably so, entertainers can't use their platforms to move any personal agendas without compromising their contracts. They can't say what they want when they want that is why most remain silent when major issues happen. If all folks (not just blacks) would stop watching their movies, buying their music, wearing their clothing, and supporting these quiet folks, both white and black, maybe they would convince their superiors "...that it isn't in the best interest of my career to remain quiet on issues that my fans obviously care about." Rather than sing praises about their work, how about bombard their social networking accounts with the hard questions like: What do you think about...and why haven't you said anything...and didn't you do a movie about...how do you feel now?"
But those in powerful positions know full well what an impact an entertainer will have on a community; therefore, they silence them. "Keep quiet or else. Your opinion is not needed. Don't get yourself involved...you are doing well in your career, don't mess it up siding with those ignorant, ghetto folks."
I shudder at the thought that one day it will take the murder of an A-list black celebrity over a senseless act by a white person for the outcry to be strong enough for law-makers to want to do some things differently. We aren't talking about playing with civil rights, testing new equipment, changing the face of the police department in a local area, and other related agendas, but a closer look at how to deal with the racist, money-hungry fraternal groups that still govern various communities. What would happen if their hearts and pockets were hit all at once?
So it is safe to say that Cosby (as well as others) would have been a good speaker to ease tensions when it came to Ferguson and might have done well influencing the African American communities all across our land to pause and think before they reacted to the court ruling, but some group thought of that beforehand.
On a side note: these celebrities are given the green light to talk about voting knowing full well the outcomes are predetermined, but they can't do much else then to send a careful tweet or some sign language when it comes to real issues!
Nicholl McGuire
What is in darkness comes out in the light sooner or later, doesn't it? At a time when once again the African American community is being attacked by unseen organizations using triggers like: interracial relationships between white women and black men paraded in mass media, civil disobedience, gun violence, whore images, animal references, and big, scary black man related stuff, those that could speak out against such psychological tactics are shut down before they can even think about protesting.
People of all ethnicities would have listened to what Cosby had to say and may have joined a movement (if he had one) when it came to black family issues and how stereotypical images are still prevalent in media whether overt or covert. The root of the matter wasn't with the young man lying face down in the street, the real issues was what led up to him walking in the street in the first place--taking a chance with his life. Our parents warned many of us, "Don't play out in the street!" There was a far deeper meaning to what they said then we realized. Being out in the street puts you in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many black males and females have gone to early graves due to being idle--having nothing to do but roam the streets.
What few bold African American speakers who have national as well as international attention due to movies, music, art and more they have done, are quiet. Understandably so, entertainers can't use their platforms to move any personal agendas without compromising their contracts. They can't say what they want when they want that is why most remain silent when major issues happen. If all folks (not just blacks) would stop watching their movies, buying their music, wearing their clothing, and supporting these quiet folks, both white and black, maybe they would convince their superiors "...that it isn't in the best interest of my career to remain quiet on issues that my fans obviously care about." Rather than sing praises about their work, how about bombard their social networking accounts with the hard questions like: What do you think about...and why haven't you said anything...and didn't you do a movie about...how do you feel now?"
But those in powerful positions know full well what an impact an entertainer will have on a community; therefore, they silence them. "Keep quiet or else. Your opinion is not needed. Don't get yourself involved...you are doing well in your career, don't mess it up siding with those ignorant, ghetto folks."
I shudder at the thought that one day it will take the murder of an A-list black celebrity over a senseless act by a white person for the outcry to be strong enough for law-makers to want to do some things differently. We aren't talking about playing with civil rights, testing new equipment, changing the face of the police department in a local area, and other related agendas, but a closer look at how to deal with the racist, money-hungry fraternal groups that still govern various communities. What would happen if their hearts and pockets were hit all at once?
So it is safe to say that Cosby (as well as others) would have been a good speaker to ease tensions when it came to Ferguson and might have done well influencing the African American communities all across our land to pause and think before they reacted to the court ruling, but some group thought of that beforehand.
On a side note: these celebrities are given the green light to talk about voting knowing full well the outcomes are predetermined, but they can't do much else then to send a careful tweet or some sign language when it comes to real issues!
Nicholl McGuire
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