The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, author of Scam: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America, yesterday gave a hearty endorsement of entertainer Bill Cosby’s recent comments criticizing blacks who don’t take responsibility for their economic status, blame police for incarcerations and teach their kids poor speaking habits.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Cosby made his remarks at a Constitution Hall event in Washington Monday night commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that paved the way for integrated schools.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal,” Cosby said. “These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids – $500 sneakers for what? And won’t spend $200 for ‘Hooked on Phonics.’
He added: “They’re standing on the corner and they can’t speak English. I can’t even talk the way these people talk: ‘Why you ain’t,’ ‘Where you is’ … And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. … Everybody knows it’s important to speak English except these knuckleheads. … You can’t be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth!”
Peterson, an African-American leader who has promoted a path vastly different from the mainstream black “activists,” says Cosby, speaking in the presence of NAACP leadership, hit the nail on the head.
“Bill Cosby is right!” Peterson declared in a statement. “It’s about time that high-profile blacks openly spoke the truth about the problems in the black community. This is what most blacks say in the privacy of their homes, barbershops and amongst other blacks. I’m surprised that he [Cosby] made these comments in front of NAACP leaders.”
Continued Peterson: “The establishment black leaders don’t want blacks to take responsibility for their mistakes. They want blacks to continue blaming the ‘white man.’ This type of honest dialogue is long overdue. It’s the only way to help black Americans.”
Peterson is founder and president of Los Angeles-based BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny.
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