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Patricia Guthman Mrs. Funk Inquiry Skills Block 1329th April 2014 The Father of Comedy Bill Cosby has entertained the American public for over 50 years beginning with the crime drama series, I spy. Many Americans think of The Cosby show, when his name is mentioned, which was a profitable and successful television series until The Simpsons began to air in 1989 surpassing the ratings for The Flintstones in 1997 and surpassing The Cosby Show in 1992 based on ratings. However, The Cosby show increased their ratings, once again remaining the fifth highest ranking television show while The Simpsons fell to thirty eighth. Cosby is known for creating genuinely hilarious stand-up comedies such as his most recent tour titled, “Far from finished”, broadcasting on Comedy Central. His experiences have shaped him into the man he is today, a respectable but highly criticized man ever since his well-known pound cake speech given in 2004. Although Bill Cosby may be viewed as simply an African comedian of his time or a hypocritical man, he has impacted and transformed our society because of his actions, his responses in behavior to his surroundings and experiencesBill Cosby Takes Action Bill Cosby has a deep concern and heart for children who have not but could receive a decent education which leads to the point that he emphasized the value of intelligence and education throughout his career after concluding his crime drama series I spy. According to Public Broadcasting Service, in the animated TV series, “Fat Albert and the Cosby kids”, Cosby specifically decided to utilize Fat Albert as the main character to break the stereotypical thoughts that a fat leader could not be an intelligent individual or the leader of the pack. He brought the gang together through peace, love and care with his clever ways (“Bill Cosby”). Cosby wanted to show elementary children that education is a valuable necessity but also can be fun to gain through TV programs such as “Little Bill”. He also gave parents the luxury of allowing their children to watch a TV program on their own knowing their children are watching educational shows that will benefit them in the long run by providing fundamental and basic skills. Furthermore, Cosby emphasized the need for education through the Cosby show by utilizing all the children such as Denise, Vanessa, Rudy, Pam, Olivia and Theo Huxtable (“The Cosby Show Characters”). Cosby specifically used Theo’s character to portray his son, Ennis, who was dyslexic and struggled in school. Denise was a decent student in high school that easily received A’s and B’s until the rough transition to College. She received her first D in one of her classes on an Essay that she claimed to put effort in(“Denise gets a D”). Cosby wanted to set this predicament that happens quite often for college students and to provide the solution which was to come clean and tell the parents rather than hiding it. Cosby also wanted students near the age of Denise to understand the transition to college and to put more effort into their works, to adapt to their surroundings and create a paper worthy of a high grade. Now, Cosby also set the example of re-educating himself and eventually acquired a Doctorate. According to the Notable Black American Men, Book II, Cosby had a poor experience in school when it came to good grades. He was heavily active in sports and extracurricular activities meaning grades were not the highest priority. He was even asked to repeat the 10th grade ( Smith, “Bill Cosby”). Going back to school and receiving his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts in 1976 proves that he had a heart for education and truly valued it or he wouldn’t have taken the time to also obtain his M.A. degree in 1972 from Temple University (“Honorary Degrees”). In order to accomplish such a demanding task, it took perseverance and initiative. In the pound Cake speech, Cosby made it extremely clear that he values education, such as speaking proper English. Cosby mocks adolescent African American’s , “’Why you ain't where you is go, ra,’ I don't know who these people are. And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk.” Cosby was not only upset with the child’s lack of education but the mother’s. Blaming the child was no longer the case until he heard the unacceptable words come out of her mouth that was supposedly a sentence. (Dr Bill Cosby's public relations representatives, para. 12) Cosby was trying to explain to the audience that the kind of talk may be spoken in the house if the family must but outside of those walls, they should better. You can’t say “ I aint…” in a court room, or land a decent job as a doctor speaking that foul talk. Cosby also wrote the book series, “Little Bill” which eventually became an educational program for children on TV. The Nick Jr. official website claims that Little Bill encourages and influences high-self-esteem, provides life lessons and supports the value of family (“About Little Bill”). Since Little Bill was created by Cosby himself, the story is based on his own life for the most part (“Little Bill”). Cosby poured his heart into the characters which is apparent when reading the original book series and catching the development of the main character, Little Bill, and the supporting characters, Bobby and April. Imagination came into play along with determination for kids that may need to see everyday situations with positive, well-thought out solutions. Cosby values safety as much as education and makes that statement apparent in Ohio by rallying up the citizens. The World Entertainment News Network claims through a short article that Cosby has strong feelings when it comes to safety. Senior Citizens, any citizen, should be able to walk outside any time of day with their wallet wide open feeling safe instantly knowing that no one would snatch it away ("Cosby rallies for safer community in Ohio city”). Now, Cosby naturally supports safety and respect for the eldest based on his past actions and speeches which will be discussed in following paragraphs. However, he had a burning passion in Ohio to speak about the safety of the people and how we must improve the community. Another excerpt of the pound cake speech, given in 2004, gives the audience a comedic way of explaining that children are no longer safe. It’s difficult for a little girl to be an innocent little girl, not to worry about someone taking away her virginity. Cosby states and questions in the pound cake speech, "Who are these sick black people and where did they come from and why haven't they been parented to shut up? To go up to girls and try to get a club?” (Dr Bill Cosby's public relations representatives, para. 17.) Cosby just wants to explain that they are children, children that should be looked after- not taken advantage of. The safety of these children should be the parent’s number one priority, which Cosby briefly explains through a frustrated tone. Bill Cosby’s BehaviorsCosby also makes it evident in the pound cake speech that parenting is an issue these days. Now, Cosby states that parents are trying to befriend their children but that’s automatically putting themselves in the wrong position. They do this by buying things that the child just happens to want at the moment, "These people want to buy the friendship of a child....and the child couldn't care less." (“Dr. Bill Cosby Speaks”) There are many things that child needs, such as money for college, however the parents that Cosby is describing are the ones that invest in $200 Jordan’s. Cosby also claims that there is a dropout rate of 50%, buying Jordan’s isn’t going to help their child in the long run. These simple statements may have possibly opened the minds and hearts of the audience through laughter. There is a fine line between African names and ghetto names that were made up on the spot, unfortunately, some people can’t tell the difference. Cosby bluntly tells the crowd that names such as Shaniqua, Shaligua, and Mohammed are not African names, they are simply ghetto. (“Dr. Bill Cosby Speaks”). However, Michael Eric Dyson, professor of sociology at Georgetown University, came back with a counter argument stating that parents have the option to name their children whatever they want. It’s their choice, it’s not like they’re burning a house on fire, their simply naming their child and should have the freedom to do so ("Is Bill Cosby Right or Is the Black Middle Class Out of Touch?"). Dyson and Cosby have opposing arguments that both make sense, however the simple fact is that numerous African Americans claim to have named their child an authentic African name when that is a false claim. During the Brown vs Topeka Board of Education Supreme Court Decision 50th anniversary celebration, Cosby was asked to give a speech famously known as the pound cake speech mentioned before. One of the first points he makes in this speech is, “we cannot blame white people. White people (clapping)... White people don't live over there. They close up the shop early. The Korean ones still don't know us as well...they stay open 24 hours” ( Dr. Bill Cosby Speaks”). The audience claps in excitement and agreement as he completes each phrase. This statement was said out of pure behavior, instinct. Dyson even said that it’s quite odd that Bill Cosby known as, “American dad” was once seen as an African American that believed in equal rights opportunities and treatments; however he is now viewed as an offensive figure. These feelings developed after Bill Cosby gave his speech at the NAACP event explaining clearly how he believes that African Americans can no longer blame the white people for their problems (Harvard Essay: “Is Bill Cosby right, or is the black middle class out of touch?”) Cosby and Dyson both make valuable points which have caused confusion and side picking since 2004. To emphasize more on Dyers thoughts about Cosby’s behaviors, it’s only natural to discuss possible faults and flaws in Cosby’s Speech. Dyson claims that Bill Cosby’s own animated cartoon from the 70s utilized the very type of language that he seems to be strongly against and blames the parents of their children and teens for speaking in such an inappropriate way. However, Michael Dyson stated that Bill Cosby is a hypocrite for saying “du store” instead of “the store” and etc. (“Harvard Educational Review”). There is scientific proof that people seem to not make any logical sense when they are upset or frustrated over a certain matter, which Cosby was when delivering a certain segment of the speech. However, Dyson brings a valid point, it’s a fact that Cosby used the language in “fat Albert” and also himself. Bill Cosby’s Experiences influenced his actions and reactionsAlthough Cosby has been known as the “father figure” of television, some drama off screen has made it seem that he’s also a father of a daughter. Shawn Upshaw, a women that had an affair with Cosby, claims to have had a baby that’s his daughter, Autumn Jackson. To keep this a secret, Cosby paid them $100, 000 for 22 years but demanded for $40 million resulting in an immediate trial. Cosby denied being her father and had an affair with her mother “once” in a hotel room in 1974 (“Cosby says he bought silence after affair”). Following this dramatic experience, Cosby created the TV show ironically titled, “Kids Say the Darndest Things”. As an experienced comedian, Cosby has mastered the fine art of entertaining the public. When the public found out Cosby would have a 2 hour special on comedy central titled, “far from finished” resulting in numerous reactions similar to the following, “oh, my. Cosby is going to curse!” which Cosby said himself quoting friends on the special. Cosby was able to connect to the audience with hand movements, true, hysterical stories and audience involvement. The well-known stories such as, the game of chess, security questions, and wedding plans (“CC-stand up: Bill Cosby”). This live tour proves that comedy can be delivered without foul language or needed to be censored, mainly because Cosby has years of experience to supply him with unlimited material. The death of Cosby’s son, Ennis, will forever leave a scar on his heart- his one and only child murdered at a young age. As upset, depressed and weary Cosby may have felt he not only used his son’s phrase, “hello friend” for “Little Bill” but also was inspired to utilize this meaningful phrase for the Ennis William Cosby foundation which was created to establish the memories, goals and dreams of Cosby’s son (“About little bill”). Although the experience of losing his son was traumatic and sorrowful, his actions following his death were respectable and wise to honor his son and spread the happiness with the simple, sweet quote, “Hello, friend.” To conclude, many people have different views of Bill Cosby because of his experiences, behaviors and actions that he took from the time he created the Cosby show to his latest stand –up tour, “far from finished”. Cosby’s rough and blunt idea of explaining his beliefs have turned the American public in numerous directions, however, his true fans remain loyal and respect him. Although, harsh counter arguments delivered by Michael Eric Dyson have been publically announced, the general public still stays true to their originals of the “father figure” of television. ................
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