By the 1960s, many of us believed that the Civil Rights Movement could eliminate racism in America during our lifetime. But despite significant progress, racism remains.” —Bill Cosby
A LEGACY THAT WILL STAND… BY: DR. MYRON E. CLOYD When I was a kid in the mid 1960’s Gunsmoke, the Beverly Hillbillies, the Man from Uncle, and the Dick Van Dyke Show, were some of the television shows that were popular. Homes across American were filled with faces that became so familiar kids (and adults) would often internalize their narratives. I can remember going outside to play “cowboys and Indians” after watching a western or “cops and robbers” after watch an episode of Dragnet. In my opinion these examples illustrate the power of television.
HARDWORK
In 1965 William Henry Cosby, Jr. was the co-star of “I-Spy.” Up to that point there had not been a African-American man with a lead role on dramatic television show. You had “Amos & Andy” and Roscoe on the “Jack Benny Show,” but those portrayals were stereotypes and caricatures that reinforced a negative self concept for African-American viewers and reinforced the dominate, racist world view of white supremacist ideology. Bill Cosby’s portrayal was not only a first but the character he portrayed was cool, thetremag.com
|
15
smooth, smart, strong, glib and tough… everything I had been told that a man should be. Although I had great role models in my father, grandfather, as well as other men in our community, there was still something very impactful about this black man presenting to the nation and world what we already knew…. That we were men no less
16
|
thetremag.com
than Matt Dillion, Napolean Solo, or Joe Friday.
Scan code and watch TréTV Exclusive!
BELOW Want to learn more? See exclusive behind the scenes video and hear more at thetremag.com.
For over 30 years (From 1965 until the mid 1990’s) Bill Cosby was a fixture on television. His shows, I Spy (196568), The Bill Cosby Show (1969-72), Fat Albert (1972-84), The Cosby Show (198492), A Different World (1987-93) were all ground breaking and helped reshape perceptions of Black
people. They also help Black folks alter their trajectory. One example is the fact that Black student enrollment at colleges and universities was at its highest during the years the Cosby Show and A Different World aired. Television is an influential medium in large part because narratives and characters from shows, and advertising, are with us on a regular and frequent basis. That’s the reason we know the jingles for certain products that are advertised on television. Likewise, we can internalize the characters and narratives from television shows.
Cosby was intentional about infusing issues of education and empowerment into the narratives of his shows. He even hired Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Alvin Poussaint to make sure that scripts and character portrayals were positive, (something that did not occur to Norman Lear). The shows that Cosby developed brought positive images of Black people (and the community) to the nation at large. His vast body of work blazed a wide and clear path for those who followed him. Without Bill Cosby there would have been no Bernie Mac Show, Steve Harvey Show, D.L. Hughley Show,
Jamie Foxx Show… No Girlfriends, etc., etc., etc. Regardless of his guilt or innocence in the pending legal action against him, Bill Cosby’s pioneering contributions to the empowerment of the African-American community cannot be denied or erased and his legacy will last. My very favorite Cosby show was a 1968 news special he narrated for CBS. I remember watching it when it first aired. It’s relevance and impact are significant. It is aptly titled “Black History, Lost, Stolen or Strayed.”
”EVERY CLOSED EYE IS NOT SLEEPING, AND EVERY OPEN EYE IS NOT SEEING.” BILL COSBY
(https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gqHaZ9uWUi4).
DID YOU KNOW?
One of Dr. Bill Cosby’s greatest contribution to the Black community was his creation of the popular 1980s television sitcom ‘A Different World.’ From the debut of The Cosby Show in 1984 until the end of A Different World in 1993, American higher education grew by 16.8 percent. During the same time period, HBCUs grew by 24.3 percent. This spike in enrollment at HBCUs isn’t a coincidence, as Cosby’s show brought the HBCU experience into the mainstream and presented them in very positive ways on a regular basis. Cosby, who along with his wife Camille, donated $20 million to Spelman College, was intentional with the message that he wanted to send, consciously hiring an all-Black cast and Black writers to craft the scripts. Educatated at Jack Yates High School, Houston born Actress and choreographer Debbie Allen — who graduated from Howard University along with her sister Phylicia Rashad, were instrumental in the shows development. The show celebrated the day-to-day life experiences and activities of black college life both inside and outside of the classroom and as the years pass and the show is shown less on the television screen there has been a steady decline of HBCU enrollment. Now, only 9 to 11 percent of Black students attend them.
thetremag.com
|
17
THE REAL+ BILL
Less than 60 years ago, government enforced Jim Crow Laws legally denied blacks schooling, employment, housing, voting rights and dignity. By contrast, (and without apology), Cosby’s narratives were disruptive, provided dignity, unraveled racist stereotypes in the media, uplifted the spirit and finally provided humanity to the portrayal of the African American experience.
18
|
thetremag.com
Top 7 reasons he is a game changer and an enemy of the media.
LET’S TALK: YOUNG, BLACK, SEXY & RICH Yet, the current presidential election proves that still waters run deep with regards to race. In short, something just ‘taint right. It’s reported that 21st Century Fox jut incurred $45 million in costs in 9 months for litigation related to silencing harassment allegations in defense of Bill O’Reilly. America’s usage of propaganda, race shameing and media to drive racial fear is not new; from President Woodrow Wilson in The Birth Of A Nation to Reagan’s War On Drugs campaign. The truth is, the U.S. legal system is shamelessly bias and broken. Often, truth and justice are not on trial, rather the moral character and underlying agenda of those with power. In the case of judicial fairness and Cosby, blacks are left to wonder “Who in the media has an axe to grind with Cosby and why?” #questioneverything #trustnoone #fakenews? #knowyourplace #Django
NO STEREOTYPE
PROLIFIC SUCCESS
Today’s rappers and TV shows are often used to promote racial stereotypes.
Black men like Emmitt Till & Jack Johnson are often pursecuted to set an example.
A STRONG, SMART, LEADING MAN
BLACK FATHERS He celebrated the black family and showed men in a positive light.
CHALLENGED TIMES
Emmy Award for his role in I Spy, New York City (1966). ap
attribution: John T. Bledsoe - Library of Congress, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Bill Cosby challenged the industry and changed the rules in favor of people of color. His vision gave dignity, hope and opportunity.
Little Rock integration protest: hippie-love, grouppies, education housing and equal pay.
“It is strange that people can see Aliens, Bigfoot and the LochNess monster, but they can NOT see Racism.” - G.B.
IMPACTED MEDIA
NOT A BAFOON TO BOOST HIS CAREER
NBC firmly shuts door on Bill Cosby’s attempt to purchase or create TV shows.
The media loves comedian Hannibal Buress. His career took off after he opened the door for the Cosby controversy. As with Malcom X, Mandella, Ali, (Jesus), Garvey, MLK, Jr. and many more, there is always one who shamelessly gains reward and fame by another mans fall. #StepinFetchit thetremag.com | 19