I knew Cosby's words hit hard when major newspapers were slow to pick up the story as Matt Rosenberg of Rosenblog so eloquently pointed out late last week, "...there was a bit of a curious silence from most print-media outlets. It was mainly talk radio and a host of bloggers". When you mix controversial comments about black people made by a prominent black figure, in front of a prominent (and influential) black organization, you have a sticky situation.

I am convinced that many white writers have been slow to comment on the story because they wanted to see what "we'd" say first. To be white and speak critically about anything pertaining to the black community in this country is like roller-skating blindfolded through a field of landmines.

Although I find it interesting that no "real" transcript has been published, the Washington Post has made available the audio version of the speech. Thus far, the Charlotte observer has published the most extensive quotes from Cosby's speech. All this aside, as silent as the critics may seem, most everyone I've spoken with has something to say about Cosby's comments. It is safe to say that many black folks were not too pleased.

The aftermath of the controversial speech has left much of the black intellectual community dissecting rhetoric and the rest in silly, irrational, defensive mode. Although most in the black community would admit that Cosby's words were true, many wouldn't let him get off that easily. The week following Cosby's comments was laced with people calling the speech "classist" and "stereotyping" among other things. The knee-jerk reaction of many blacks was to flip the script and point the finger at Cosby instead of focusing on what he said.

People wrote about how Cosby should have been placing more blame on the governmental structures for not supporting lower-class blacks. Doesn't that negate the whole idea of personal responsibility? Perhaps that's just the soft spot Cosby hit with his comments. A large percentage of the American people have a strong aversion to the words "personal responsibility". Instead of bucking up, we'll change the subject or dilute its potency by shifting responsibility to the collective. NAACP President Kwesi Mfume remarked,

"It is not just the lower socioeconomic groups, it is the new black millionaires, the new wealthy as well...We all need to take more responsibility, not just poor people."

Well, duh. Thank you for stating the blatant obvious Mr. Mfume, but it seems that wasn't the focus of Cosby's speech. A Washington Post article titled, "Some Blacks Find Nuggets of Truth in Cosby's Speech", included a quote from a 16-year old 3.2 grade point average student who happens to wear her pants low and her hat backwards, "you can't judge a book by its cover". Come on people. We need to get a grip. Do we really need to point out every poor girl named Shaniqua Watkins who has straight A's just to show that he wasn't referring to every black person in the Western Hemisphere? Can we not view Cosby's comments in the proper light and spirit in which they were given? Or do we need Cliff's Notes?

Not soon after delivering the address, Cosby went on the Tavis Smiley show to make some clarifications to his critique. You can read the full transcript, but Cosby began his comments with:

"The mistake I made was not in clarifying that I wasn't talking about "all." I think that unless it's later on, I think I said prior to this, the 50% dropout. I think I said that prior to this, "50% dropout in school." Very, very important, because with that, that means 50% of our African American males, from grade 9 through 12, in certain parts of the city, have no education."

It is unfortunate that Cosby had to come on National Public Radio and make this statement to appease the insecure consciences of black America. I felt it was totally unnecessary. To his credit, Cosby has not been silent of his critics. When Christopher Farley's article in Time Magazine accused Cosby of airing dirty laundry, Cosby fought back:

"Mr. Farley made it sound as if I had divulged some secret about which no one knew. But where is the secret? The secret walks and it talks. From the hallways of the school to the street to the corner store and onto to public transportation, the dirty laundry is out there."

Bill Cosby has the extreme privilege of having "been there" and "done that" and has surely earned his place in history as a change agent, proponent of education and one who is certainly qualified to speak to the condition of black communities. Even his critics admit that. What most critics didn't understand is that for this reason alone dear Bill does not have to bow down to the lightweight, young blood intellectuals who've attempted to pick apart his words with theory and sociology. We needed that reality check. It hurt, but so does life. We needed to hear the words of a patriarch who perhaps has been through and seen just a little bit more than many of us. The real question is: will people keeping talking about the airing of the dirty laundry, or will they clean it?