Nikki Giovanni: Bill Cosby

[blitzgreg1]

Its too bad this kind of backward corrosive thinking gets such an audiance in the black community. She seems to be taking things personally and trying to defame Bill's character as a person. She is in denial just like the multitudes are. Her view would not help the cause at all.

[VantisDoroHall]

What Bill Cosby said made some people angry, and others happy. What Nikki has said has made some people happy, and others angry. So what we have is the human mind working on a situation, trying its best to properly identify it and bring about resolution. This is a very good thing. Two of our very best minds discussing the complexity of our existence in a world that often seems unfriendly to life is a great thing. I think we are going to survive with this kind of discussion going on.

[johnnyvideo27]

Nikki Giovanni is right in away... the point is sometimes black people love to dog themselves out ... smile black people... we only makeup 25% of the population and there is a black president ... hip hop and our impression of life is around the world!!

Smile we do what we can!!

[j2201987]

Wanda Sykes, this is your future.

[ROORWANT]

She has a point, but it's not as profound as what Bill was saying. I wonder how she would feel if Dyson, or C.West said something similar.

[RottenPeachState706]

MURKED bill cosby sellout ass

[wbrutus22]

Check out her interview on The Vanguard Element

[sensualwisdom570]

OMG.. Ms. Giovanni..I love you..lol.. Go play with mud..Bill..lol, yea, yea

[Dramactica]

@sensualwisdom570

grow up. she made a point.

[sensualwisdom570]

@Dramactica hey yea I know she told him that I would never tell her to go play with mud...Listen to what she said she told Bill to go play with mud.. DANG!!!! read carefully....gosh

[Bra7den]

And I thought Wanda Sykes was unfunny...

[RottenPeachState706]

@Bra7den guess you got somethin' wrong witcha then

[auntbizeo003]

I really admire her work. I like that she says what she really believes but I think her defense of materialism didn't make sense. She said materialism beats poverty every damn time, well, sometimes screwed up priorities are the reason poverty goes generation to generation. Like in the Roots song sacrifice:

I tell you one lesson I learned

If you want to be something in life

You ain't gonna get it unless

You give a little bit of sacrifice

[melancholicme]

I don't know the background to this, can somebody please tell me what Bill Cosby did or said?

[MondoBeno]

What does she mean "beats poverty any damn time"?

Here's who makes money from the "bling-bling":

1. The Jewish jeweler

2. The Jewish diamond-cutter

3. """"""""""""""""" goldsmith

4. """"""""""""""""" diamond-dealer

5. """"""""""""""""" gold-trader

6. The White South-African mine owner

Here's who makes nothing:

The BLACK AFRICAN, who sweats in 100 DEGREE HEAT, a mile underground. He makes a pittance.

[MondoBeno]

Lighten up Dr. Giovanni. I know you're jealous of Cosby's fame and success, but you've taken his words the wrong way.

Cosby wasn't criticizing you. He wasn't putting down women who feed/clothe their kids. He was speaking to the ones who refuse to make commitments to raise their children.

[RottenPeachState706]

@MondoBeno smh she's "jealous" of his "success and fame"? gtfoh

[RichmondVAbuzz]

"all they care about is money - everybody that doesnt have it cares about it."

amen.

[searchless1]

each1teach1truth,TEACH!

Again, "..the disparities in educational funding in the Black community. ..the lack of fair housing or adequate health care. ..the lack of mental health services, ... Colonization & years of oppression add fuel to this raging fire. Centuries of inequalities are more detrimental to the Black community than any gang member could ever be." Well,now "middle america"s feeling the bite of neo-con capitalist oppression. Divide&Conquer or join forces? Opportunity. It's up to us!

[MondoBeno]

What's the matter with that woman? She's sounding spiteful, hateful, and unscholarly.

I think Professor Giovanni is envious of Bill Cosby because he's better known than her. But Bill Cosby is entitled to his limousine. He earned whatever money he had.

[each1teach1truth]

She sounds real! She's not envious of anything. She's speaking the truth. Until you've lived the black experience, while trying to stay positive in urban communities, and if you love your people (that is if your African-American), you'd understand and agree with her sentiment.

[unwagb1]

I have lost all respect for Gioviannii talking about buying sneakers instead of hooked on phonics. Can they be employed by corporate america speaking that garbage...please do not be a hypocrite and act like you do not know what he is talking about...shame on you encouraging the dysfunctionality of young black men.

[each1teach1truth]

WHAT!?! Why don't we talk about how the American school system fails these youth and make it possible for them to graduate eighth grade - high school not knowing how to create a thesis statement! Parents do have a responsibility, but with these kids at school for more hours of the day than when they're home; educators need to create and environment that fosters self-discipline. As an educator, I feel an innate responsibility to teach my students, not have cops on standby for misbehaving kids.

[RottenPeachState706]

@unwagb1 smh

[derekholt109]

I thought that Ms. Giovanni could see the big picture of whats happening in Black communities across the nation. Being consumers with ownership is suicide. Thats why Black communities are worse off today than in 60's & 70's. I embrace her sexuality, but would it be right for me to say lesbians don't have the right to speak on any given subjects just because they're lesbians!!! That wouldn't make any sense, just like it doesn't any sense to critize Bill Cosby for his effort to influence change.

[each1teach1truth]

Can you see the big picture? If you could, you would see the disparities in educational funding in the Black community. You would see the lack of fair housing or adequate health care. You would see the lack of mental health services, and then you might be able to figure out why things are the way they are. Colonization and years of oppression add fuel to this raging fire. Centuries of inequalities are more detrimental to the Black community than any gang member could ever be.

[each1teach1truth]

She's not speaking on this issue from a lesbian standpoint, so I dare to say she's speaking because she's a black woman, who knows more about the black experience than some. She has a right to speak on this - as a matter of fact, she has a responsibility. GREAT JOB Ms. GIOVANNI!!

[luckymag27]

So many people focus on poverty when there are other social problems that cause it.

So what if you have to wear keds instead of Michael Jordans but I'm more concerned about problems like illiteracy.

[TSquared2001]

Nikki is particially on point. Both are right in what they say. And both of theme juxtapose really makes the point.

[hannaremnant]

why do black people feel that poverty is a label on them? Bill Cosby's talking about the values of young people today...but he isn't exempt from his own hypocrisy.

[LuizPagan]

Nikki has been about breaking rules & speaking her mind. That's been what's precious about her & screwed up about her. Sometimes she's right on time, others totally wrong. Yeah Crosby has NOT been responsible about where he puts his seed. That doesn't surprise me one bit, BUT being brain washed into the materialistic has been and continues to be central to our oppression. These children who have been betrayed by us really believe there is a difference between a nigger and a nigga. Pahleez!

[Poetryisalive]

One of the main reasons that black people are in the shape that they are in is because of big mouth women. 65% of the Black men in jail were raised by a single mother. Nikki has a benign hatred for men just like most black women today. Go to the ghetto, knock on any door at random and 9 out of 10 times a woman will answer. And I bet that she has three or more than. And I bet that all of the children have different daddies.

[MzShugr]

you are truly ignorant. Is it the woman's fault that the men aren't there. Those women who have their kids in those homes are doing exactly what they need to do.

[Poetryisalive]

Ignorant? LOL. All you gotta do is close your legs and stop having babies out of weblock

[MzShugr]

do I have children? News to me.

Is it just black women who are having children out of wedlock?

[sonofman1979]

As a Black man I know one thing: Black women take up for Black men too much. If Bill didn't tell Black men to get their mind right, who would. She hasn't. We need Black men-not Black women-to tell other Black men to step up to the plate. Bill did it. Farrakhan did it. And Obama did it. I've always said that Black men do what they do because there aren't any morally correct Black men checking them. Bill aint clean by no means, but it's a start. I still love you Nikki!

[TSquared2001]

You haven't been reading her books in the back.  She's been saying it before he got fed up.

[Juju502056]

I think alot of the racial problems here in B'ham, Al. increased when they started integrating the schools. Forcing people to do things is not usually a good thing. It breeds anger and resentment.

[ParadigmShift302]

I agree. Makes an ounce of difference had it been organic based on free movement and not forced.

[ondfritz2]

This woman only reinforces the ignorance that Bill Cosby speaks out about.

[Acceber87]

I feel that it was in poor taste for Nikki Giovanni to make comments about Bill Cosby & why blacks sacrifice to provide expenisve shoes for the kids although they may be poor. Although some do not agree with Bill Cosby's comments, it isnt wise for ANYONE to live above their means! I also feel that Giovanni should have focused on HER poetry rather than standing in front of an audience and making comments that made her appear ignorant.

[nasiyah6605]

why in the world would the poor spend more money on some shoes that is priced way over there value than they spend on their kids education. its not about what the next man kids have. if they can afford it why would you burn your pockets to keep up like its some type of competition your kid cant read but they got on $100 shoes. you sound dumb go get a fashiion tip

[nasiyah6605]

u a crazy negro yo self

[Freecell5671]

I'm not an ignorant person, I'm not an idiot, I'm not even a mean person. It's a sensetive issue. I don't like seeing people be prejadiced against. That's why every racial group should live amongst themselves, with a few enclaves of foreingers in homelands. Then trade could bind the world. It's not racist to want the best for everyone. and I certainly don't want a melting pot. I don't want to melt the rainbow, or puree all the food in the world.

[Freecell5671]

And back to my original point. Giovanni is a liberal. I don't even need to look it up. I'm sure she is. If she's all for equility, than why does she want her students to censor themselves? The first year of college english for me was just social brainwashing lesson after another. "Oh, Booker T Washington was an old fashioned and misguided. WEB DuBois was the real hero." I'm sick of the brainswashing. Watching everyone in my class agree without thinking at everything the hippie teaches them.

[Freecell5671]

I think blacks "catch hell" for there own actions. It's time to stop walking on eggshells. 50% of murdes are committed by black males. No one forces them to do that. I don't care your history or anything. I also, think amognst wealthy white people blacks have an advantage. Look at NPR, PBS, the Arts, Universities, so many blacks involved. It's amongst the idiot white's and rednecks who discriminate. And they don't have any more power than a black person.

[MoshotheSpear]

Bill Cosby is right.

[dealmaker007]

Freecell5671 do you honestly think that Irish americans catch as much hell as African americans to this day? How are you comparing the two? Were your people lynched? Yes you were disadvantaged for a time but note when that prejudice subsided. While you're at it note when prejudice vs african americans subsided...it still runs strong even today.

In a room full of white people of whatever origin, I'd still be considered at the bottom of the totem pole, can you say the same for yourself?

[amazingeddie]

Any time it can be said that Nikki Giovanni has you outdressed, you gotsta get out of the entertainment business and retire your ass...

[dstack]

Freecell got served

[jdmack80]

After thinking it over, I realized I forgot one last very important issue concerning the Irish. The Irish had the RIGHT AND FREEDOM to return to Ireland. The African Slave lost that Right and Freedom the second they hit the shores of America, Because everything they were was beat, bred, and coerced out of them. The African slave in America came from many countries on the CONTINENT of AFRICA. 99%of "BLACKS" in America have no idea of what COUNTRY they came from on the CONTINENT Africa.

[jdmack80]

Continued:

The Irish also had the ability to attend schools and Colleges in America. They may have cought hell when they did but, they were able to do it. In America, it was ILLEAGAL for a slave to be educated until after the Civil War, and even after that "BLACKS" were told from birth that they would'nt need more than an 8th grade education because they did'nt need to go any futher because they WERE "BLACK". That lasted until the 1960s,

Bringing us back to MR Cosby's point. Understand..

[jdmack80]

Continued:

The Irish also had the ability to attend schools and Colleges in America. They may have cought hell when they did but, they were able to do it. In America, it was ILLEAGAL for a slave to be educated until after the Civil War, and even after that "BLACKS" were told from birth that they would'nt need more than an 8th grade education because they did'nt need to go any futher because they WERE "BLACK". That lasted until the 1960s,

Bringing us back to MR Cosby's point. Understand..

[jdmack80]

Continued:

The Irish also had the ability to attend schools and Colleges in America. They may have cought hell when they did but, they were able to do it. In America, it was ILLEAGAL for a slave to be educated until after the Civil War, and even after that "BLACKS" were told from birth that they would'nt need more than an 8th grade education because they did'nt need to go any futher because they WERE "BLACK". That lasted until the 1960s,

Bringing us back to MR Cosby's point. Understand..

[jdmack80]

Freecell5671, What the Irish did is truley Honorable, However, you must also remember that the Irish came through the potato famine and the hatred by America with their(1) religion (2)their family history,(3) their education, (4)the knowledge of who they were,

(5)the knowledge of where they came from, (6) hundreds of years of Irish history to draw from, (7) The ability to easily assimulate into White America, and lastly (8) their Humanity. All intact. bruised but intact.

NO COMPAREISON..

[Freecell5671]

The black community is not doing the best they can. It is an embarrassment. I'm of Irish decent. The Irish Potato Famine happened 150 years ago. A horrible tradegy which killed many people. We were HATED when we came to America. Are community has moved on long ago, now Ireland has highest per capita income in Europe. Slavery happened 150 years ago and look where the black community has gone. No where.

[1soulfulsista]

excuse me i meant to say he did not say we as a people, he said you people. also keep in mind that these comments were typically made on shows with a large white male viewership. he was not attmepting to deal with a problem he was on an angry tyraid. that's it.

[1soulfulsista]

her comments may be a little extreme,but so were his.his comments were not made out of love for his people or to uplift the race. most of his statements steemmed from his disconnect with the african american community. some statements did have some validity. but who was he making them for, he did say we as a people need to make some changes he said you people.you people is not a statment made to send out an sos, it is a statement to separate and condemn.i think she attempted 2 keep things light

[mnwoods]

Nikki is wrong for this. Boooo!

[jdmack80]

After hearing MS NIKKI views on how to Educate young people, I can see why one of HER students commited one of America's worst College campus Killings.

Good work NIKKI, Thumbs up, Keep up the good work.

[Freecell5671]

I guarantee there was no free speech in that classroom. Can you imagine if you wrote an anti-feminist paper in there? However, Cho was responsible for his own hateful actions.

[SoulPatrol1960]

Nikki I love you and will continue to love you, but you are simply wrong! And like so many others have missed the point of what Mr Cosby is saying!

[tonymontana2010]

i really like her i just saw her yesterday and she was making jokes just like these 2. she really just blatantly speaks her mind

[DoomCity202]

Fuck Bill Cosby.

The shoulda let his son live.

That nigga is a fucking waste of talent running his fucking bitch ass mouth.

Even if everything he said is true who the fuck is he?

Bitch ass nigga is out of touch.

[dftgrave]

thanks for giving us an example of the kind of attitude that separates black people from niggers.

[Vernonu9]

I have much admiration for Nikki Giovanni. No doubt, she is a living legend. But, dammit if she didn't slam Cosby. She was way out of line - our race doesn't need this sh*t. We have to do better.

[victornewman06]

I admire the woman, too, but she was making excuses. I did not agree with this at all. She kind of shucked and shined a little bit.

[mbproject21]

This woman makes good points. All you Cosby dick riders need to shut the fuck up.

[1suaveguy]

by the way, somebody tell her to become relevant to black america again before she starts spouting off at the mouth...

[1suaveguy]

this woman has a tattoo of tupac on her ass. cmon now people

[IHS7]

She's out of touch with reality. Kids today are FUCKED UP!

[dftgrave]

If I responded to her speech in the same way that she was responding to Bill's, I wouldn't bother mentioning the fact that her speech has no real substance or argument, I'd just say something to the effect of "she's obviously high on crack, just like all other black people." But, I actually argue when I have something to argue about, rather than just throwing silly names and useless insults at people.

[dftgrave]

This lady is absolutely retarded. Did she pay any attention to Bill's speech, at all? She's just calling names and distorting his words in a pathetic attempt to defend her lazy way of life. And she thinks that church will make things better. What a moron.

The one good thing about people like her, is that she encourages black people to continue acting like thugs, to continue doing all the things that Bill called them out for, thereby making it easier for white people to hate them.

[bigteddystyle98]

Yeah, Bill Cosby wanting to advance blacks in our society is a REAL bad idea. Let's rip on Bill Cosby for encouraging blacks to be better educated, to speak proper english, and to position themselves to obtain higher paid jobs!

C'MON! Grab the closest pitchfok and lantern! Let's tear him down for ALL of those HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, ideas!!!

Signed,

Sarcasm

[BTown2222]

Lol what a joke. No grip on reality what so ever.

[stokesjl]

thanks for sharing! she has such a way with words, even when not reciting her own works. she's just amazing.

[dftgrave]

she's an idiot, and so are you.

[jrallday1]

Gimme more