But let me be clear: I’m not suggesting that one television show from Cosby will suddenly cure the litany of social ills that we face as a society, but I am saying his program could help bridge the divide between some parents and children.
It certainly couldn’t hurt.
And consider this: Some black folks are more willing to acknowledge serious issues in the home when viewing a problem through the lens of comedy. We may actually need Cosby’s show more than we realize; it could be cathartic.
Cosby has probably been thinking about this topic for some time. Several years ago, he started a firestorm of controversy after he accused some black parents of being irresponsible.
“We’ve got parents who won’t check the bedrooms of their children to see if there’s a gun,” Cosby said.
Some black parents said Cosby was singling out poor black families, which they said was mean-spirited and insensitive.
Still, Cosby’s proposed show could offer positive life lessons for mothers and fathers who are struggling to make connections with their children.
But this isn’t a slam dunk; Cosby acknowledges that he’ll have to make a pitch to television executives and hope for the best.
“I want some network to say to us, ‘All right, we’re going to give you the money to do one show,’ just to lay it out,” Cosby said. “I just want one shot, because I know that what I am envisioning … they’ve never seen anything like this on TV; the laughter, the stories.”
I hope he gets the green light.
COMMENTARY: Why Cosby’s ‘Family Values’ Show is Just What We Need Right Now was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
