Black officials target planners of Cosby effort

• Cosby Wants to be the Next (Junior) Head Negro in Charge - Self -appointed, Accountable to no one,  Transient "Leader" who  has an agenda mostly about himself --  delivering  Nothing Tangible to those who follow. [more]

Three elected black officials issued a press release last week stating the organizers of Bill Cosby's initiative to help Springfield youths have ignored black politicians, clergy and business people. City Councilor Bud L. Williams, state Rep. Benjamin Swan, D-Springfield, and School Committee member Marjorie J. Hurst criticized organizers of recent meetings in which comedian and Shelburne resident Bill Cosby has spoken out about the problems of black youth and the need for parents to teach their children. While not identifying the organizers, they said their efforts - because they have excluded officials like themselves - have been divisive, illegitimate, bungled and humiliating. Ronn D. Johnson, a black executive with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. chosen by Cosby at the first meeting Aug. 31 to be chairman of the "Cosby Initiative," was taken aback by the criticism of Williams, Swan and Hurst. "I'm very disappointed, because not one of these individuals listed in the press release even gave me a call," he said. However, he said, any help would be welcome. Henry M. Thomas III, Springfield Urban League president, said he could understand how officials feel about being left out of meetings which he attended. He said he didn't know who determined the invitations. But, he said, "The bigger issue is not who's in the room, but what are we all going to do for every black family." While thanking Cosby for "his concern for Springfield's black citizens," the press release went on to take the entertainer to task. "We want Cosby to understand that he cannot simply waltz into a community, say fancy words about remedying our problems and walk away while his name and image are used to cause more trouble than his efforts are designed to prevent," their statement said. [more]