Bill Cosby & the Mixed Emotions of Black America (Part One)

On last Thursday, Bill Cosby was found guilty on all three counts of sexual assault in a court case that has been ongoing since 2014. The chapter has now ended with Cosby beginning a three-to-ten-year prison sentence. Additionally, he has been branded by a judge as a “sexually violent predator.” Unsurprisingly, the news of his sentencing has brought social media to an uproar. Most notably, Black America continues to stand divided on Cosby’s issue, which is no surprise. Cosby has been recognized as a national icon for African Americans spanning over three generations since the late-1960s. USA Today noted that The 81-year-old actor broke racial barriers with I Spy in the late 1960s, enticed millions of kids to eat Jell-O pudding starting in the late ’70s and reignited the sitcom (and NBC) with The Cosby Show, which ranked as TV’s top series for five years in the late 1980s. He later re-teamed with co-star Phylicia Rashad, playing a grumpy retiree on late ’90s CBS sitcom Cosby.

The truth about Bill Cosby, whether people will choose to admit it, is that his positivity, work-ethic, and moral values represented what Black America was growing into. That outlook has now been tarnished and he will most likely never come back from this, even if there is a pardon given in the future.

So, why are people upset? At first, it was innocent until proven guilty. Then, people began to see the evidence stick. Next, the side eyes were given to the testimonies. That was put to rest with the record showing that the key witness and others have been able to maintain a constant testimony and account throughout this entire process. Finally, the jury came to a decision, and the judge decided a sentence. Cosby made his way through the legal system, and no matter how people feel, now it is time to serve his sentence.

So, again, why are people upset? If one were to take a guess, their anger and disappointment are not about arguing if he is innocent or guilty.

The answer relies upon one question—what about the others? Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, Roger Ailes, Brett Kavanaugh, Roy Moore, and countless others are sitting in their wealthy homes watching this Black man go down and half of Black America tear him down with it. Have there been charges brought against these gentlemen yet? Have their accusers gone that far to take legal action? Once again, Bill Cosby has now been found guilty, so he must do the time. However, for America (specifically Black America), to watch the legal takedown and celebrate it while these other rapists walk free is a slap in the face. It is extremely dangerous for people to condemn one and not the other for the same crime. The price for that type of double standard will be much higher than what Cosby will ever have to pay.