On Saturday night's edition of "CNN Newsroom", anchor Don Lemon spoke to comedian Bill Cosby on the controversial topic of the role of black fathers in America among a variety of other topics in comemmoration of the 1963 Baptist Church Bombing and 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and Cosby had plenty to say, Mediaite and FOX News report.
In commemoration of the 1963 Church Bombing of Birmingham, Alabama, Lemon asked Cosby to reflect on the tragedy, and the comedian remarked that is essential for today's young people to recall and remember such events in history, as they may parallel current situations.
"Tell your children, 'This is not our fault, but this is what happened then,'" Cosby said, emphasizing the importance of educating the younger generations on tragedies such as the bombing, a racially motivated act of terrorism against the black community during the Civil Rights Movement. Lemon also brought the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington into the conversation, asking Cosby to reflect on what kinds of black leaders are needed now.
Cosby spoke on the current need for black fathers to take a more active role in their children's lives. The comedian gave his opinion that the key to a better world begins with better parents, or more specifically, better fathers. He noted that black women tend to take on the leader role in the family, but men need to be just as present in the raising of their children.
"I think it has to come from the universities," Cosby said. " I think, women, strongly because when you see 70 percent, in research, that says they are the leaders of the household, what we need is for people to realize, 'I want to raise my kid. I want to go back and get my three kids. I want to take on that responsibility. I want to love my children'."
In addition, Cosby urged young people to pursue an education, even if they are not able to attend a prestigious university.
"Go to community college," he said. "Okay, you backed up and didn't do well. You quit school but now you find you need that high school credential. Go to the community college. At age 19 and a half, I knew I didn't want to do certain things. It is not what they weren't doing to me, it's what I wasn't doing. It's a very simple thing."
During his discussion with Lemon, part of a series of controversial new segments on "CNN Newsroom", Cosby also coined a new term: "no-groes," referencing people within the African-American community who may feel that the "good things" within the community aren't nearly discussed enough.
"The good things happen to be taking care of themselves pretty well," he provided as an answer. "We are trying to help those genius', those not genius', people who deserve, because they are human beings on this earth, in the United States of America, we are trying to get them in a position so they will understand and want to."
