Did You Know? Last Saturday, September 20th, the world celebrated the 30th Anniversary since The Cosby Show broadcast its first episode in 1984. The brainchild of legendary comedian, entertainer, educator, and philanthropist Bill Cosby, The Cosby Show introduced TV viewers to a fictional African American family made up of professional, loving parents and their intelligent, witty children. The shows portrayal of a successful, stable black family was praised by some, including the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) and its president Dr. Dorothy I. Height, for breaking racial stereotypes and showing another part of the African American experience. The creation of the Annual Black Family Reunion was partly inspired by the shows impact, as well as more serious issues. As Dr. Height mentioned in her memoir, Open Wide the Freedom Gates, a PBS documentary by Bill Moyers called The Vanishing Black Family, did not talk about the black family at all. It was about teenage pregnancy. And to add insult to injury, the documentary only showed black teenagers--overlooking completely the fact that the majority of pregnant teenagers were white. Dr. Height recalled, I knew we couldnt counter Mr. Moyers documentary with mere words. We needed to do something bigger to show the promise of family restoration as a fundamental strategy for overcoming black poverty and underachievement. It was time to take action. After consulting with Mr. Cosby, his wife Camille, and others, plans for the first Black Family Reunion were put into motion. Throughout the remainder of her life, Dr. Height maintained a friendship and partnership with the Cosbys. Mr. Cosby performed his stand-up routine to raise funds for the NCNW, and when the organization needed the money for its current headquarters, the Cosbys donated over a million dollars for that effort! Thats what friends are for!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:44:30 +0000
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