Read Russell Simmons’  open letter to Bill Cosby, where he accuses Cosby and those of the older generation of being too quick to point a finger of blame at the youth for all that is wrong with society.    Russell is calling for less judgement and more appreciation, and believes that young people need support rather than to be constantly torn down.  Keep reading for Bill’s reply to Russell’s criticism.

Russell Simmons’ open letter critical of Bill Cosby (courtesy of GlobalGrind.com):

Bill Cosby, The Face Of Intolerance?
There are a lot of great entertainers who do great things. Bill Cosby is one of them. He has always used his voice to right what he thought was wrong. However, I believe that too often Mr. Cosby has wrongly placed the blame.

Bill Cosby is an example of someone from the older generation who has consistently blamed the poets and asked suffering community members to bare the full burden of guilt for the struggles that they endure. It is certainly not that he and the rest of the elders don’t care, because they do. In fact, their intentions are pure and good. All the things they say are actually true. What they don’t understand is that the young people who they criticize did not create their own realities. They did not create the crumbling education system that we school them in. They did not create the drug epidemic and drug wars that have resulted in a dysfunctional family structure. They did not create the health care crisis that does not treat them. They did not create the culture of violence that they fall victim to.

While it is true that each one of us can make a change at any moment, it is equally true that at every minute we are all doing the best we can. If you knew better, you would do better. Therefore, those who care and have resources could/should work to create the kind of support systems that could inspire change. From the preacher who lifts our consciousness and asks us to reach for strength to the politicians and philanthropists who put programs in place to support our growth. When the President brought the Cosby attitude to his NAACP speech a few months ago, I was disappointed. It is nice to tell black people to stand up, but isn’t that really Min. Farrakhan’s job? The President’s job is to tell them to walk to the program that he placed on their corner. It is our job to instill the inspiration that gets a young person to walk into the program and not stand on the corner.

We love Cosby and all the older types who judge and blame the poets or culture for the sadness that the poets point to from their realities. From a place of love, I am letting the older generation know that they must admit that young people are less racist, less sexist, less homophobic, less prejudice than their parents and far less than their grandparents. Mr. Cosby, you know that your generation is carrying a lot more dirt, you are all just smart enough to cover it up. Old people are quicker to destroy the planet, abuse the animals and promote wars and then act like young people are violent. Young people are more compassionate, giving, promote gay rights, animal rights, human rights, protect the environment and want to end the wars. When they point out the contradictions that come up and say it on a record and say it LOUD, you can’t believe it! The culture and the poetry is a mirror of the realities that they expressing. Instead of criticizing, let us recognize the faults of adults, because until that happens you all will continue to turn off young people from your message and further alienate them from your generation.

I love Bill Cosby. Who doesn’t? I love him so much that is why I am writing this blog. But this is not just about Mr. Cosby. I know that tomorrow there will be headlines that read “Russell Simmons attacks Bill Cosby.” But let’s be clear, this is a call-out to all the adults who are judging more and listening less to the beautiful, progressive voices that come from our young people…Bill Cosby just happens be on the front line. This is about two generations reconciling…I guess because of my age, you would say that I am stuck on the other side, but I will always recognize that young people can use support instead of judgment. We need to have the hard conversation and both sides need to listen – if you need an office to do it in, my door is always open.

With great love all things are possible

-Russell Simmons

Since then:

Two of the three artists featured on Bill Cosby’s new hip hop project, “State of Emergency” have issued statements in response to the open letter Russell Simmons published on his site in which he critiques Cosby and the CD project. 
 
Due out November 24th, “State of Emergency” incorporates the work of three rap artists, Supa Nova Slom, Jace the Great, and Hahz, who wrote and performed songs based on Cosby’s ideas as a means to bridge the generational gap and inspire social change.
Supa Nova Slom, who in addition to being a hip-hop artist, has been a community activist for many years has spearheaded initiatives such as The Hip Hop Meditation Cyphers, The Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood organization, and “The Wholistic Wellness for the Hip Hop Generation” DVD project.
He had this to say in response to Russell’s commentary:
“I hope that people do not get distracted and lost in the critiques of Cosby’s past comments but instead they are able to acknowledge what Cosby is doing RIGHT NOW! Cosby is taking a whole other route by investing in politically charged hip-hop that does not condemn but instead inspires and uplifts during a time when there is next to none of that happening in the music industry.  People need to be inspired and empowered again to get involved just as we got involved during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. This CD hopefully will inspire not only conversations, but also actions, programs, and raised self-esteem.”
Another artist on the project, Jace The Great, emphasized Cosby’s intergenerational approach and the need for solutions saying:
“Cosby has actually moved beyond just addressing or blaming the youth.  In our town hall he spoke openly to the elder generation about their involvement and accountability.  Point blank the problem right now is there is a State of Emergency in our communities and we need to act fast.  Cosby knowing the power and importance of hip-hop culture is using it as a means to reach more youth not to condemn them.”

(Source: The AM Group / Global Grind)