Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors - Softcover

Bill Cosby; Alvin F. Poussaint

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595551867 ISBN 13: 9781595551863

Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2010

Synopsis

In Come On, People, Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint tell an inspiring story about human beings fighting hardships and succeeding. It is a story about strong, resilient people who have overcome poverty and mistreatment. Do not be surprised if you find yourself identifying personally with the stories because you see the same struggle in either yourself or in an acquaintance or a relative. It is a stirring call for us all to complete the daunting transition from victims to victors, from helplessness to hope. Come On, People will encourage you to set aside excuses and make a better life today—for you, for your children, for your community, and for your future.

About this title

About the Author:

Bill Cosby is one of the most influential performers of the last half century. From a poor Philadelphia neighborhood, he rose to dominate the airwaves through shows like I Spy and The Cosby Show; become the all-time bestselling comedian on records; and author several blockbuster books, including Fatherhood, which became the fastest-selling hardcover book of all time and spent 54 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. A crusader throughout his career, his success is complemented by involvement with a host of charitable, education, and civil rights organizations. Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., grew up in a family of eight children in East Harlem, New York. He is a veteran of the civil rights movement, serving as Southern Field Director of the Medical Committee for Human Rights in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s. He is currently a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Judge Baker Children's Center. Dr. Poussaint is coauthor of Raising Black Children and Lay My Burden Down.

From Publishers Weekly:

With his at-times controversial social commentary fresh in the public mind, legendary comedian Cosby (Fatherhood) teams up with psychiatrist Poussaint (Lay my Burden Down) to take a hard look at the state of black America, bearer of "more than their share of poverty," and present ways to overcome the "deep-rooted" challenges of the poor-including crime, lack of education and broken families. While aimed at a specific group, the authors' advice is broad and largely unsurprising-stay in school, work your way up, be independent, parent your children, stay out of debt, be a voice for change-but the context is genuine concern and hope for the community: "black strength lies in our resolve to keep on keeping on... never yielding to the role of cooperative victim." The authors are particularly concerned about young black males, who they say are relinquishing family responsibilities in increasing numbers, largely for lack of proper role models: "A house without a father is a challenge. A neighborhood without fathers is a catastrophe." Taking a long view of black Americans' struggle, Cosby and Poussaint draw cogent and historically-minded arguments against the excesses of gangsta rap, but prove even more vehement on the destructive influence of corporal punishment on kids. This tough, thoughtful guide to life will prove valuable not just for its target audience, but for the activists, social workers, clergy and teachers able to "provide our youth with the love and guidance that keeps them strong and on that positive path."
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About this edition

• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1595551867
• ISBN 13: 9781595551863
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288