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Old 01-12-2008, 04:40 AM
 
Location: Michigan
29,391 posts, read 55,413,702 times
Reputation: 22042

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few years ago, Bill Cosby set off a firestorm with a speech excoriating his fellow African-Americans for, among other things, buying $500 sneakers instead of educational toys for their children. In a recent book, Come On People, he repeats his argument that black Americans spend too much money on designer clothes and fancy cars, and don't invest sufficiently in their futures.

A new way of looking at race and conspicuous consumption. - By Ray Fisman - Slate Magazine
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Old 01-12-2008, 07:38 AM
 
Location: America
6,993 posts, read 17,309,505 times
Reputation: 2093
John1960

For a short time in my life I taught at a public school. If Bill Cosby thinks its only blacks in America, he needs to get out of his house and mingle more often.

Last edited by Wild Style; 01-12-2008 at 08:18 AM..
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Old 01-12-2008, 08:00 AM
 
Location: The Netherlands
8,568 posts, read 16,187,389 times
Reputation: 1573
I'd rather be poor and have style (which I am and have) than be rich and have no class.
Unfortunately most people do not realise that style can't be bought.
Having $500,- sneakers don't mean a thing when you don't have no class.
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Old 01-12-2008, 09:31 AM
 
47,525 posts, read 69,455,213 times
Reputation: 22471
What a strange article with strange justifications for consumerism.
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Old 01-12-2008, 04:51 PM
 
3,150 posts, read 8,682,572 times
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Umm... well it still doesn't answer the question on why blacks dump more money into vanity items than into wise investments.... actually it doesn't successfully explain anything at all.
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Old 01-12-2008, 05:02 PM
 
Location: Far Western KY
1,833 posts, read 6,408,852 times
Reputation: 866
So if you are a minority according to that article, you buy more than you need, for looks to keeps up with the Jones's or Martinez's or Washington's as the case may be?

That is pathetic if it is true.

I've never paid more than $50 for a pair of sneakers and I thought that was to much. Then again I realize that what you drive, wear, put on your feet has very little to do with what's in the bank. Some of the wealthiest people I know look like bums, I wonder why it is they have money and the guy with the $500 sneakers does not ... hmmm.

Status symbols, does not status make.
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Old 01-12-2008, 05:04 PM
 
Location: So. of Rosarito, Baja, Mexico
6,987 posts, read 21,847,558 times
Reputation: 7007
One thing about $500.00 sneakers being purchased by blacks? They may think they have style and class, but in my opinion they are NOTHING. It is superficial. MOD CUT. Steve

Last edited by NewToCA; 01-12-2008 at 05:13 PM.. Reason: find a better way to express yourself
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Old 01-12-2008, 05:12 PM
 
Location: Sacramento
14,044 posts, read 27,120,516 times
Reputation: 7373
I agree, it seemed like a pointless article.

In reading it, I started to think that the author was going to point out different symbols indicating status between black and white folks of similar incomes. This would have been something like sneakers for black kids and I-pods for white kids, but it didn't go in that direction at all.

At the end, despite the initial paragraph, the author appeared to generally agree with Cosby.
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Old 01-12-2008, 05:55 PM
 
8,438 posts, read 12,125,298 times
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Default Still on this one?

Bill Cosby gave that speech in 2004 and folks are still rolling it around? I think its time for further discussions. Let that one go.
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Old 01-13-2008, 05:07 AM
 
Location: The Netherlands
8,568 posts, read 16,187,389 times
Reputation: 1573
Originally Posted by Manigault
Quote:
Bill Cosby gave that speech in 2004 and folks are still rolling it around? I think its time for further discussions. Let that one go.
Okay, what's with all the bling-bling?

Or the whiggers ( like Ali G) with all the bling-bling?

And how about:
Quote:
A few hip hop insiders, such as the members of Public Enemy and the Puerto Rican reggaeton star Tego Calderon, have made the deliberate choice not to don expensive jewelry as a statement against bling culture. Missy Elliott stated in the aforementioned interview that hip hop artists should act as role models in this respect and encourage young people to invest responsibly and sensibly in stable, long-term assets.
source: Bling-bling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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