You know as a young, Black man that is old enough to remember when the Cosby show was the shit back in the 80’s, I feel torn because of all the allegations and seemingly irrefutable stories on display from the countless women who have said that Bill Cosby drugged them and raped them.

For such a influential and moral figure, who spoke on the sensitive issues confronting Black America, his fall from grace is epic. He was the moral compass that said that Black men needed to take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming the system for holding them back, He also gave controversial speeches about how Black men needed to be fathers to their sons and give them a positive example and role model to look to, instead of just trying to immulate what they see on t.v.

The man who was seen as a t.v father to some, and a real life father figure to others. I really find it stunning to see that he had such a vicious, cold-hearted dark side. To some they don’t see how it was possible, in my eyes I’ve always held the belief that the ones who hold the highest moral compass and talk the most bosterious about a situation tend to have a dark side, that actually contridicts the message they preach.

Now this is not true of all individuals with power and prestige who have a strong stance on a subject. But what we are seeing is more often this is becoming the case. Powerful figures who hide behind their public outcries, yet in private they are the creatures they reprimand to the world. You know I was truly hoping that in this case these allegations were not true and that these women were just taking an opportunistic opportunity to try to cash in on this story.

But as one of my good friends said, when you have so many different women, from all different walks of life telling the same story and the same way, you can’t ignore them and say they’re all lying you must accept the fact that maybe this amazing man has done awful things.

My hope is that Mr. Cosby will realize that he cannot repair his image by remaining silent and defiant. I understand he never thought he would have to face the terrible crimes he is accused of committing, but I think if hasn’t realized anything else, it’s that America is country of forgiveness, but you must accept and admit your faults and seek to atone for the trauma caused.