Ta-Nehisi Coates weighs in on Bill Cosby, and his own previous failures to confront the rape accusations. It’s a reckoning, and a lesson in how to face – and own – our shortcomings.
The alternative: this perfect Onion piece.
Issues of privilege – white privilege, male privilege, the privileges of fame and celebrity – are uncomfortable to grapple with. Understanding that the world is not, and never has been, a meritocracy can be uncomfortable. Recognizing the deep imperfections of our heroes can be uncomfortable. It’s easier to believe that things are the way they are for a good reason.
The truth is that there are lots of reasons why things are the way they are. Some of those reasons are good. Many of them are not. This isn’t just about Bill Cosby, or laughing at the Onion. It’s about understanding our own responsibility in building something better.
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