Cosby ... for a cause
Bill Cosby settled comfortably into an easy chair at the Koury Center Friday night and spun a thread of very funny tales about the foibles of family life.
Wearing a blue and gold Aggies sweatshirt, the legendary comedian and actor was appearing --for free -- to benefit the Cosby Kids initiative at N.C. A&T that will prepare children as early as fourth grade for college careers.
Cosby has caused a stir now and again for a being a grumpy elder statesmen who isn't hesitant to tell it like it is about the state of black folk in the country. Even when the truth hurts.
But the only pain he dispensed Friday to a packed ballroom containing people of all races, ages and walks of life, was from them possibly laughing too hard.
The humor was gentle but hilarious, told in such a natural, effortless way, that even a malfunctionuing mike didn't knock Cosby off his stride. He'd just pause and jiggle the switch, and continue with stories about playing Spin the Bottle as a kid and getting beatings (in the North) and "whuppins" (in the South) and going to the dentist.
Once in while, he'd move out of the chair onto all fours on the floor, to dramatize a particular narrative.
He displayed the same kind of rare comic genius that Richard Pryor and only a few others could achieve, and he didn't cuss even once.
Some who may have been hoping for one of his patented, headline-making social diatribes may have been disappointed. He may have been saving that for today's commencement address for A&T.
But if they were, I couldn't tell. Everyone seemed to leave smiling and entertained.