Nothing exposed the class and generational divide in black America more starkly than Bill Cosby's now-infamous assault on the black poor when he received an NAACP award in the spring of 2004. The comedian-cum-social critic lamented the lack of parenting, poor academic performance, sexual promiscuity, and criminal behavior among what he called the "knuckleheads" of the African-American community. Even more surprising than his comments, however, was the fact that his audience laughed and applauded. Best-selling writer, preacher, and scholar Michael Eric Dyson uses the Cosby brouhaha as a window on a growing cultural divide within the African-American community. According to Dyson, the "Afristocracy" -- lawyers, physicians, intellectuals, bankers, civil rights leaders, entertainers, and other professionals -- looks with disdain upon the black poor who make up the "Ghettocracy" -- single mothers on welfare, the married, single, and working poor, the incarcerated, and a battalion of impoverished children. Dyson explains why the black middle class has joined mainstream America to blame the poor for their troubles, rather than tackling the systemic injustices that shape their lives. He exposes the flawed logic of Cosby's diatribe and offers a principled defense of the wrongly maligned black citizens at the bottom of the social totem pole. Displaying the critical prowess that has made him the nation's preeminent spokesman for the hip-hop generation, Dyson challenges us all -- black and white -- to confront the social problems that the civil rights movement failed to solve.

Merisa Davis & Family Merisa Parson Davis is Dr. Bill Cosby's cousin. She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master's degree in Theological Studies. She attends First Redeemer Church in Cumming, Georgia, pastored by Dr. Richard Lee. There, she serves as a Bible teacher, youth worker, and women's conference speaker. She earned her undergraduate degree at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Founded by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell) There, she studied television, journalism, and Christian counseling. She is a former news reporter for WVIR-TV NBC-29, in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Merisa has worked in youth ministry since 1998. Currently, she is helping create Liberty University's new Black Worship Studies Program, scheduled to begin classes in fall of 2010. She has been married for 15 years to Marc Davis, who is the owner of the Davis State Farm Insurance Agency, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. She is the proud mother of Charissa Joy and Marc Isaac. She plans to pursue her Ph.D in the near future. "For several years now I have had the joy to see, firsthand, how God is using Merisa Davis to bring a message of inspiration to others. Her book, "Bill Cosby Is Right" is a prescription for those who are seeking to move to a higher place in their work, their lives, and their faith." Dr. Richard Lee, General Editor, "The American Patriot's Bible," Founding Pastor, First Redeemer Church "I have had the opportunity of reading a portion of Merisa's book, "Bill Cosby Is Right." To say the least, it is the best that I have ever seen on the subject. My advice-secure a copy and be both informed and inspired " Dr. Harold L. Willmington, author, "Willmington's Guide to the Bible," Dean, Willmington School of the Bible, Liberty University

The first major biography of an American icon, comedian Bill Cosby. Based on extensive research and in-depth interviews with Cosby and more than sixty of his closest friends and associates, it is a frank, fun and fascinating account of his life and historic legacy. Far from the gentle worlds of his routines or TV shows, Cosby grew up in a Philadelphia housing project, the son of an alcoholic, largely absent father and a loving but overworked mother. With novelistic detail, award winning journalist Mark Whitaker tells the story of how, after dropping out of high school, Cosby turned his life around by joining the Navy, talking his way into college, and seizing his first breaks as a stand-up comedian. Published on the 30th anniversary of The Cosby Show, the book reveals the behind-the-scenes story of that groundbreaking sitcom as well as Cosby’s bestselling albums, breakout role on I Spy, and pioneering place in children’s TV. But it also deals with professional setbacks and personal dramas, from an affair that sparked public scandal to the murder of his only son, and the private influence of his wife of fifty years, Camille Cosby. Whitaker explores the roots of Cosby’s controversial stands on race, as well as “the Cosby effect” that helped pave the way for a black president. For any fan of Bill Cosby’s work, and any student of American television, comedy, or social history, Cosby: His Life and Times is an essential read.

When a new boy in his second grade class tries to get the other students to play a game that involves saying the meanest things possible to one another, Little Bill shows him a better way to make friends.

The definitive account of Bill Cosby's transition from revered father figure to convicted criminal, told by a veteran crime reporter and former senior writer for People magazine Bill Cosby's decades-long career as a sweater-wearing, wholesome TV dad came to a swift and stunning end on April 26, 2018, when he was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. The mounting allegations against Bill Cosby--more than 60 women have come forward to accuse him of similar crimes--and his ultimate conviction were a shock to Americans, who wanted to cleave to their image of Cosby as a pudding-pop hero. Award-winning journalist and former People magazine senior writer Nicki Weisensee Egan was the first reporter to dig into the story when Constand went to the police in 2005. Other news organizations looked away, but Egan doggedly investigated the case, developing ties with entrenched sources and discovering incriminating details that would ultimately come to influence the prosecution. In her debut book, Chasing Cosby, Egan shares her firsthand account of Cosby's 13-year run from justice. She tells us how Cosby planned and executed his crimes, and how Hollywood alliances and law enforcement knew what Cosby was doing but did nothing to stop him. A veteran crime reporter, Egan also explores the cultural and social issues that influenced the case, delving into the psychological calculations of a serial predator and into the psyche of a nation that fervently wanted to put their faith in the innocence of "American's Dad." Rich in character and rife with dramatic revelations about popular culture, media power, and our criminal system, Egan's account will inform and fascinate readers with its candid telling of humanity's most enduring tale: the rise and fall of a cultural icon.

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.

The reigning King of Comedy demonstrates warmth, wit, and wisdom as he takes on two subjects close to us all. Cosby shares his thoughts on everything from childhood romances and adolescent crushes to first lovers, dating, and the rewards of marriage.