Comedian Paul Mooney at the Black Repertory Theater in December. Photo: Minister of Information JR

MOI JR: What do you think about long time fellow comedian Bill Cosby and his tirades against the Black community?

Paul Mooney: I love it. I love that Bill Cosby has turned into Paul Mooney. Everything Bill says now is controversial and racial. And I remember Bill. Bill was an ambassador for white folks; he never mentioned race. I love every second of it. When he talks about it, he is telling the truth.

We do have to have a lot of work for our Black children. The truth hurts. We have a lot of work to do. But it is Bill's generation and my generation. We are at fault because we didn't follow through. And it is a backlash. We gave our kids the torch and the torch wasn't free. You know, look at the racial situation in Amerikkka. I don't know your age, but nothing has changed but the weather.

MOI JR: But I'm saying in terms of Bill talking a lot about Ebonics. But as I understand, Bill got famous off of Fat Albert, who talked ebonically the whole time. Some of the characters you couldn't understand what they were saying and you could come from the hood. That was on Bill Cosby's cartoon, but he criticizes - and he hasn't built one school in the Black community that I know about. I know that he has given money to the HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) who are most white-run ...

Paul Mooney: Bill Cosby has always not talked race in public, but in private he talks race. One of the Smothers Brothers - I think that it is the blondest one - he said the N word once in a club and Bill knocked him in the face. Bill has always been into helping Blacks behind the scenes. He has always done that. He really has. I know that from experience and for a fact. He has given money to the schools and the colleges - lots of money.

MOI JR: What do you think about Imus's recent tirade as well as Kramer's?

Paul Mooney: Well, he is a white man. He has the complexion for the protection. Imus can say and do anything he wants to do. He'll always be forgiven. Look at how they forgave Gov. Wallace. Well, you're too young for all of that.

If you have the complexion for the protection for the collection, you'll always be forgiven. This is a white world, and don't you ever forget it. I'm not stung by Imus, bringing his little Black friends with him. That doesn't surprise me; that's Amerikkka.

MOI JR: What do you think about how he turned the discussion to rap music, when that is not what influenced him?

Paul Mooney: Listen, Imus is who he is, OK? That man has been doing this for a long time, and the radio stations and the TV stations, they are all a part of it too. This is what the white folks do in private. This is how they feel. And the truth is like Jesse Owens; you can't outrun the truth. It catches up with you. And the wakeup call, everybody gets it. Charles is not in charge of this; Charles is not running this okay.

Paul Mooney: What kind of advice would you give young Black comedians as one of the elder statesmen of Black comedy?

Paul Mooney: Get a paper route.

MOI JR: Can you give us some of your last comments? What do you want to leave on the people's minds?

Paul Mooney: All I want them to know is know your history. Jesus was Black and so was Cleopatra. And have a very Happy Black New Year.

MOI JR: What's a Black New Year?

Paul Mooney: You being alive - that's a Black New Year, and it is a good one.

Email POCC Minister of Information JR at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit www.blockreportradio.com, hiphopwarreport.com and myspace.com/blockreportfilm.

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