Here (especially nasty registration required) is a reasoned response to Bill Cosby's recent remarks regarding failures in the black community.

Thomas Sowell's response is quotable (as expected):

Bill Cosby and the black "leadership" represent two long-standing differences about how to deal with the problems of the black community. The "leaders" are concerned with protecting the image of blacks, while Cosby is trying to protect the future of blacks, especially those of the younger generation.

I have read article after article stating how these comments would be considered racist if spoken by a white person. I find it rather disingenuous that the source is the sole factor in determining whether a spoken phrase demonstrates prejudice or not.

Racism is always wrong. Period.

But I find it interesting that we allow character flaws within individuals to completely neutralize their words, no matter what truth they contain. If words spoken by a black man are true, then how are they any less true when spoken by someone else?