THE SECRET OF LIFE

Bill Cosby, an African-American, was born in 1937 into a poor family. In the beginning, he barely earned a thousand dollars a year. Today, his annual income has reached several million dollars. How did a black man achieve such extraordinary success in white-dominated America? The answer lies in education and his determination to achieve success.

When Bill Cosby was in fifth grade at a school in Philadelphia, he often fooled around and paid little attention to studies. One day, his teacher, Miss Nagle, told him: “Even if you want to be a joker, you still need higher education. Without education, you cannot succeed in any field.” (Span, January 1987)

Bill Cosby took her advice seriously. He began working hard in his studies until he eventually earned a doctorate in education. Later, he started performing in entertainment programs, which led to television opportunities. Today, he is one of the most famous comedians in America. The Bill Cosby Show became the most expensive program on American television. Unlike many other black comedians, he avoided racial themes. Instead, he based his stories on universal experiences that everyone could relate to:

“Unlike many other black comedians, he avoided racial nuances and drew his stories from the kind of universal occurrences that could be understood by all.” (Span, January 1987)

Generally, Americans do not favour black people. Yet they watched Bill Cosby’s programs with great enthusiasm. Since he showed respect for white audiences, they in turn showed respect for him. If you want others to take interest in you, begin by taking interest in them. After that, you will have no complaints.