Entertainment

Paul Mooney: Bill Cosby Got His ‘Wake-Up Call’

Published

11 years ago

July 28, 2015

Oakland Post

Paul Mooney (Courtesy of Black Enterprise)

Outspoken Comedian Comes to D.C. With Dick Gregory

By Stacy M. Brown
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer

Paul Mooney has never been one to mince words, particularly when it comes to race and the topic of racism in America.

So when the legendary comedian was asked about the myriad of rape allegations against Bill Cosby, it likely came as little surprise that Mooney evoked a line synonymous with his stand-up routine.

“The only thing that I can say about that is that [Cosby] got his [Negro] wake-up call,” Mooney said, using the controversial N-word he often invokes as a way of “keeping it real.”

“What’s new? Does it surprise you? It goes to show how much power he didn’t have,” the comedian told The Huffington Post. “They took off all his reruns — TV Land just took everything off. Do you see his stuff on TV now?”

Mooney is scheduled to take the stage at the Howard Theatre in Northwest on Thursday at 8 p.m. for a “one night only” performance with Dick Gregory.

Mooney’s first professional gig in comedy was with the late Richard Pryor, for whom Mooney wrote most of the hilarious routines for Pryor’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance. Mooney co-wrote the groundbreaking “Live on the Sunset Strip,” and “Jo Jo Dancer: Your Life is Calling.”

He’s also credited with being responsible for the national television debuts of the late Robin Williams, Marsha Warfield, John Witherspoon, Tim Reid and Sandra Bernhard.

When asked whether he thought it fair that television networks have pulled “The Cosby Show” reruns, Mooney didn’t hesitate with his response.

“No. But, that’s white America,” he said. “But, you know the old saying, he ‘don’t have the complexion for the protection.'”

Mooney said he didn’t believe that the removal of the Confederate flag would make a difference in race issues facing America.

“What flag has done more harm to us than the Confederate flag? It was easy taking down the Confederate flag,” he said. “Racism is going to be here until you die, I die, till everybody dies. They just get slicker with it. Back in my day, they just said what they wanted to say; nowadays they just do certain things and get slicker with it.”

Born in Louisiana, Mooney grew up in the inner-city of Oakland, California. He joined the Charles Gody circus, becoming the first African-American ringmaster in history.

In addition to his work for Pryor, he’s written for “Sanford & Son,” and “In Living Color,” where he came up with Damon Wayans’ Homey the Clown character.

Mooney co-starred with Damon Wayans and Jada Pinkett-Smith in the Spike Lee film “Bamboozled,” and he’s recorded comedic albums such as “Race & Masterpiece,” and DVDs such as “Analyzing White America” and “It’s the End of the World.”

Mooney has teamed nearly 30 times with Gregory, the activist, philosopher, anti-drug crusader, author, actor and comedian who was also on the frontline during the 1960s battle for civil rights.

Despite the many accomplishments, both men still enjoy the comedy circuit.

While Mooney also heaped praise on today’s comedians, he recalled the tone others like he and Pryor set.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

Published

1 week ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

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From Historic Memories to New Possibilities: Oakland Celebrates Coliseum 60

More than 75 people gathered at Youth UpRising in East Oakland on Friday, September 18, for Coliseum 60, an event marking six decades of sports, entertainment, employment, and community memories at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Complex. Held 60 years to the day after the Coliseum first opened, the celebration featured cultural performances and a mini-documentary highlighting its history. Speakers reflected on the venue’s significant role in the community and its future possibilities. Read more to learn about the individuals and stories honored during this special event.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2026

Post News Group

Quixote Atkins of VillageGIVE moderates a panel discussion at the Coliseum 60 celebration at Youth UpRising featuring Keith Brown, a member of IATSE Local 107; author, historian and former Black Panther Party member Tareka Lewis; and African American Sports and Entertainment Group President Ray Bobbitt.

By Carla Thomas

More than 75 people gathered at Youth UpRising in East Oakland on Friday, Sept. 18, for Coliseum 60, a celebration honoring six decades of sports, entertainment, employment and community memories connected to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Complex.

Held 60 years to the day after the Coliseum opened, the event carried the theme, “One Community. One Legacy. One Future. Forward Together.”

The celebration opened with the national anthem performed by sisters Anese Jade, Amina Benjamin and Zaza Benjamin. Diamano Coura West African Dance Company contributed African dance and drumming, bringing movement, rhythm and cultural expression to the program.

A mini documentary highlighted the Coliseum’s sports history and its broader role as an entertainment destination. Archival material recalled performances by Prince and Tina Turner, along with memorable games featuring the Warriors, Oakland A’s and Raiders.

“The Coliseum 60 is about much more than celebrating a building or looking back at 60 years of history,” said event organizer Quixote Atkins of VillageGIVE.

“It’s about the people who made that history possible: the families, workers, athletes, artists, community leaders, fans and generations who gathered there and created memories together.”

A panel exploring that history featured author, historian and former Black Panther Party member Tareka Lewis; stagehand and union representative Keith Brown; and Ray Bobbitt, president of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group AASEG. Lewis described her family as fourth-generation Bay Area pioneers.

“My family and Black families who arrived even earlier helped build the Bay Area, grew businesses and established culture here,” Lewis said. “This should be taught in the public schools.”

Lewis recalled Oakland’s influence on sports, music and literature, from the Raiders’ beginnings at Laney College to stars such as The Pointer Sisters and Rickey Henderson who attended Oakland public schools. She also advocated for school museums, historical timelines, entrepreneurship training and investments benefiting corridors such as Bancroft Avenue and High Street.

Keith Brown, a member of Local 107 of the International Alliance of Theater and Stage Employees (IATSE) who began working at the Coliseum in 2011, remembered the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Ice Capades, baseball bat giveaways and Nelson Mandela’s 1990 appearance.

“The special events are amazing, but it’s the workers that make the memories real for everyone,” Brown said. “They make the magic happen at the Coliseum.”

The program recognized longtime workers, including beer-stand manager Robert Preston, who served for 40 years, and Kenyatta Gentry, who worked as a vendor for 24 years and used her earnings to purchase her first apartment. Union workers Jose Gonzales and Carmen Sandoval were also honored. Speakers emphasized that Coliseum employment provided generations of residents with union wages and benefits.

Dr. Denise Saddler, the superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) was also honored. Saddler shared her family’s history of working at the Coliseum.

District 7 Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston discussed the complex ownership arrangements involving the city, county and private interests.

“This was the most complex deal of its kind in the country,” Houston said.

Prior to moving from the East Coast, Alameda County Supervisor and Coliseum Joint Powers Authority Chair Nate Miley recalled learning about Oakland through its three professional sports teams. As an elected official and public servant, Miley fought hard to keep the Golden State Warriors, Oakland As, and the Raiders, but he is hopeful for the future.

“The story is not over for the Coliseum,” Miley said. “We’re entering a new chapter.”

Bobbitt said the departure of three teams had once seemed unimaginable, but he maintained that Oakland’s future remains bright.

“Oakland is a cultural superpower worldwide,” Bobbitt said. “We’re going to write the future where we participate and drive the redevelopment.”

Bobbitt highlighted AASEG’s four-year partnership with Castlemont High School’s architecture program, which engages students in reimagining and creating redevelopment concepts for the Coliseum property. “The youth will always move us forward. They are the future.”

In closing, Atkins said, “September 18 is the celebration, but what we build together afterward is the legacy.”