Students with learning problems can get help so that they can read and develop other skills needed for success, Russell Cosby told listeners Monday.
Cosby, brother of actor-comedian Bill Cosby, spoke at the Leflore County Civic Center. His speech was part of a gathering to herald the distribution of more than 51,000 books to Mississippi schools through the Delta Book Project.
The Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation was started in 1997 by Bill and Camille Cosby to promote awareness of learning differences and help train teachers. The foundation is named for their son, who died in 1997.
Troy and Curressia Brown of Itta Bena are coordinating the area effort to get the books out.
Russell Cosby recounted his frustration with learning when he was growing up. He said he realized early that it took him longer to learn, but he was told the problem would go away by the time he was 12.
Even then, though, he still couldn't read. He recalled that other students laughed at him for having to go to the "slow" class.
"The kids had a nice name for it," he said. "They called us 'O.B.' - out of brain."
However, teachers worked with him after school and helped him along. He eventually went to a trade school, graduated with honors, got a job and started a family.
But he was frustrated that he couldn't read nursery rhymes to his children.
"That hurt me dearly to my heart, not being able to participate in that part of my children's life," he said.
Cosby gave credit to his nephew Ennis and others who encouraged and pushed him.
Ennis was the one who urged him to be tested for a learning disability. Russell Cosby reluctantly sought a diagnosis and found he was dyslexic. Ennis also pushed him to earn a degree, so he went back to school.
In school, teachers pushed him to do 500-word essays even when he had trouble with basic writing, but he improved.
Now 56, he is a sophomore at Florida A&M University with a 3.4 grade point average, studying sociology.
"I'm doing better than I thought I would have, but it still takes me a long time," he said.
Cosby said he wanted to encourage educators and parents that children can overcome the learning differences they have.
"We can all be taught," he said. "That's the good thing."
Cosby also said he doesn't believe in giving Ritalin to calm all children with learning problems. Even if school administrators urge parents to do this, the parents should get all the information they can first, he said.
"The child already has a problem - a learning problem - so why add more to the problem?" he said.
Troy Brown told the audience he was contacted last fall about assembling a team to distribute the books and agreed to take the job on.
Brown, who is dyslexic, said this program is an effort to put the focus on children of all races in both public and private schools. Teachers, social organizations and others are working together, and everyone he asked for contributions to this project has given, he said.
"This is not a federal program; this is not a state program," he said. "This is an 'us' program, a 'we' program."
Also shown were excerpts from "Ennis' Gift," a program that was broadcast on the HBO Family channel. It included testimony from Brown, from students and from actors such as Danny Glover, Lindsay Wagner, James Earl Jones and Henry Winkler.
Brown said he met Bill Cosby when he was a student at Rust College. Cosby was to speak at commencement, and Brown drove him to the service. The two talked about the learning difficulties Brown had experienced.
The video showed Cosby asking Brown up to the stage and announcing to the audience that Brown had overcome dyslexia.
