--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'America's Dad' is what we called Bill…" description: "\"'America's Dad' is what we called Bill Cosby. And we called him that because, well, what a revolutionary way to put it. Through him, we were thumbing o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/wesley-morris-8047_american-family_america-s-dad-is-what-we-called-bill-cos_1913988.png" --- # 'America's Dad' is what we called Bill Cosby. And we… ![“'America's Dad' is what we called Bill Cosby. And we called him that because, well, what a revolutionary way to put it. Through him, we were thumbing our noses at the long, dreary history for black men in America by elevating this one to a paternal Olympus. In the 1980s, he made the black American…” quote by Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/wesley-morris-8047_american-family_america-s-dad-is-what-we-called-bill-cos_1913988.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/wesley-morris-8047_american-family_america-s-dad-is-what-we-called-bill-cos_1913988.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/wesley-morris-8047_american-family_america-s-dad-is-what-we-called-bill-cos_1913988.png) > “'America's Dad' is what we called Bill Cosby. And we called him that because, well, what a revolutionary way to put it. Through him, we were thumbing our noses at the long, dreary history for black men in America by elevating this one to a paternal Olympus. In the 1980s, he made the black American family seem 'just like us.'” [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques how Bill Cosby was elevated as a paternal figure, masking broader Black male struggles and history. **In simple terms:** Elevating one Black figure hides systemic issues. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse Black experiences beyond single icons. Themes representation race media history stereotypes Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - media analysis - education - community dialogue Key Concepts cultural critique social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How does media representation affect collective memory? - What other narratives are needed? A Different Perspective Focus on one figure can oversimplify complex histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-family/) [Black American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-american/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [I love 'America Dad' and 'Family Guy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/i-love-america-dad-and-family-guy/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [“Your Dad called and he said you’re not replying to any of his e-mails or returning his calls. Why is that?” I shrug my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rucy-ban/your-dad-called-and-he-said-you-re-not-replying-to-any-of-his-e-mails-2/) [Rucy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rucy-ban/) > [“Your dad called and sent me in with a replacement part. He doesn’t want you down for even a second. I’m also here to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/your-dad-called-and-sent-me-in-with-a-replacement-part-he-doesn-t/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I call Graham as I drive. I know, shame on me. But it isn't illegal! Although, with the way I drive, maybe it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-zart/i-call-graham-as-i-drive-i-know-shame-on-me-but-it-isn-t-illegal/) [Lindy Zart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-zart/) > [“S- Some info on your names. What's with the paywall in this stuff? Should I be concerned you're looking into dead women? P.S. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-swyler/s-some-info-on-your-names-what-s-with-the-paywall-in-this-stuff/) [Erika Swyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-swyler/) > [“Your Dad called and he said you’re not replying to any of his e-mails or returning his calls. Why is that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rucy-ban/your-dad-called-and-he-said-you-re-not-replying-to-any-of-his-e-mails/) [Rucy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rucy-ban/) > [Um, dad?" I called "How's it going?" "Percy!" Annabeth whispered. "We're in a hurry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/um-dad-i-called-how-s-it-going-percy-annabeth-whispered-we-re-in-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [At one point my dad called me and said, 'You have always been a great salesman. I think it's time you come home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courteney-cox/at-one-point-my-dad-called-me-and-said-you-have-always-been-a-great/) [Courteney Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courteney-cox/) > [If I had a $1.00 for every time my dad called me a failure…I wouldn't be a failure anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/if-i-had-a-1-00-for-every-time-my-dad-called-me-a-failure-i-wouldn-t/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [“I don’t know what surprised me more: the part where Chase completely gave us away, the part where he got mad at his dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-bach/i-don-t-know-what-surprised-me-more-the-part-where-chase-completely/) [Shelby Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-bach/) > [But you know, my dad called me the laziest white kid he ever met. When I screamed back at him that he was putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/but-you-know-my-dad-called-me-the-laziest-white-kid-he-ever-met-when/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [My dad called me meat head dead from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/my-dad-called-me-meat-head-dead-from-the-neck-up/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [“Dad called to Sam over my shoulder. “Take her with you. Please. I won’t ask for anything else.” “I’m not leaving you,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rush-altered/dad-called-to-sam-over-my-shoulder-take-her-with-you-please-i-won-t/) Jennifer Rush Altered > [We didn't even have a T.V. in my house until I was 13. My dad called it the 'idiot box.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-yoba/we-didn-t-even-have-a-t-v-in-my-house-until-i-was-13-my-dad-called-it/) [Malik Yoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-yoba/) > [This morning my dad called me up and said, 'So, tonight's your last show, huh.' And I said, 'No, Dad, that's someone else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/this-morning-my-dad-called-me-up-and-said-so-tonight-s-your-last-show/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) ## More by Wesley Morris > [I don't like turkey. I mean, I do. But I don't like it on Thanksgiving. I don't need it. There are about 20 other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-don-t-like-turkey-i-mean-i-do-but-i-don-t-like-it-on-thanksgiving-i/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > ['Playboy' operated with a patina of civility that granted the average man a presumption of pleasure that went one way - his. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/playboy-operated-with-a-patina-of-civility-that-granted-the-average/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I feel like I've always approached criticism with a degree of morality, right? Like, not as a moralizer, but just as somebody who wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-approached-criticism-with-a-degree-of/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [A week before Thanksgiving, my mother bought the turkey, frozen. Then she froze it some more. Then she let it thaw and cleaned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/a-week-before-thanksgiving-my-mother-bought-the-turkey-frozen-then/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Jordan Peele is famous, in part, for imitations - of rappers and dingbats and the 44th president of the United States. But he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/jordan-peele-is-famous-in-part-for-imitations-of-rappers-and-dingbats/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I don't need the audience, but sometimes it's nice to have a gauge - not so I know how I feel, but so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-don-t-need-the-audience-but-sometimes-it-s-nice-to-have-a-gauge-not/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [If Judge Steven T. O'Neill sent Mr. Cosby away for the rest of his life, that sentence couldn't undo what he's convicted of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/if-judge-steven-t-o-neill-sent-mr-cosby-away-for-the-rest-of-his-life/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Anyone who watches a lot of television, or listens to pop music, is familiar with a certain vision of America. If not exactly colorblind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/anyone-who-watches-a-lot-of-television-or-listens-to-pop-music-is/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I like Rob Morgan in 'Mudbound.' Most of the attention being paid to this movie has focused on Rachel Morrison's cinematography and Mary J.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-like-rob-morgan-in-mudbound-most-of-the-attention-being-paid-to/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I like Nora Ephron. She wasn't a critic in the strictest sense of the word, but she did a lot of social criticism. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-like-nora-ephron-she-wasn-t-a-critic-in-the-strictest-sense-of-the/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Anything produced and then exhibited for public view is open to interpretation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/anything-produced-and-then-exhibited-for-public-view-is-open-to/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I don't see a lot, but I think what the movie studios know and what they always know but they kind of ignore, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/i-don-t-see-a-lot-but-i-think-what-the-movie-studios-know-and-what/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [What about Hong Chau? In typical supporting-part fashion, she shows up halfway through 'Downsizing,' already shrunk, an imperious Vietnamese house cleaner with a limp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/what-about-hong-chau-in-typical-supporting-part-fashion-she-shows-up/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Ms. Sciorra is a member of a dwindling fleet of actors who actually sound like they come from somewhere. In her case, 'somewhere' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/ms-sciorra-is-a-member-of-a-dwindling-fleet-of-actors-who-actually/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [Suddenly, stories of abuse and harassment are being believed; abusers and harassers are being toppled. Yet, at the same time, one of the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/suddenly-stories-of-abuse-and-harassment-are-being-believed-abusers/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) [Explore all 85 Wesley Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) ## More American family quotes > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [We want American families to feel more confident in life. We want the next generation to know that yes, the best days of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/we-want-american-families-to-feel-more-confident-in-life-we-want-the/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“At the very same time that we witnessed the explosion of white celebrity moms, and the outpouring of advice to a surveillance of middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-douglas/at-the-very-same-time-that-we-witnessed-the-explosion-of-white/) [Susan J. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-douglas/) > [To my way of thinking, the American family started to decline when parents began to communicate with their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/to-my-way-of-thinking-the-american-family-started-to-decline-when/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [“We are taken through the pursuit of the American dream, the establishment of the American family, and a smattering of suspense and intrigue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-allgire/we-are-taken-through-the-pursuit-of-the-american-dream-the/) Nikita Allgire > [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I was completely naive about the business of being an actor. My family didn't go to the theater or to the movies. We watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-was-completely-naive-about-the-business-of-being-an-actor-my-family/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [“...when President Clinton, on the anniversary of his election, spoke in the church in Tennessee where Martin Luther King, Jr., had delivered his last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-himmelfarb/when-president-clinton-on-the-anniversary-of-his-election-spoke-in/) [Gertrude Himmelfarb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-himmelfarb/) > [We had a very upwardly mobile economy, and that peaked around the 1950s when the typical middle-class American family consisted of a father with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/we-had-a-very-upwardly-mobile-economy-and-that-peaked-around-the/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [The truth is that family values, as used by the American Family Association, Dan Quayle, and the southern Baptists, has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-sullivan/the-truth-is-that-family-values-as-used-by-the-american-family/) Morris Sullivan > [When I was a kid I got so much help from the Church. When I was a kid, our family was so poor they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-woo/when-i-was-a-kid-i-got-so-much-help-from-the-church-when-i-was-a-kid/) [John Woo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-woo/) > [There is no institution more vital to our Nation's survival than the American family. Here the seeds of personal character are planted, the roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-institution-more-vital-to-our-nation-s-survival-than-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, yeah, my dad is white - he's American. His family has been in this country for many, many, many years. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/you-know-yeah-my-dad-is-white-he-s-american-his-family-has-been-in/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [I think health care reform is challenging and challenged. We will see what happens, but this is a difficult topic that touches every American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blunt/i-think-health-care-reform-is-challenging-and-challenged-we-will-see/) [Roy Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blunt/) > [You hear a lot of dialogue on the death of the American family. Families aren't dying. They're merging into big conglomerates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/you-hear-a-lot-of-dialogue-on-the-death-of-the-american-family/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) [Browse all 155 American family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'America's Dad' is what we called Bill Cosby. And we called him that because, well, what a revolutionary way to put it. 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