Erika Cosby's graduation speech scolds university for ignoring black artists in art classes - eldest daughter of Bill Cosby and recent graduate of the University of California at Berkeley

Jet, June 14, 1993

Erika Cosby, the eldest offspring of Dr. Bill and Dr. Camille Cosby, recently took the opportunity to reprimand the University of California at Berkeley for not including more Black artists in the curriculum when she picked up a master's degree in fine arts.

During the graduation speech, Ms. Cosby, 29, said she was saddened by the fact that the art program there virtually ignores the contributions of Black artists to the world's culture.

"As an African-American woman pursuing an art education, I have been consistently subjected to the Caucasian view of the history art," she began. She noted, ". . . I have endured countless lecture sessions, written assignments and essay exams that focus solely on one small facet of my history. This is extremely frustrating." She urged them to "broaden the spectrum of art history" to include Blacks and other "People of color." "It is discouraging not to hear the names of Black artists like Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, William H. Johnson, Howardina Pindell, David Hammons, Robert Colescott and many others."

In closing, "It's in all of our best interest to cover the gamut of art history. After all, what would much of Picasso's masterpiece paintings be without African art?"