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June 09, 2004
There's Always a Bigger Fish
Today I had an extraordinary conversation with somebody who used to be rich. He was the first black somebody to buy property in a snooty neighborhood. He got heavily involved in local politics in this snooty city over such issues and got in trouble with the city fathers.
Once upon a time when all we had was Eddie Murphy movies, there were all sorts of dramatizations about what happens to blackfolks who piss off the wrong whitefolks. These days we pretend that everything is cool, and it's true to the extent that for most of us below the glass ceiling, it is. But what happens when a black multimillionaire pisses off several white multi-multi-millionaires. Well, if this brother's story is to be believed, it aint much different from Rodney King.
I exaggerate slightly. But let me ask you this. What would you do if you had a choice of being beat down like Rodney or sued for $15 million (that you actually have?). Well it turns out that this is what happened to homeboy; he faced cops that were, how shall we say, connected to a spiteful district attorney. They lied and it cost him more money than most of us make in a lifetime.
At every level of society, we all have our struggles. There is nothing gained that cannot be lost and there is no immunity from predators. You just bump up a class to where the sharks have platinum teeth.
Now in case I'm sounding alarmist, understand that this happened quite a while ago and he has recovered nicely, thank you. But the story served to remind me that petty vindictive bullies are at all levels of society, and there are a great number of creative ways to destroy people, even wealthy people.
Watch your back and remember Cobb's Rule #7.
Posted by mbowen at June 9, 2004 09:19 PM
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Comments
I am looking for Rodney Da Costa Cobb, born in Jamaica, Queens New York, lived in Louiville, Kentucky. Was in US Navy, Lived in Victoria, British columbia, Canada, married myself and had a daughter Alisa Alexander Cobb. I would like to get a hold of him. at above email address.
Posted by: Katherine Mondor formerly Cobb at June 27, 2004 05:21 PM
Cobb is this person's familiar middle name, not a surname. Sorry we can't be of help.
Posted by: True_Liberal at June 28, 2004 04:37 AM