Judge who gave blacks-only lecture teams up with Cosby

ATLANTA -- Bill Cosby says apathy among some black Americans about violence, drugs, profanity and teenage sex has sunk to a level of asking someone to "pass the salt."

The comedian, who has made waves by criticizing the black community in the past, appeared Thursday night with a Georgia judge who kicked whites out of his courtroom while he lectured black defendants.

Cosby and Superior Court Judge Marvin Arrington spoke at a forum for at-risk youths from the Atlanta area. Both men are black.

"Our children are trying to tell us something," Cosby said to the predominantly black audience at Benjamin Mays High School as he talked about the importance of education and family.

The judge said the comedian contacted him two weeks ago and said, "'I want to come to Atlanta and help you with your fight to try to turn these young people around.'"

The judge has admitted he shouldn't have made white people leave as he tried to scare straight some young black men during the March 27 court session. He said he wanted to get the defendants' attention without dressing them down in front of whites.

Chris Tucker also attended the event. He told audience members to find something they're passionate about, saying it's otherwise easy to get into trouble.