By: Tom Joyner
Whew! What a weekend.
On Friday. I participated in a panel discussion about race relations at Howard University, then I flew to Augusta, Georgia to attend the Masters Golf Tournament. But if I had one of those thought bubbles over my head, everyone would have known I was really thinking about Tavis’ decision to move on. And a lot of you were, too.
I got voice mails, texts, faxes, snail mail and telegrams (That’s really old school!). Some said Tavis should “grow some” and get back in there and fight; some said black people really need him, and some, when he actually leaves in July, want his job!
Let me make it clear that if Tavis leaves, it won’t happen until July. He will be doing his regular commentary tomorrow.
For those of you who asked for his job, let me say this: Tavis wasn’t just doing a “job.” It was more than that. It’s like if a family member ran away from home, and someone showed up and said, “Is it okay if I replace your brother?” You would look at that guy like he was crazy because you know that the relationship, the memories and the history you had with your brother is irreplaceable. I feel that way about Tavis.
I met Tavis 12 years ago at the White House. Bill Clinton was running for his second term, and Ron Brown and Al Gore invited black media to talk about getting black issues discussed during the campaign (If Hillary does win this thing, I wonder if I’ll still be on the list. She looks like she can hold a grudge. But I’m not “bitter.”). Back in 1996, Tavis had a one-minute commentary on an L.A. radio station and a book of his commentaries from that show. The TJMS was a little over a year old, with maybe 40 stations and a million and a half listeners. As I listened to the same old empty promises to address black issues, I read some of the Smiley Minute Reports in his book. I knew immediately that this guy was passionate about black people.
I shared an idea I had for getting more black people to register to vote that included giving every person that registered a chance to win a new Lexus with a gold kit. Tavis didn’t like that idea -- mainly because it was illegal -- but he came up with a plan of his own. He would come on our show twice a week, and we would get people excited about registering by wrapping it around a big road show that would include music, celebrities and political guests. A "party with a purpose” -- and the birth of the Sky Show.
Tavis chose 11 cities where black turnout at the polls was crucial if we were going to elect some black candidates (I hope those black candidates are supportive of Tavis, whether they agree with his commentaries 100 percent of the time or not.). Tavis’ focus on black people has not changed. He’s still about getting black issues before the candidates and giving black people a reason to vote.
I’m giving you background about Tavis and me because I want you to know the role he’s played on the show. I also wanted to make this point: In any healthy relationship, you shouldn’t allow one incident to determine your actions. You look at the total package, the total history, the total experience. Knowing how much Tavis loves black people and all the things he’s done for black people, I would not let the one time he isn’t saying exactly what I want him to say nullify all the good things he’s done for our show and for black people -- and you shouldn’t either. I believe that if he’s cared about black people all these years, he wouldn’t stop now.
More tomorrow.
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