Smiley And West On Wall Street Corruption / "Knock It Off With The black Business Will Ya?"

The Professor Who Schooled Tavis Smiley

By: Les Payne

Bristling in the face of the calm scholar, Tavis Smiley was having none of the lesson that Randall Kennedy was teaching on Smiley's TV show in early September. So the Harvard law professor contented himself with taking PBS viewers to school on the complex relationship between the first black U.S. president and his African-American constituency.

Kennedy weighed in with the scholarship of his new book, The Persistence of the Color Line: Racial Politics and the Obama Presidency, noting that President Barack Obama has mastered the dual audience so troubling to black seekers of high office. African-American voters broke for him in the '08 primary after largely white voters in Iowa favored him over John Edwards and Hillary Clinton.

Already, Kennedy argued, Obama was overcoming skepticism among grassroots blacks wary about his upbringing by a white mother and her parents. He heaped praise upon Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders and displayed the requisite level of "comfort with black history, black culture, black rhythms, black colloquialisms."And whereas Obama did not choose his parents, the young politician had chosen a "very distinguished black woman, Michelle Robinson" as his wife. CONTINUE....

Steve Harvey: Cornel West, Tavis Smiley Are 'Uncle Toms'

Image by Glory Foods via Flickr

By Deron Dalton

During his syndicated radio show, comedian Steve Harvey called out Cornel West and Tavis Smiley for their poverty bus tour, while defending President Barack Obama.

After a listener sent an email about the duo's tour being a hustle, Harvey didn't shy away for offering his own opinion -- accusing West and Smiley for using personal vendettas to damage the Obama's name.

"I was a huge fan of Cornel West," he said. "[But] Tavis, I seen him coming a mile away. His anger started when he had a town hall meeting, President Obama couldn't come because of the campaign trail and he sent Mrs. Obama. He has held that grudge every since." CONTINUE....

Why Tavis Smiley is a Genius- What black intellectuals owe the rest of us.

By: Lenny McAllister

Tavis Smiley’s genius doesn’t come from his radio and television talk shows, nor does it come from his appearances as a guest social commentator on multiple international outlets. It comes from his formation and continuation of the “State of the Black Union” annual symposium.

The genius of the panels during C-SPAN’s most-watched event doesn’t come from the high level of academic acumen on stage at any given moment. It comes from the depth of understanding shared by a common people with a unique history, one that highlights both significant American adversity and accomplishments.

Of all the talking points, we are beckoned to bridge the growing gap between black intelligentsia and those who feel the effects of black-on-black violence, higher levels of school dropout rates and dangerous levels of inadequate health conditions.

Never before have we seen such a deep contrast within the African-American community. We can proudly point to the accomplishments of black authors, professors, businesspeople and politicians in a manner never before seen in America. But we must also realize the stark contrast between those Americans and others who’ve given up on the American dream and, in many ways, have given up on dreaming at all. Over the past several decades, the widening of socioeconomic diversity within the black community has not built a bridge for an adequate flow of education, mentorship, community reinvestment and black solidarity. Many of the problems within black America are not directly dealing with race, but more so with poverty. Unfortunately, we constitute a higher percentage of the poor in our nation—granted, in some part because of racism, but also because of our failure to connect all African Americans, a call that we must receive and enact immediately.

Some panelists spoke to the need to spend wisely and value education zealously. Others spoke to the need for increased federal reinvestment economically. During my panel, I presented the idea of African-American professionals with two or more weeks of paid vacation per year giving one week back to their local black community as a volunteer until we can change the conditions we face.

Why Tavis Smiley is a Genius....

STATE OF THE BLACK UNION 2009 Webcast

SOBU WEBCAST....

State of Black Union Celebrates its 10th Year

By: Jackie Jones

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tavis Smiley’s "State of the Black Union," an annual forum designed to help empower the black community.

Previous forums and a trilogy of books focused on a covenant with black America that calls on self-help and commitments from elected officials, community leaders, corporations and American citizens themselves - particularly African-Americans - to improve the quality of life.

"Accountable: Making America As Good As Its Promise," the third book of the "Covenant" trilogy, co-authored by Smiley and "Tom Joyner Morning Show" commentator Stephanie Robinson, president and CEO of the Jamestown Project, a national think tank that focuses on democracy, features statistics and real-life anecdotes that explain how the nation’s current economic crisis is playing out.

“'The Covenant with Black America' was the what - the 10 things we wanted done. This book lays out the what before President Barack Obama was a candidate. The second book, 'The Covenant In Action,' was the how-do-we-tackle-this part, and the third book is the whether - the yardstick to measure whether we’re holding people to that agenda,” Smiley told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

“Equally as important,” Smiley said, “we lay out what we can do to help (Obama) achieve that agenda. I want Barack Obama to be a great president.”

Although Smiley took heat from a number of quarters last year for raising questions about what then-candidate Obama was committed to doing to help the black condition, he said he was simply raising the questions that he believed black people needed to ask to ensure their issues would be addressed.

Some of the heat, he said, was based on a fear by some black people that to say anything that could be construed as negative about Obama would diminish his chances for becoming president.

State of Black Union Celebrates its 10th Year....

TAVIS SAYS OBAMA SHOULDN'T GET AUTOMATIC PASS: Journalist says both candidates should be held accountable.

There is no such thing in America as race transcendence, and Obama's going to find that out real soon," said talk show host Tavis Smiley in an interview Monday with the Associated Press.

The veteran journalist has been in the eye of an Internet firestorm after making comments about the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee that were perceived as negative.

After criticizing Obama on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" for choosing not to appear on Smiley's annual State of the Black Union gathering in February, the TV host was put on blast by a large contingent of the African-American community, who questioned his loyalty, motives and ego.

TAVIS SAYS OBAMA SHOULDN'T GET AUTOMATIC PASS....

TAVIS' 'MY AMERICA 2008': An opportunity for first-time voters to do commentary on Smiley's PRI radio show.

Jeremy Berry
Smiley Radio Properties, Inc

If you are a first-time voter, between the ages of 18-24, then The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI wants to hear from you!

The Tavis Smiley Show is looking for the voices of youth to contribute to its My America 2008 series.

Young adults that are voting for the first time in this election are invited to submit commentaries that may be selected for broadcast on air at the conclusion of each program.

YOU, as a first-time voter, are invited to submit short essays that profile your initial voting experience and political perspectives. What is inspiring you to vote? What issues matter to you this election? What do you hope the next President can do for this country? By contributing to the series, you can help spur our nation into action starting with My America 2008.

What Is My America 2008?
We often hear Americans take pride in our national history: our fore-parents created a new nation steeped in the promise of liberty and equality, we sent a man to the moon, and created a Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after WW II. With such awesome accomplishments reflecting the best in the human spirit -- and the American spirit -- many wonder, "why can't we provide the best and most accessible health care, education or jobs".

My America 2008, produced by The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI, profiles the challenges and triumphs of everyday Americans and how their lives will be affected by the plans and policies of the candidates running for the White House. This 26-part series, leading up to the 2008 presidential election, will profile subjects selected from submissions from average, everyday individuals and families throughout the country.

Beginning in May, My America 2008 will get to the heart of the most pressing issues facing Americans today: war in Iraq, terrorism and national security, the economy, health care, education, energy, immigration and more. Tavis Smiley will navigate this lively discussion toward realistic solutions that elicit the best of what America stands for and can accomplish. By giving the final word to the next generation, My America will leave listeners with a powerful sense of the importance of these issues to those who shall inherit the country.

Please take a moment to visit www.myamerica2008.org for more information on the series.

TheFlyJock's Blog: Breathe & Stop

Yesterday, a few minutes after the show started, I was trying to make a point. I was trying to discuss this blog and how I was going to write about Tavis until he changes his mind about leaving the show. J. kept interrupting me so he could make his point. I got frustrated and said some things I shouldn’t have said. I told J. to shut up, turn off his microphone or go home. He went home. I wasn’t trying to keep J. from expressing his views; I was trying to keep him from stopping me from expressing mine. But since I did it in a rude, unprofessional way, I am sorry.

This thing is really getting strange. I was upset about Tavis leaving and upset with some of the people who didn’t like the way he was expressing himself. In defending Tavis, I got upset with J. and expressed myself. As a result, some people, got upset with me.

When you think about it, it was our first on-air fight.

Actually, as much time as we spend together, J. and I could have fallen out over a lot of things over the years. Like the time we were in Atlantic City, and a white guy spilled ketchup on J. When he “raised up” on the guy, he says neither I or our friend George Wallace had his back. But we didn’t fall out over that. We laughed about it. Then there was the time when we were riding in a car together in L.A., and we got stopped by the LAPD. I told J. not to say a word, I would do all the talking. But when the officer came over to the car, I had flashbacks of the Rodney King beating and couldn’t get a word out. We laughed about that, too. Oh, then there was the time J. needed a ride to the airport. I showed up to pick him up in my two-seater and he had 37 pieces of luggage. We didn’t fall about that either. So surely we haven’t fallen out over Tavis, have we?

Oddly enough, in the center of all this unrest is Barack Obama, the black man who has an excellent chance of becoming the first black president of the United States. You would think the idea of seeing a black president in our lifetime would be a source of unification for black America. In many ways, it has been, but there’s also a lot of quarreling and feuding going on. I don’t think any of us are angry, but we are emotional, and we’re letting our emotions get the best of us. If we don’t all stop for a minute, take a deep breath and remember to keep our eye on the prize, we’re going to be shaking our heads in November wondering what happened. As the Rev. Jesse Jackson likes to say, we’re treating the pre-season like it’s the Super Bowl. We’re not even done with the primaries yet, and if none of us are speaking to each other by November, there’s no way the outcome will be a positive one.

When I spoke to Tavis yesterday and in his commentary today, he’ll tell us in his own words why he’s decided to move on from the TJMS. Listen, and get the story firsthand. It will probably be the last time he talks about it. By Thursday and until he leaves at the end of June, he’ll be back to saying some of the same stuff that got everyone riled up in the first place.

Stay tuned!

Tavis Smiley: The Total Package and the Total History

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.

JOYNER SAYS PLEASE GIVE TAVIS SOME LOVE: Radio host writes open letter in response to Smiley's announced exit from morning show.

Well, you did it. This isn’t the way you wanted it to happen, but it happened anyway. Just like I knew it would," begins an open letter from veteran radio personality Tom Joyner to Tavis Smiley.

It's the latest in ongoing drama that followed Joyner's announcement Friday that Smiley will end his twice-a-week commentaries on the syndicated morning show.

When the news broke, folks speculated that he couldn't handle the backlash he's been getting from blacks over his criticism of Barack Obama. Although Smiley released a statement saying he was leaving to focus on future projects under his company, The Smiley Group, Inc., Joyner isn't buying it.

"We all know that isn’t the real reason he’s leaving the show," Joyner writes in the open letter, posted on the radio industry blog Urbansite.com. "The real reason is that he can’t take the hate he’s been getting regarding the Barack issue — hate from the black people that he loves so much. He needed to feel the love. We all do, whether it’s from our radio audience or from people we know personally. He wasn’t feeling any love, so he quit."

As previously reported, Smiley sent a letter to EUR and other media outlets stating that he did not “quit” the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately.

"In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June," Smiley wrote.

Still, Joyner claims Smiley is leaving because the black community has put him on blast. The cold shoulder was sparked after one of his TJMS commentaries urged listeners not to buy into the hype of Obama. It reached a peak after Smiley called out the senator for choosing to stay on the campaign trail instead of attending his recent State of the Black Union conference in New Orleans.

"I’ll also admit that I wanted Tavis to show a little more love to Barack Obama, and I was frustrated over his failure to do so," Joyner wrote before ultimately suggesting that listeners at least attempt to respect Smiley's different perspective.

"What Tavis was saying made us think. It had us talking, it had us listening to a different point of view, and it was damn good radio," Joyner continued. "Tavis on the radio not saying everything that we want him to say is a lot better than not having Tavis on the radio at all. 'The Tom Joyner Morning Show' without Tavis gives our listeners one less reason to tune in, and in case you don’t know, all of us in radio -- and in black radio especially -- are in a battle for our lives. We need good, controversial, compelling radio, and Tavis brought that."

"But because Tavis has not come out and said, 'I am for Barack Obama,' everybody has started hating on him and threatening him and clowning him, and he can’t take it," Joyner continued. "Those of us who know him well know that. If you read his autobiography, 'What I Know for Sure,' you know that no matter how deep his love is, if he feels that he’s right or that you’re wrong, he doesn’t back down.

"When his mom made him step down from being class president because his grades were slipping, he didn’t speak to her for two years. His own mama, a single parent of eight! He lived in her house, ate her food while he sat at her table and didn’t say a word to her for two years. All because he didn’t feel the love that his mom was trying to give him."

In conclusion, Joyner wrote: "Tavis said the things he said about Barack because he wants the black people that he loves so much to think -- but to most of you, it sounded like hate, and it sounded like that to me too. Love or hate, real or perceived, none of it matters now. What matters is that Tavis wants to quit the TJMS -- and that’s real.

"I want you to call him, e-mail him, text him, hug him, kiss him, get him in a corner and wrestle him and tell him how much you love him and appreciate his love for black people. Everyone needs that sometimes. And Tavis needs it right now."


*Meanwhile, the Tavis Smiley Group has just announced a three-year partnership with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company that will include exclusive sponsorship of Smiley's PBS television program, national sponsorship of the 2009 State of the Black Union event to be held next February in Los Angeles and sponsorship of an exclusive five-city tour in which Smiley and Nationwide will join forces to promote economic empowerment and financial literacy.

TAVIS SMILEY SPEAKS: Here's his statement regarding his decision to leave the Tom Joyner Morning show.

As reported earlier, Tavis Smiley is saying goodbye to the Tom Joyner Morning show.

Speculation has been flying all over the internet that it was because of the negative reaction of the show's audience to his so-called 'Barack Bashing" commentaries.


Because of the intense reaction to the announcement, Smiley sent this response to EURweb and other media outlets:


There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I’ve had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.


Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and emails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.


I did not “quit” the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately. In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June.


Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall and beyond.


I look forward to continuing the dialogue on Tuesday and in the coming months. www.tavistalks.com

Tavis Smiley Quits the TJMS

By: Tom Joyner

Well, you did it. This isn’t the way you wanted it to happen, but it happened anyway. Just like I knew it would.

I got a call from Tavis on yesterday. And he told me he was quitting the show. He told me the reason was that he was tired and has a lot of things going on, and he feels that now is a good time to leave the show.

We all know that isn’t the real reason he’s leaving the show. The real reason is that he can’t take the hate he’s been getting regarding the Barack issue — hate from the black people that he loves so much. He needed to feel the love. We all do, whether it’s from our radio audience or from people we know personally. He wasn’t feeling any love, so he quit.

A while back, he told us that I don’t speak for him. But this morning, since he isn’t here to speak for himself, I think it’s my job as a colleague and a friend. And maybe this time, you’ll really listen to me.

Tavis truly loves black people. I tried to tell you that. The hate he’s been getting hurts. He’ll never admit that, but it’s true.

And here’s something you may not want to admit: Black people need Tavis. You may not agree with what he has said, but he said it because he has love for black people. I’ll admit that sometimes listening to him was like trying to figure out the DaVinci Codes. I’ll also admit that I wanted Tavis to show a little more love to Barack Obama, and I was frustrated over his failure to do so. But what Tavis was saying made us think. It had us talking, it had us listening to a different point of view, and it was damn good radio. Tavis on the radio not saying everything that we want him to say is a lot better than not having Tavis on the radio at all. “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” without Tavis gives our listeners one less reason to tune in, and in case you don’t know, all of us in radio -- and in black radio especially -- are in a battle for our lives. We need good, controversial, compelling radio, and Tavis brought that.


When Tavis put the first “Covenant” book together, he was on a mission to hold whoever led this nation accountable to black people and to things that were critical to us. At the time, he had no idea that Barack Obama was going to run for president. His goal was for EVERY presidential candidate to answer to every covenant in the book during this campaign. He has said all along that he is holding Barack and all candidates accountable. Dr. King would have done the same thing.

When asked what Dr. King would want him to do on this campaign, Barack has said Dr. King would want him to address the issues. That’s all Tavis was asking of him, and I think Dr. King would have been proud of Tavis.

But because Tavis has not come out and said, “I am for Barack Obama,” everybody has started hating on him and threatening him and clowning him, and he can’t take it. Those of us who know him well know that. If you read his autobiography, “What I Know for Sure,” you know that no matter how deep his love is, if he feels that he’s right or that you’re wrong, he doesn’t back down. When his mom made him step down from being class president because his grades were slipping, he didn’t speak to her for two years. His own mama, a single parent of eight! He lived in her house, ate her food while he sat at her table and didn’t say a word to her for two years. All because he didn’t feel the love that his mom was trying to give him.

Tavis said the things he said about Barack because he wants the black people that he loves so much to think -- but to most of you, it sounded like hate, and it sounded like that to me too. Love or hate, real or perceived, none of it matters now. What matters is that Tavis wants to quit the TJMS -- and that’s real.

I want you to call him, e-mail him, text him, hug him, kiss him, get him in a corner and wrestle him and tell him how much you love him and appreciate his love for black people. Everyone needs that sometimes. And Tavis needs it right now.

STATE OF THE BLACK UNION 2008

By Kam Williams

Senator Barack Obama opted to remain on the campaign trail in Ohio rather than accept an invite to address the convention of African-American intellectuals who had gathered to participate in the 9th Annual State of the Black Union.

Curiously, despite the fact that Senator Hillary Clinton did attend, Obama had enough advocates on hand to counterbalance any potential blowback generated by his conspicuous absence.


In fact, some of the speakers opted to lobby openly on his behalf, such as Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. who warned the audience not to “miss this moment,” which he euphorically referred to as “Obamarama!”


The event was staged in New Orleans at the Convention Center, the site where Hurricane Katrina refugees were stranded without food, water or any essential services for days on end.


Mayor Ray Nagin was on the dais during the morning session, alongside such luminaries as Reverend Jackson, Congresswomen Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Memphis high school student Darrin Keith Boyce, Bush administration rep and EEOC Chairman Naomi Churchill, Former Congressman Cleo Fields (D-LA), New Orleans Pastor Melvin Jones, Professor Michael Eric Dyson, Xavier University President Dr. Norman Francis and PolicyLink’s Angela Glover Blackwell.


The afternoon portion of the program featured Princeton University Professors Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Eddie Glaude, comedian Dick Gregory, Democratic National Committee member Donna Brazile, Florida State University Professor Na’im Akbar, Morehouse College President Robert Franklin, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Dillard University student Stephanie Woodward, Katrina Survivor Herreast Harrison and TransAfrica Forum Executive Director Nicole Lee.


Besides Obama generally getting a pass, Mayor Nagin seemed to be treated with kid gloves, too, in light of the ostensible gentrification of what he once promised would remain a “Chocolate City.” Dick Gregory vehemently defended Ray’s embrace of the controversial nickname, pointing out that nobody ever complained when New Orleans was called “Sin City,” yet everybody unfairly got bent out of shape over the relatively benign sobriquet “Chocolate City.”


In fact, Mr. Gregory enjoyed the most memorable moments, primarily because he repeatedly went for the joke, this in sharp contrast to his colleagues who were soberly focusing on the social, political and economic concerns of the black community.


As for Hillary, she appeared onstage alone with host Tavis Smiley at the very end of a very long day. However, her brief comments amounted to an anti-climatic uphill battle, because she had to follow a long line of inspirational speakers who had long since whipped the probably already pro-Obama crowd into a frenzy over her opponent. More a Barack pep rally than a critical assessment of African-American issues.


The State of the Black Union? Impatiently anticipating the arrival of the Black Messiah.