Why No One Talks Back to Cathy Hughes

By Natalie Hopkinson - TheRoot.com

If you’ve tuned in to black radio in the past few months, chances are you’ve heard “Reality Radio,” a series of announcements in which radio pioneer Cathy Hughes asks the black community to fight a new law in Congress that she claims would “murder black-owned radio.”

Her definition of homicide?Performance Rights Act (HR 848), a bill that would require radio stations to pay royalties to artists for playing their music. The potential winners and losers in the bill being considered by Congress has been a source of heated debate. But it clearly would dim the already free-falling profits of Hughes’ company Radio One, the nation’s largest chain of black radio stations.

Why No One Talks Back to Cathy Hughes....

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 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.

TOM JOYNER SHOW UNCOVERS SUPER TUESDAY IRREGULARITIES

Dallas, TX -- Tuesday, the Tom Joyner Morning Show monitored calls live on-air from the 1-866-MYVOTE1 voter empowerment hotline, which received over 1,000 calls from citizens reporting voter irregularities during today's Super Tuesday primaries.

The hotline has received over 20,000 calls total since the effort was launched last month. The hotline is a partnership between The Tom Joyner Morning Show and the NAACP.

In the first several hours of voting over 1,000 incidents of voter infractions were called into the national hotline by voters at the polls.

Throughout the morning Tom and the crew urged voters to stay in line and to report any problems they are encountering to the MYVOTE1 hotline number throughout the day. Meanwhile, the NAACP mobilized efforts locally to try to resolve voter issues in troubled areas.

Additionally, during the broadcast both Democratic candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton called in to the show to speak to voters. The show also featured special local reports from noted news anchors, Monica Pearson in Atlanta, Art Norman in Chicago and Sherri Jackson in Birmingham.

"I am proud of the work our show did today," says Tom Joyner, whose show is aired in more than 115 markets reaching over eight million listeners. "We are determined to make sure that every listener has a chance to vote this election season and make their voice heard."

The majority of calls centered on long lines and delays in voting due to insufficient voting machines and problems associated with the enforcement of Georgia's new controversial voter ID law.

Widespread problems in Georgia were the main topic of the show with most of the issues being concentrated in the 13th congressional district of the state that included parts of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Henry Counties.

According to Greg Moore, executive director of the NAACP National Voter Fund, the problems faced in Georgia by thousands of voters this morning were tied directly to the larger than expected influx of voters during the primary, and the failure of many county election officials to plan for the large influx of new voters.

Tom and the crew urged voters throughout the day to stay in line and to report any problems they were encountering to the MYVOTE1 hotline number throughout the day. The NAACP mobilized efforts locally to resolve voter issues in troubled areas.

Other minor delays due to machine problems and long lines were reported in Illinois, Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri. For more up to date information contact www.BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Today's broadcast of the The Tom Joyner Morning Show will continue with coverage of the Election 08 primaries and will include more voter feedback from Super Tuesday.

About the Tom Joyner Morning Show
The nation's # 1 syndicated urban morning show, which airs in over 115 markets reaching nearly 8 million listeners, has distinguished itself over the years as continuously giving back to its audience with quality programming, highly popular promotions, special events and philanthropy. Since 2004, Joyner has awarded millions to nearly 2,000 contest winners and his Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students in historically black colleges and universities. The Morning Show with co-hosts Sybil Wilkes and J. Anthony Brown also features news analysis with Jacque Reid, celebrity news with Jawn Murray, political commentary by Tavis Smiley and comedic observations by Huggy Lowdown the Celebrity Snitch. Joyner's website, BlackAmericaWeb.com, has more than 1.5 million registered users and features news with special reports by award winning journalists and exclusive political coverage as well as interactive elements with on demand audio.