For those who haven’t heard the “controversial” audio today, here it is…hear it for yourself. Mo’Kelly will sit this discussion out…conflict of interests. But all of you are welcome to comment accordingly.
CLICK HERE
Transcript HERE
Tavis and Rev. Al Sharpton go head-to-head on Sharpton’s radio program Click HERE.
new – Tom Joyner’s Blog Response HERE
new – Jack and Jill Politics is NOT Having it HERE
new – Roland Martin’s TJMS Response HERE
new – Blackamericaweb.com – A more evenhanded account HERE
new – Truth Minister Paul Scott offers a slightly different take HERE
new – The Atlantic Wire gives balanced view HERE
Conservative commentator Lenny McAllister Supports Tavis Smiley and conversation in Chicago Click HERE.
Blackvoices.com weighs in HERE.
EURWEB.com HERE.
Review Video:
In video below Ben Jealous of the NAACP and Al Sharpton discuss recent White House meeting. Sharpton details how the “disproportionately affected” should be included in the conversation to “regenerate” the economy. Is this the same as saying that we don’t (specifically) need a “Black” agenda (anymore) or simply a nuance of speech? Decide for yourself…
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The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, https://mrmokelly.com. Mo’Kelly can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes all commentary.
19 responses to “Tavis Smiley Puts Call Out to Black Leaders on Tom Joyner Morning Show 2.23.10 (AUDIO) (Al Sharpton Rebuts)”
Well this Chi town native will be in the building on March 20th. I guess the revolution will be televised. I think Tavis has some good points, other times I wish he would just shut up. People do need to realize that Obama is the President of the whole U.S not just Black people in the U.S., but race relations can't be ignored in this country just because you are a Black President and want to play it safe. I think if he is seen as doing anything for people of color, folks (and we know who they are) will start hollering favoratism. I am still boggled by the notion that because we now have a Black President, that all our issues are solved. Everyone must do their part to uplift the race, you can't rest on your laurels and reply on one person to do it for you, as many seem to have done since Obama has been in office.
I agree with Tavis. If Black America’s recognized leaders are unwilling to push President Obama on these issues now, how can they expect to hold the moral authority to question any other president henceforth about issue directly pertaining to Black America? The answer would be that they couldn’t. We have to look at the long haul and not just let this lay.
This is FANTASTIC! CHI-TOWN STAND UP!
I will write this: I disagree that we should demand anything from President Obama. He owes his election victory to the white voters who looked past his skin color and took a risk at the poll. They gambled and they won! It doesn't look like it right now, but the Prez is doing big things (credit card reform, health care, jobs) so I'm sure that inner-city folk will be on the agenda soon.
I look forward to seeing you all on March 20. I was supposed to go to Houston that day, but I'm moving my trip back a few days.
Tavis is all about controversy and calling out heavy hitters hmmm…the plot thickens.
Mo' this is interesting. My husband and I were talking about this same thing a couple of weeks ago.
This is what I think. Some of our "Black" poiticians have been in office for longer than Obama has been a grown man and what have they done? They have played the "house n" for so long, now that we have a Black President they think everything was suppose to change and change overnight. Remember, some of these same "negros" supported Clinton, and it was only when they saw he was winning the nomination they came out to support him. So let's not get this twisted. Some of you on this blog – did the same thing.
Obama never ran on a "Black" agenda. He is not the President of only 12% of the population – he's the President of ALL America.
I think it's time to hold these "career" politican responsible for their shortcomings. They have had ample opportunity to make some positive change within the Country. They should be supporting the Health Reform Bill and the Jobs Bill, and the way to include "Blacks" and people of color, is for those we have elected to be apart of the discussion and the decision. Fighting publicly with the President is not a way to help any of us.
These career politicans make a good living off the backs of the people. It's time that they go to work for us!
Let the Revolution Begin!!!!!!
Tavis is on the right track. How are we holding our 44th president accountable to the black agenda? Is the Obama administration exempt from this agenda and if so, why? Mo', I must admit Tavis Smiley is beginning to grow on me. How apropos, as Tavis closed his commentary by quoting Langston Hughes you can hear Al Sharpton's crazy meter go into overdrive. I'll always appreciate a leader who is courageous enough to call others to a higher level of accountability. Keep me posted on the network that will be airing this…I am intrigued. Can you say ratings?
Mo, which interest would be in conflict were you to comment?
Both…I've served in radio production capacities for both; but much moreso with Tavis. I can't comment without my comments being confused (or even abused) in some manner unrelated to the merits of their content. Some fights you just have to sit out. I would LOVE to jump in…but discretion is the better part of valor here.
Not only that, I was a firsthand witness behind the scenes to things most people don't know about which transpired on the day this all broke. There is a lot that isn't being told or discussed and I can't in good conscience broach this particular subject and also put myself into a fray unarmed because of privileged information I can't publicly reference. The only thing I can (and will say) is that the fact that there is so much debate is the best argument for why this needs to happen. We don't need to take any particular side here, other than the side of the greatest good to the greatest amount of Black people. There's more than one road which leads to any destination…let's always remember that.
I'll keep it short and sweet. I listen to Tavis about as much as I listen to Limbaugh. They both disguise their self grandizement (not sure this is a word, but you get the gist) in venomous attacks on people of greater character, stature, and position. Get at him AL.
Ooh!
I mean ooh!
Let me testify to my gratitude to you, Morris, and to Tavis and Rev. Al, for fighting like all get-out, AND never disrespecting. Never taking it below the belt. All about the head and shoulders, yes, a couple of body shots, yes, but in the end they both get to raise their arms.
Why am I in solidarity with blacks in America? That is one hell of a good question with so many answers, but a couple come to mind:
1. I grew up, as did Tavis and Rev. Al, in the 1970s, an era when the phrase 'Black Is Beauiful' was in full bloom, and I've made this point before, many of my heroes were black. Stevie Wonder. Top of the mountain. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays. Now remember I was 10 in 1970. By 1980 I could include among those heroes Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver and my birthdate-mate, Dr. King.
Why were they heroes to me? Every bit as much for their struggle as their talent. Something about enormous talent overcoming enormous struggle forges an epic greatness that could not help but inspire me.
And so I would willingly say I was transported. And by no means would I ever expect every person I meet, white or black, to understand or accept this testimony. I know that as well as I ever have. I'm not naive.
I've just allowed myself to float freely in this space. I'm grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in this culture, in these issues. I maybe don't even belong here, and maybe there's a thrill in that, but it most certainly is also true that I feel a solidarity with the black experience.
And I'm happy to write 50,000 words on that, in the hope that we find 5 words that explain it.
So as I listened to Tavis ham it up on Joyner while making a case for the state of the black experience, and then as I listened to Rev. Al strip him to his underwear, I was just so proud of Tavis for jumping off a cliff and trying to learn how to fly on the way down. It was just a thrill to listen to a man expose himself that way, knowing that others have microphones too.
He is such a ham, but there's something traditional about that too. Sometimes shouting is the correct tone of voice.
Thanks for posting this, Morris.
Mo, thank you so much for your response – especially since you were in no way obligated to respond. I work in the legal field myself, so I have a healthy respect for privileged and confidential information. And I agree with you whole heartedly, its not about taking sides, its about moving us forward.
Having said that, I respect Tavis' professed passion for the betterment of black people, but going about it this way, with the language he's using and calling people out like this makes us look bad.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Part 1:
I don't know what happened behind the scenes but I will say that I am a little confused on how visiting the WH to discuss the effects of unemployment on our community or expressing disappointment of Holder's decision to not move a police brutality case through is giving the POTUS a pass. I even listened to Prof. Ogletree express disappointment & discuss how they need to find another route to make sure the issue was not dismissed – but I guess this is still giving pass, huh? Hmmmm.
I admire some of the work Tavis has done but I must look at this move with the crooked eye. Firstly, how do you set a date without talking with the leaders to see if it may work for at least the majority of those he wants to participate in the discussion? And if they can't make it, will they be demonized like Obama despite getting less than one-month notice? And really – what is the agenda of this meeting? Is it a call to action or a call to pontificate ad nauseam without accomplishing anything pass getting stuff off folk's chests? (I won’t even touch the move to have this televised – I mean, is this about “our” community or publicity and ensuring relevance?)
Part 2:
Lastly, can someone help me to remember when any other president was pushed to have a “Black Agenda”? I thought it was about ‘US’ having a Black Agenda to be used as talking points when working to hold politicians accountable or pushing our issues. But can someone send me copies of past memos sent to Bush 1 and 2, Clinton or even Reagan on their need to have a Black agenda? When I voted for Obama, from the jump, I did not expect him to take our grocery list, wave his magic wand, and make it happen…at least not if he plans to be a 2-term president. What I expected was him, OVER TIME, putting more light on our issues and doing what he can to help push them along – but not creating a separate webpage on the WH site listing out his “Black Agenda”. C’mon ya’ll – let’s be real – unless we are satisfied with having our Obama plates, coins and black art purchased off the street and could care less about him getting 8 years to do his thing, then go on and demand that he become the Black Agenda President. But if we want to see him in office beyond 2012, let’s put our critical thinking caps on.
GaPeach7: I definitiely agree with you – you cannot try to initiate a civil discussion with fighting words? If he really wants to have a civil, productive discussion, he has unfortunately set the wrong tone.
"definitely" 🙂
Well, let's remember that Tavis is a natural ham and it's taken him this far. "The good with the bad" and all that.
Second, DWD (Designated White Dude: me) is trying to figure out, as are some in here, what would a black agenda be?
And how would/could Obama deal with it as President of Everybody?
I think it's not so much that we have a black president as that we have a liberal President and a liberal Congress, and if we can't get fairness and equality for all workers in a time such as this, what hope would there be to get it some other time?
I was watching the National Parks series on PBS last night and they were talking about the Civil Conservation Corps, which employed 3 million men during the depression and planted more trees than had ever been done before, and a bunch of other stuff in National Parks.
Of course there were other projects too.
So let's see, we have a bunch of unemployed and a bunch of things that need doing, and a liberal President and a liberal Congress…
and we can't get a WPA/CCC going? To put people to work instead of paying them to sit home or letting their families fall apart? We can't employ 5 million people for five years, which will spur the economy to maybe hire some more of the rest?
While rebuilding roads, bridges, electrical grids, wind farms, solar farms, and a lot of other important things.
We can't get that done?
So, to me, a black agenda would be an agenda where there is fairness and opportunity for all, regardless of where you live and what you look like.
Desperation is a great equalizer.
But it's just as true that desperate people look for scapegoats. The worse the economy gets, the worse racial animosity will get.
It just will.
So another black agenda item is to make sure that we don't turn on each other. Make sure we turn on the people who can do something about it.
And yes, that starts with Obama.
So I agree with Tavis and I'd like to say that what's good for the black agenda is almost certainly good for the country.
For some reason, I like Walt's line "Desperation is a great equalizer." That said, I am a little confused. The Covenant is as follows:
1. Securing the right to healthcare and Well-Being
2. Establishing a system of public education in which all children achieve at high levels and reach their full potential
3. Correcting the system of unequal justice
4. Fostering accountable community centered policing
5. Ensuring broad access to affordable neighborhoods that connect to opportunity
6. Claiming our democracy
7. Strengtening our rural roots
8. Accessing good jobs, wealth and economic prosperity
9. Assuring environmental justice for all
10. Closing the racial digital divide
When I read these, I see an agenda that could catapult African Americans and anyone else who is in the underserved communities across the US. Much of this, if I understand is in the President's agenda. But his agenda does not specifically say 'for Black folks only' just like these titles don't. Bcuz, when push come to shove, Black folk just aren't that damn selfish no matter how much we have been through. Roland had a big point….Young soldiers, no need to wait for next…..Tom is right that we are all family…anyone with negativity need to stop wasting that energy and get on the good foot. So I am on no side, but the right side which is we need both Tavis and Al to do what they do but we also need to get up off our beehinds and get to work bcuz neither of them, or Obama, can do everything themselves. Become a mentor, get interested in the PTA, school board, local elections, let your house be a haven, develop neighorhood groups, community groups….begin to pool funds for a PAC, support activists….and bring along our youth. Holla!
The reason I agree with Tavis is because history repeats itself, and it does so because humans typically have short memories.
I also completely agree with T. Dorsey. Selling a black agenda which does not dovetail with plain, basic equality is not the President's, any president's, job.
But let's face it: Obama is no John Edwards. He has no special focus on poverty. If he's made a major initiative to rebuild the poorer sections of New Orleans, I must have missed it.
The word 'intractable' is often associated with the word 'poverty' because, once an area declines, it can take generations to bring it back, if at all.
Poverty disproportionately affects minorities.
I've been asking, since we know that this unemployment means years of unemployment for many, where is the massive jobs program that we so clearly need?
Unemployment disproportionately affects minorities, ESPECIALLY men of working age.
This is not a great time to be a middle aged, unemployed black man. With one job for every six applicants, even "passive" racism becomes an enormous roadblock to individual productivity.
In other words, hard times hit minorities hardest. My DWD perspective is that it is very real that things could get a lot worse real soon.
It's probably worth keeping in mind that we who come here are members of an elite. We are almost certainly all educated, white collar workers or students.
That's not an accurate reflection of the pain sweeping this country (and of course, the world).