Some Comments Have Been Edited

Bronzeville Metropolis
I hope everyone who was called out by Tavis Smiley ignores his “televised conversation”. He is calling this a “come to Jesus (Chicago) moment” when it is really a corporate sponsored televised Black embarrassment moment in the President’s hometown. Tavis is counting on the general public to back his claim that the Prez is not doing enough for Black people and thinks Chicagoans will throw the Prez under the bus.

Taitt
I Totally Agree With You!!

Bob
Just what we all need, more rhetoric that divides us all.

Glenn
After his dressing down from Rev. Sharpton, Tavis put a big pretty bow on his own irrelevancy. If his “televised conversation” were in my living room, I’d stay in the kitchen

Nickolus
No bet!!!! Obama is the face of Chicago as much as Jordan and every state i travel thru i’m proud to say i stay blocks from my president even if he’s in the whitehouse most the time

Bronzeville Metropolis
I hope to report the main people were no-shows. Micheal Dyson and Cornel West will support Tavis. But the rest need to stay away.

Glenn
Pretty big venue for just three people?? oh four, I forgot Tavis will be there.

Petrina
What!!!!! are u kidding me???? He got us twisted and we ain’t screwed!!!!! Tavis is coming to the Chi and we represent our own. if he don’t know he betta ask somebody...

LaShawn
Leila--HANDLE YO BIZ, SISTA. The irony of him coming HERE to do it--CHICAGO of all places... But of course he’ll come here--we’re a M-A-J-O-R media market, our political climate/culture is NOTORIOUS, and it’s Obama’s home ground. Dude knew what he was doing.

LaShawn
And M.E.D ain’t missin’ an oppty to showcase his hip-hop lingo and to show his sesquipedalianism!!! LMAO!!!

Bronzeville Metropolis
LOL!!!

Rey
Tavis (with love and respect) is just a forgotten “pitchman” who is looking for a product to sell. It might be a C-O-N spiracy to get the Negroes another payday.

Hunter
Leila, you are absolutely right. Makes you wonder which support/backing is from corporate types (yes, Sharpton has them too)? I wonder which network -- C-Span or Fox -- will be broadcasting this? I wonder which of his sponsors (Walmart, Wells Fargo, etc.) are putting up the “chump change” (probably $100K) for this event? Tavis is not liked here following the fallout from his “Covenant” con.

Grace
Thank you so much for sharing this info. @Hunter, it really does make you wonder about the corporate support. I’m really interested to see.

Rhonda
It kinda sounds like, in general, the public already feels Obama has thrown Black people under the bus. That has been swirling before Tavis’ bugle-blow. I’ve heard comments on Black radio talk shows, gotten emails myself, and heard and read it in other media. Just sayin’....But Tavis was greatly embarrassed on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Interesting morning drive that day.

LaShawn
@Rhonda: Yes--it was very interesting that morning! But--Tom said today that Tavis is gonna come back on before the Chgo State thing to announce WHICH of our local stations will air it... Guess he’s still in negotiations...

Mae
It is obvious that you are a staunch supporter of President Obama. I have no problem with this. However, when we speak about corporate sponsorship lets not be disingenuous in our selection. Tavis Smiley, Rev. Al Sharpton as well as President Obama are corporate sponsored leaders.

Tavis Smiley is catching hell not because of his sponsorship but because he dared to step out of line with the newly formed alliance of the “old and new”” negro leadership . This, my dear, is a checkable fact!

President Obama represents the “White Power Structure”. Plain and simple. No two ways about it. For those African-Americans who want to assimilate, he is ideal. No problem. In a democracy those who disagree and dissent also have the same rights. I should only hope that in your fervent and diligent support of Obama you respect the other political point of view. From what I have seen I am doubtful...but you never know.

Bronzeville Metropolis
Tavis did not step out of line, he is in line. I’m clear about Sharpton and other “leaders” but don’t get it twisted. Tavis is the one who called Bill Clinton Black and wrote an entire chapter in Clinton’s book. Barack’s run for president disrupted Tavis’ cozy plans to deliver the Black vote to the Clintons. Who knows what he was going to get in return...

Hunter
At least, Sharpton, Justice, Morial, Drs. Height and Ogletree in matters of policy on jobs, education, etc. (i.e. somewhat of a “black agenda”) are engaging folks in Congress and the White House. My question is this: Has Mr. Smiley (and his friends) debated, (publically or privately, and with who) and put forth, anywhere, anytime, any specific policy recommendations to any one in Congress or business? The Covenant was a good idea (I was involved), but it collapsed. And I don’t know why. I surmise that with a tv and radio show, movies, book promotion tour and other activities such an effort might be heavy-lifting.

So, is Smiley and his crew “coming to Jesus’ home” for a “choir rehersal” to write new lyrics of a new Prez. putdown song (to give the hostiles ammunicition for the upcoming elections and policy debates)? Or will his “Black Chorale” come prepared to discuss and draft specific policy proposals to rally the community and lobby Washington to draft into a bill and pass? My hope is that they do the later. Like Toyota, Trust needs to rebuilt in the Tavis brand.

Lastly, as the NYT reported Sunday in an article “The Brain Mistrust”, conservative institutions have been financed to the “tune” of over $1 billion over 20 years to get their message out. So, it is not about giving Prez. a pass--indeed, it has never been that. Oh, and what Chicago folks (other than Rev. Jackson and Brother Minister) are actually participating to keep them honest?

Mae
I would rather sleep in a hollow log and drink muddy water before I follow either Al Sharpton or Tavis Smiley. I know a lot less about the TV and radio personality Tavis Smiley and a lot more about Al Sharpton who wore a wire for the FBI and spied on the community I lived in. I am not moved or impressed with either. Do not despair, I will not get it twisted not for your sake but for mine. I have no allegiance to any political party or supposed leader; nor do I believe that any one of us have a monopoly on “leadership” just because one has a public forum.

What Tavis Smiley called Bill Clinton in his book (which I never read) is a passive personal commentary which he is certainly entitled to. What Tavis Smiley failed to discuss is how the Clinton administration “welfare reform” impacted the poor communities headed by single mothers creating millions of homeless families. Having an opinion is a far cry from having a political analysis. Which neither have yet to offer up.

My response to you was in no way antagonistic . I simple offered up an analysis based upon facts-CHECKABLE FACTS about corporate control of so-called Black leadership.

Hunter
Mae, your right in that there are caveats with corporate sponsorship and support of black causes and institutions. Look how black history month is framed (and marketed) via corporate money. I want to cry. The corporate hill is a slippery slope, morally and politically, that many in leadership positions choose to slide down for personal gain. See the movie The Corporation.

LaShawn, your perception is on: Chicago is a major media market and whatever goes down will get around. Keep your eye on things.

Carol
When and where is this T(R)AVIS-ty taking place?

Bronzeville Metropolis

LOL - Chicago State University...March 20th.

Neil
I’m having a bit of a challenge visualizing Tavis Smiley as the next Armstrong Williams...say it ain’t so....

Comments (0)