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Within minutes, Smiley was plugging his forthcoming book, "Accountable: Making the Covenant Real," and promoting his latest project, "America I AM: The African American Imprint," a traveling museum exhibition sponsored by Wal-Mart.I was motivated to watch the talkfest by the hundreds of thoughtful comments in response to my earlier post. The Black Voices community has convinced me that Barack Obama made the right decision to stay on the campaign trail. And that Smiley should "get over himself" and "shut the hell up."
Well, that's not likely to happen anytime soon. As the day dragged on, Smiley made it clear that in his world, "politicians should be held accountable for their actions on social justice issues." Fair enough.
But Smiley should be held accountable for organizing a conference on "recasting our future" whose "title sponsor," Wells Fargo, is a key player in the subprime mortgage meltdown. Prof. Michael Eric Dyson noted that the subprime crisis has led to the "greatest bleeding off of wealth in the history of this nation."
The subprime mortgage scheme has recast the future for African American homeowners who are facing foreclosure. Indeed, Angela Glover Blackwell said: "The wealth in the black community is being decimated by the mortgage crisis."
Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against Wells Fargo alleging the bank intentionally targeted African Americans for high-interest mortgages in violation of federal law. Similar lawsuits have been filed against Wells Fargo by the city of Cleveland and the NAACP.
So, while Smiley pleaded for "a language of love as we make our choices" between Obama and Hillary Clinton (read: cut him some slack), he showed no love for Wells Fargo's victims. By the time Smiley is out promoting his book on accountability next year, thousands of Wells Fargo's borrowers will be out of their homes.
Smiley asked participants to give it up for the "free seat" made possible by Wells Fargo and his other corporate sponsors. That "free seat" was partly paid for by African Americans who were taken for a ride in their pursuit of the American dream of homeownership.
Comments: (85)
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By: Felicia on 2/28/2008 1:27AM
just sad (shaking my head sad)
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By: Gregory Moore on 2/25/2008 2:55PM
Faye, couldn't agree with you more. Here's what I wrote for both my website and for a couple of other mainstream sites that will post it later this week.
Keep up the good work.
G. Moore
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From this Internet veteran's standpoint, Tavis got what he needed to learn to be media savvy
By Gregory Moore
SAN ANTONIO -- If you haven't read, seen or heard by now, Tavis Smiley took some major heat the past two weeks for blasting Sen. Barack Obama's unwillingness to show up at last Saturday's State of the Black Union symposium that was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you haven't heard, seen or read any of the stories that have come forth you have missed a lesson in why it is important to be more above reproach and less egotistical when it comes to dealing with the Black community. But for those of you who haven't hard, seen or read the stories, let me give you a quick recap of what has transpired.
Roughly two weeks ago, Smiley had sent out invitations to the then four major presidential candidates to appear at the SOBU function. Of the four, only one candidate RSVP'd; Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama did not show up Saturday and neither did John McCain or Mike Huckabee. However the flack that Smiley is still receiving is not from his blast on McCain or Huckabee but on Obama. Smiley lambasted Sen. Obama's decision as a miscalculation on the Senator's part and he went on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and expressed his displeasure. It was from that standpoint that Smiley then received the grief he is currently receiving now.
"I have family in Indianapolis," Smiley told the Washington Post in an interview a few days later.
"They are harassing my momma, harassing my brother. It's getting to be crazy," Smiley told the newspaper.
If Smiley never understood why he cannot go on the radio and take crack shots at big time newsmakers, he got a quick lesson this month. Welcome the big leagues Tavis.
I can understand why Smiley may feel that he is now the poster child for everything wrong with Black leadership. What Smiley has never envisioned was that somebody was going to be against his thoughts, feelings and movement AND he never thought that Black America would be so savvy enough to let it be known of their displeasure. Well Tavis it happens and as an Internet veteran for over a decade, when you are on the national scene like you are, you are going to get major backlash from more than just a few people.
Smiley's comments and the fact that there were other Black commentators, bloggers and just ordinary people who have Internet access only heightened a precarious moment. I am quite sure that had he re-thought his strategy, Smiley would have never went on his buddy Tom Joyner's show and expressed his displeasure like he did. I'm still amazed that Joyner has caught a similar backlash himself for "co-signing" with Smiley on this issue. Yet I can't say I'm surprised either. When you say something controversial, you had better expect some heat from somewhere.
The problem with Smiley is that he sincerely thinks he is the only voice out here in the "Blacksphere" of the black community. Veteran writers like Roland Martin, Dr. Boyce Watkins and even myself have been where he is today and we have all survived. The difference however is that I don't think any of us acted as arrogant as he did before the firestorm came his way.
The lesson that Smiley needs to learn is that Black America is not as duped and brain dumb as he thinks. In case he hasn't noticed, Black America has evolved from clamoring for a voice like a Julian Bond, Jesse Jackson, Al Shartpon and others. Today, Black America wants someone or a group of individuals who can show them how to not only still be Black (i.e. true to themselves and their beliefs) but also how to fit well into society at large. Today Black America realizes that we are the face of the country and that our problems are indeed no different than 95% of the country. Events like the SOBU is not about trying to get our voices heard but about how to deal with our problems internally and how to fix them internally.
Tavis is a big boy. Surely he will realize that when you have a national platform, you are going to take some hits. He's not the only one who has been taking to the woodshed and 'spanked'. This won't the first time his own community disagrees with him and he needs to realize that.
But there is a lesson to be learned here and hopfully he has learned it.
You have to be careful even in your criticisms and that sometimes whatever your personal agenda may be, it may not be what others have.
Had Tavis simply said that he respected Sen. Obama's decision not to participate and that he looks forward to future participation, this would have been a non-issue for him. It would have been because by all accounts, those in attendance didn't think it was a big deal for Obama missing the event.
The last part of the lesson is that very statement; if the attendees (meaning the community) didn't think it was a big deal, why didn't Smiley?
Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor/webmaster for the San Antonio Informer, found at www.sainformer.net. He is an Internet veteran columnist who has also been a contributor to various News Talk, Sports Talk and Sports programming for Fox Sports Radio, Sporting News Radio, and ESPN as well as for Clear Channel, Inc. and other media outlets including the nation's only premiere black sports website, Black Athlete Sports Network (www.blackathlete.net).
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By: Reece on 2/25/2008 5:05PM
Great Observation Faye!!! I watched and was puzzled by the sponsors. Wells Fargo, Walmart! I watched the State of the Union every year and my State still hasn't changed.
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By: Dee on 2/25/2008 5:43PM
Faye and Gregory, true observations of the Tavis Smiley situation. Mr. Smiley doesn't seem to understand exactly what's going on. He appears to be self indulged and somewhat narcisistic. I hope he learned the lesson that it is not about him or his program. Something is happending here that is beyond all of that. Al Sharpton said something so profound on his radio program. He said, "If I can't help you I won't hurt you." Tavis didn't care if he hurt Baracks chance at obtaining the presidential nomination. I along with many many others have flipped our hands at Tavis.
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By: pgodschild on 2/25/2008 5:58PM
In looking at is sponsor it is obvious why he attacked Barack. UM......He Travis has no become enlightened that he of his own accord can be successful and not slander or discredit other people(black, white, etc) to get ahead. It is called integrity..... I hope that he comes to the light and understand that what God has for him is for him and when God exhalts you Wal-mart, Wells Fargo or the Clintsons can not bring you down.
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By: Cheri on 2/25/2008 6:15PM
Thanks for the comments about the Tavist Smiley/Barack Obama situation. I have enjoyed Tavist Smiley's yearly telecasts highlighting issues in the black community, although like Reece my state has not changed by or after watching the shows. The shows do provide a "feel-good" moment for the community and seem a good way for them to sell a lot of books.
But, I was pleased to read comments that suggest many in the community were incensed that Barack Obama was expected to drop everything for Tavist's invitation. Actually I thought they pretty much "dissed" Barack at last year's session. If I'm not mistaken when conversation about Obama's announcement of his candidacy came up, there was not much enthusiasm from Tavist or the panel. I believe they chided him for announcing in Springfield rather than in some area they thought more "black."
This comment rubbed me the wrong way, along with others that seemed to paint Obama with a "not black enough" brush. I'm from the Springfield area and though it may be news to Tavist and the gang, so are plenty other African-Americans, Latinos and others. The community may be more diverse than others, but this may be why we may have great awareness that many struggles can have as much to do with class as they do race. But, even with that knowledge every day when I wake I'm black, and I've lived with and continue to eperience issues emanating from this African-American experience.
As one young brother said during the Saturday session, "We are the leaders we are looking for." This election appears to be energizing the community and galvanizing folks around common goals and it's exciting. I think black leadership is finally realizing the African-American public is more capable than they may have thought. Clearly, the population feels able to define what issues are important to them, and what candidate will best represent these interests as President of the United States.
And, it's not based on whether or not they attend an event such as this one...
Cheri
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By: Patricia on 2/25/2008 6:29PM
From the very beginning I said that Barack should not go to that forum, I think everybody knew who it was going to be about, and that it would be the same old tired conversation, with no solutions to the same old tired problems. However, one new thing did happen we saw and heard from a brand new fool, a super delegate by the name of Stephanie Jones from Cleveland Ohio, add her name to the list of "I'm still on the plantation". She was just down right ignorant. If you were watching I need not say anymore. WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT. Omaha Ne. Patricia
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By: Shell on 2/25/2008 7:43PM
People are JUST NOW realizing this about Tavis Smiley??? I have never been dazzled by this man and these forums and round-tables have been played out and useless for a long time. It's about the indiviual- do something as a human being for yourself and stop limiting yourself based on race and other things that don't matter. God made us all- we're human- not colors. God sees us as the indiviuals He created us to be.
Tavis Smiley is the black version of Bill O'Reilley.
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By: Dee on 2/25/2008 8:16PM
Shell, girl you summed it up.
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By: Beth Davis on 2/25/2008 9:26PM
THANKS FAYE; I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.
WHY WASN'T TAVIS AND OTHERS OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
HELPING AND CELEBRATING THIS HISTORICAL EVENT IN OUR LIFE TIME.
TEN SENATORS, TEN GOVERNORS AND I AM DOING SOMETHING EVERYDAY FOR SENATOR OBAMA. I AM 68 YEARS; AND I AM SO PROUD. "WHEN YOU HELP ENOUGH PEOPLE REACH THEIR GOALS, YOU WILL REACH YOURS". WHO HAS TAVIS HELPED?
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