Back in the winter of 2008, when then-Senator Barack Obama was fighting tooth and nail to be the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States, black leaders were still divided on whether he was the right person to lead the country. Few critics, however, drew as much fire from the black community as talk show host and author Tavis Smiley.
When Obama skipped Smiley's annual State of the Black Union forum in New Orleans (his Democratic opponent Senator Hillary Clinton did attend), Smiley made it clear he thought that was the wrong move. "I think it's a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama's part. Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it," he told CNN at the time.
To Smiley, his stance was consistent with his long-standing mission to inform and uplift the black community. To some blacks, it was the stance of a spoiler who was perhaps envious of Obama's spotlight. Many of you within the Black Voices community thought that Obama needed to concentrate on winning battleground states instead of attending the forum. Over 41,000 of you took our poll about it, with 82 percent saying that Obama made the right decision.
Fast-forward just over a year, and Obama has recently passed the 100-day mark as the first African American president of the United States. "At the pace he's moving right now, at the end of his first term, he will have completed about 66 percent of what he said he was going to do," Smiley told Black Voices during a May 4 video interview, not long after being named one of the ''World's 100 Most Influential People' by Time magazine. "Now, 66 percent is a pretty good number; on the other hand, it's not exactly the dean's list."
If it sounds like he's grading our president, that's not an accident. Smiley has a new book, 'Accountable: Making America as Good as Its Promise,' which lists the campaign promises Obama made in 10 areas and provides a checklist for citizens to assess whether he has delivered on those promises. "The ground is fertile for him to be a great president, but we have to hold him accountable to doing those things that he said he was going to do -- not out of casting aspersions on him, but out of loving him, because if he succeeds, there's a chance that we'll have somewhere down the road another black president, a woman president, but if he fails, it may be another 400 years before we get a black president."
Once in our interview chair, Smiley also discussed Obama's recent remark that his approach is to "lift all boats" with respect to black joblessness. "A rising tide does lift all boats, but if you're in a yacht and I'm in a dinghy, we've still got a problem," said Smiley.
Tavis Talks To BV
Talk show host Tavis Smiley visited Black Voices to talk about his book, 'Accountable: Making America as Good as Its Promise,' as well as his documentary 'Stand.'
Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL
'Accountable' lists 242 campaign promises that President Barack Obama made. To those who suggest it is a critique of Obama, Smiley says, 'For those persons who thought for some reasons I was hating on Obama...I remind people that [my] trilogy of books started before he was ever heard of on the national scene.'
Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL
Smiley says the president has made substantial progress on the economy, but 'for all of the talk about the economy, the president has focused on Wall Street, he's focused a little bit on Main Street; but no real talk about the side street.'
Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL
For the documentary 'Stand,' Smiley gathered together several of his male friends on a trip through the South in the summer of 2008. Show from left (back): Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, Dick Gregory, David Porter, Isaac Hayes, Raymond Ross, Tavis Smiley, Wren Brown, Eddie Glaude, BeBe Winans, Cliff West
From left (front): Daron Boyce, Robert Smith
Raymond Ross
As America approached the historic presidential election, against the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s slaying, the national dialogue and debate intensified about race relations, politics and the legacy of the civil rights movement.
SIVAT Productions
While visiting places like the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King died, and iconic soul label Stax Records, Smiley and friends explored the diversity and complexity of the Black male experience in America.
SIVAT Productions
Their journey included a visit to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, on the site of Dr. King's slaying: Left to right: Tavis Smiley, Cornel West, Dick Gregory, BeBe Winans, Michael Eric Dyson, Eddie Glaude, Daron Boyce, Wren Brown, Robert Smith.
SIVAT Productions
Check out the video above to hear what else he said, then follow the links to Parts 2 and 3 for Smiley's discussion on his new documentary, 'Stand,' and his answer to a question from a BV member.
Tavis Smiley Images
Television personality Tavis Smiley (L) and Dr. Cornel West arrive for the Time 100 Gala in New York May 5, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
Talk show host Tavis Smiley, left, and Dr. Cornel West attend the Time 100 Gala, a celebration of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
AP
NEW YORK - MAY 05: Authors Tavis Smiley (L) and Dr. Cornell West attend Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World Gala at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
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WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) David Frum, columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
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WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Talk show host/political commentator Tavis Smiley attends the premiere of "Against the Tide" at the Directors Guild of America on February 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 18: (AFP OUT) Political commentator Tavis Smiley of "The Tavis Smiley Show," speaks during a pre-taping of "Meet the Press" at NBC studios January 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. Smiley took part in a roundtable discussion about previous Presidential inaugurations, the celebration of Martin Luther King Day, this week's inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, his whistle-stop train trip and his forthcoming administration. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet The Press)
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Keith Olbermann and Tavis Smiley attend the 2009 New York Times Art and Leisure weekend at TheTimesCenter on January 10, 2009 in New York City..2009 New York Times Art and Leisure Weekend - Keith Olbermann and Tavis Smiley.TheTimesCenter.New York, NY United States.January 10, 2009.Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (56463623), contact WireImage.com
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Comments: (100)
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By: Beverly on 5/08/2009 5:39PM
we are the only race that will loose the basttlr before the fight starts. I am so sick and tired of jealous Tavis Smiley. Yu talk alot of mess and it is not valid points. you are to back forward you foreget that you are balck. Now, you did not have a score card on no other president and now you have the nerve to give this man a score card. You are so backwards. I don't remember you having a card on Clinton and all his screw ups. Clinton, Bush, Bush, and Raegan kick you in the ass and never heard a word. Wake up Tavis you might need to look in the mirror and do some self-evaulation. Why am I upset at this man? Is it because he made it as our first African American President instead of me?
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By: constance on 5/10/2009 10:57PM
You nailed it. Tavis is an "egoist " and got kicked off B.E.T. for his attitude
I read about how his family life was less than what it should have been. However , you are supposed to learn from it.
He should be supporting Obama, not challanging him because he does not have any where near the credentials to ever become a presedent of the U.S.
Good reply, on your part.
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By: Hgred on 5/16/2009 6:10AM
Tavis Smiley is right. I dont know why black people are missleading themselves when it comes to Barak Obama. I have only voted two times in my life and both times were for him but that doesent mean that I will fool myself into thinking that we as a people have achieved anything more than what we have. Yes, it is a great thing that a person of color is President but that doesnt mean that he will be able to do anything more than what the establishment already in place will allow him to.I would like to think that he would be able to make significant change in the lives of African Americans but I just dont see it happening any time soon.
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By: Calvin on 7/16/2009 11:37PM
Beverly has a hard time understanding that the score card is based on the conditions of the black community. We already know that white America has no genuine love for black people. The love begins to take on life, only when a new election is up-and-coming.
I agree with Tavis! Asking the President; "what are you going to do for the black community," is a fair question! I'm tired of hearing all of those generic punchlines of us all rising together.
No one spoke of sinking with us when we were sinking. African-Americans have a totally different problem than those so-called minorities that have capitalized off of our struggle.
It was our ancestors who were brutalized even before the "Middle Passage" began. Thousands of our people perished on those horrible ships and in the sea. Our people endured the horrendous sin of slavery. Our people fought for a country that called us niggers, coons, and monkies. Our people were murdered, raped, demoralized, marginalized, hung, burned, kept ignorant...(and the list goes on). What other class of people in this country; past or present endured such indignities. Now, we have a president who would suggest that we pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps...when in most cities across this country; we're being hung by those bootstraps. Come on! Get real! We've come a long way. But, make no mistake; our journey has just begun. Your comment to Tavis is a clear confirmation to this truth.
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By: lawmiss on 5/08/2009 6:38PM
Oprah Winfrey has been running the column "What i know for sure", for at least 15 years. Can someone explain to me why Tavis stole her title and used it for a book. Oprah ignored his plagarism, and continued with her column. He attempted to try to fool people n2 believing it was a title he made up.
Now, he has the audacity to question someone else in the fulfillment of their job and their responsibilites. Will someone tell this empty loud mouth to do himself service and shut up.
he's not worthy of shining Obama's shoes.
Phoney-baloney.
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By: cheryll on 5/08/2009 5:48PM
tavis needs to grow up.
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By: James on 5/08/2009 6:31PM
Tavis is great at promoting Tavis! Nothing wrong with that, just don't make it seem like concern for Blacks.
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By: Roybaker on 5/08/2009 6:38PM
Bro Tavis appears to be jockin for jessie jackson's spot in shouting fire!
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By: NYClivin on 5/16/2009 11:17AM
Jesse and Al have about as much credibility as the person who came in third on any season of Survivor.
They need to be replaced with more modern thinkers.
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By: watkins on 5/08/2009 7:03PM
Where were Mr. Tavis and his accountable B.S the past eight years. I didn't hear him and accountable B.S when Bush was in office.
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