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Annette Insdorf: The Central Park Five Premieres in Cannes
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)
Getty Images
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)
Getty Images
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)
Getty Images
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: Trudy on 5/14/2009 8:08PM
I usually don't comment when I really don't like or disagree with someone, but this time I am going to change my way and I have to say and I feel that I must say that I totally DISAGREE WITH TAVIS SMILEY, MAXINE WATERS, JESSE JACKSON SR., AND ALL THE LIKE. I feel that these people are more of a STUMBLING BLOCK THAN AN ASSET TO AMERICANS. It's time we move on and away from Black this and Black that. We need to focus on PEOPLE AS PEOPLE, HUMANS AS HUMANS AND LET IT BE JUST THAT. I know if we would focus on people as people and humans as humans this would really start to look like the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY TO ME, and I will know that we have finally caught the true vision of God and started to MOVE FORWARD. For as long as we continue to dwell on Black and White we will never ever MOVE ON. And it is long overdue for ALL OF GODS CREATION TO PUT AWAY RACIAL DIFFERENCES AND MOVE ON. Helping all who are misfortunate, disinfranchised, without, starving, homeless, uneducated, poor, disheartened, downcast, and the like. Let us look to the Lord and see how, when , where, who,and so on He wants us to minister/serve and go on from there. Then and only then will we be true worshipers of Christ and began to live what we confess on Sunday's when we all gather in our places of worship. God Bless America and the World.
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By: Sammy on 5/16/2009 4:41AM
Smiley, newly discovered by white media, has a revisionist view of black folks/ anger.
Pres Obama, who was announcing his campaign at the time Smiley was having yet another "State of Black..." fill in the blanks, could not attend. Smiley chose to launch an attach against Mr. Obama. What nerve to not show up for the great Tavis Smiley approval.
No mention by Smiley of Obama on his show during the campaign. Total ignore.
Now he and other black so-called commentators, pundits, scholars and journalists are fighting over each other to get on the network and cable chat shows to sit with the white boys and the racist republicans as they attempt to undermine Pres Obama.
Anyone remember Smiley criticizing the previous 8 years of the Bush/Cheney assault on the country; of republican attempts to disenfranchise black people across this country?
Now that the guy in the WH is black, the media has discovered that there are many blacks who would sell their first born to be able to voice criticism of this uppity n*****.
Watch Smiley's face when Barack Obama is mentioned. Talk about envy. Some black people will do anything to undermine other blacks who achieve at a higher level. This is a characteristic unique to the black community, not found in other minority communities; only the black community.
Now his new friends in white media will gladly give him face time on tv. Look at how well Juan Williams does for his attacks on the First Lady.
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By: Big DEE on 6/03/2009 4:07PM
C'mon he's the president he need to be judge like any other offcial. Although he may have what some seem to say "special circumstance" Obama himself would want to be held to a standard to that the POTUS and not by lower level aspirations of others because of race, economy and politics
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By: TammieB on 5/17/2009 3:25PM
I use to be a huge fan of Tavis until this election. I can not for the life of me understand why Mr. Smiley got so bent out of shape because President Obama did not attend his event. True enough his State of the Black Union Forum is very empowering for the African American race. I am sure that President Obama is not the only person to ever pass up the invitation to attend. If I remember correctly, this event has not made or broke too many people. The way I see it...there is something else wrong!!!!
No other president as far back as I can remember (I have been voting for 21 years) had as much pressure for their first 100 days in office as President Obama. God did not creat this earth in one day so why is the first African American president the one having to hold the weight of the United States on his shoulders in only 100 days.
To this day I have yet feel any love coming from Mr. Smiley to the President.
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By: Sammy on 5/19/2009 4:14PM
"True enough his State of the Black Union Forum is very empowering for the African American race"
Sorry TammieB, but this is not a true statement. I know of no one who can list one single benefit of the TS "State of Black America ... fill in the blank.
TS and the people who attend these events on the dimes of the corporations who support them, are the ones who benefit. No one else. And try as hard as you might, you can't come up with any instances of anyone else benefiting.
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By: Katherine on 5/18/2009 2:31PM
I've always had much respect for Tavis Smiley, until this presidential race. He may have the best intentions, but he comes across as a "hater." While he is certainly entitled to his opinion, so are we and so is the nation. Obama isn't perfect, but he's a far cry from what this nation, and especially people of color, have endured the last 8 years. Obama walked into an unholy mess left behind by the entire Bush administration and Smiley's talking about Obama's first 100 days not exactly being "the dean's list?" His backbiting tactics haven't been inviting to Obama nor his staff. And, I would be interested to see what Mr. Smiley would do differently were he in the same shoes. Somehow, I don't believe he could do a much better job. He should adhere to the adage that states if you have nothing nice to say, just be quiet because his comments have a "nice/nasty" edge to them that don't serve him well. We have the 1st African American Commander in Chief in the history of this nation. That alone should stand for something. Instead, Smiley and his ilk would use it as a stage to work out whatever their "issues" are and it just makes Smiley look like a fool. Again, he's a very intelligent, savvy man in a key position. He needs to use that in more favorable ways and while he's holding Obama "accountable," so should he hold himself.
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By: Rev. George Brooks on 5/18/2009 10:27PM
Brother Tavis, you have to be held accountable too, just as everyone else, including President Obama. But what I want to know from you is this: Who are the whites and Jews that are paying and controlling you? Because it seems that "they" want to influence and control black folks, and are using you to try and get it done. But it ain't working, because you and your intellectual Negro group of pals aren't really saying and doing anything to help the masses of black folks. So tell me, just what have you all done lately that has really been helpful to black folks? And President Obama knows what you all are up to.
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By: Sammy on 5/19/2009 5:49PM
TS's Corporate sponsors (many of whom do more harm in the Black community than good).
Period.
Walmart
Northern Trust (financial)
Coca-Cola
Microsoft
CBS
ExxonMobil
Norfolk Southern
Nationwide Insurance
McDonalds
Wells Fargo & Co
HSBC Holdings
U.S. Cellular
SunTrust
Urban Financial Services
Allstate Insurance Company
PG&E Corporation
Winston & Strawn LLP
Citigroup
GEICO
Nissan
L'Oreal USA
Heineken USA
Chase Home Finance
Wendy's International
Intel Corporation
Miller Brewing Company
Anheuser-Busch
US Cellular
MGM Mirage
UrbanWorks
BET Nightly News
The AFRO-American Newspapers
The Washington Informer
UrbanWorld Wireless
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By: Sammy on 5/19/2009 5:49PM
I have been searching the internet looking for books or articles by Tavis Smiley holding George Bush/Dick Cheney and the racist republicans and the so-called evangelicals (most of whom are just a step above the KKK) to account for the past 8 years.
Can't seem to find anything. Nothing. Nada.
Tavis Smiley has let himself believe the hype of his corporate sponsors that he is the "new black leader". Someone, a friend perhaps, needs to tell him that he is NOT. Nor is he of any significant stature to hold anyone accountable, much less President Obama.
His books and tee-vee appearances criticizing the President are for the sole benefit of his corporate sponsors (99.9999995 % of who are WHITE) and for the benefit of a WHITE MEDIA AND ITS VIEWers.
You know, envy is not attractive.
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By: Strait Nochaser on 6/27/2009 1:20PM
This a prime example why we as a people remain at the lower rung.Instead of offering any help and assistance to the president, this guy Smiley, is putting his head in a vice. People like this, only come around after they take a fall.He's doing well now. He has no time to reflect on his absurdity. When things aren't going so well, he will have time to reflect. And then, only then will he come around.
In the interim, I say, "Ask not what Obama can do for you, but what you can do for Obama." If he succeeds we all succeed. If he fails we fail.
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