Tavis Smiley & Dr. Cornel West
*Uh oh.
Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West and Wal-Mart done gone and pissed off some “community leaders.”
According to a press release from Project Islamic HOPE’s Najee Ali, a coalition of Los Angeles, clergy, civil rights, Wal-Mart associates and community leaders are accusing the PBS talk show host of hypocrisy and being a pawn of the Wal-Mart corporation.
To make their point, said community leaders and Ali are headed straight for the belly of the beast, so to speak. They are planning a protest rally against Smiley, West and Wal-Mart outside of Smiley’s headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles on September 11.
And why do these community leaders have a problem with Smiley, West and Wal-Mart?
Apparently it was triggered by Smiley and Dr. West’s announcement that they’re headed out next week to the presidential battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida to highlight the issue of poverty in America.
Ali’s press release says this is very hypocritical of Smiley and West when the Wal-Mart corporation continues to be a major sponsor of Smiley’s PBS show and other projects he has led with West. Specifically, Wal-Mart continues to be anti -union, refuses to pay a living wage or provide affordable health care to its employees.
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“Wal-Mart is a billion dollar corporation. They should be able to offer a better medical package for their associates and a living wage. The involvement of corporations like Wal-Mart in Tavis Smiley’s own PBS show is troublesome,” says Ali. “Wal-Mart is one of the major sponsors of his show. Therefore, Wal-Mart plays a major role in sustaining Smiley’s popularity. If Smiley and West want to address poverty shouldn’t they involve Wal-Mart in the conversation and hold them accountable as well?”
“Smiley and West have never spoken out against the policies of Wal-Mart against its own employees, most importantly, its denial of a living wage and affordable healthcare,” Ali continues. “Tavis Smiley continues to be a significant pawn for corporate interests, to the detriment of the black community, while at the same time trying to undermine President Obama’s re-election campaign in key battleground states. While Smiley and West just talk about poverty President Obama is responsible for health care reform. One of the greatest accomplishments for those in poverty in our nation’s history. If Smiley and West want to hold President Obama accountable then we have the right to hold them accountable as well. We have to speak out against Smiley and West when they work with Wal-Mart and other corporations that continually oppress the Black working class and other Americans.”
A community rally and action against PBS Talk show host Tavis Smiley, Cornell West and Wal-Mart:
Date: Tuesday Sept 11, 2012
Time: Noon
Where: Tavis Smiley office 4434 Crenshaw Blvd. 90043
(Crenshaw and Vernon Ave )
Contact: Project Islamic HOPE
(323) 275 8219 or mrnajee@aol.com
Najee Ali
Shut them two nutbags down!
What really is Tavis Smiley’s beef with the President? Its like he’s almost obsessed with the failure of the President. Please Obama, give this nugga a job so he take his crazy ass some where and sit down…my goodness. I’m really surprised at Dr. Cornel West…
Tavis Smiley is angry because during the presidential campaign of 2008, he was having a town-hall meeting. Barack Obama was supposed to come; he couldn’t come because of the campaign trail, and he sent Mrs. Obama. That wasn’t good enough for Tavis. Hillary Clinton who he was supporting came out.
Professor West is angry because he wanted tickets / extra tickets to the inauguration for his mother & brother and did not get them. President-Elect Barack Obama / his administration did not return Dr. West’s phone calls.
Dr West has some valid / interesting points…
Tavis Smiley is an opportunist. These two seem to use each other to go after President Obama.
These two COULD have an ax to grind, but there is nothing wrong with being vocal about holding our president accountable for his actions.
But you’re correct – they’re BOTH opportunists… as is Najee Ali… as is the likes of Danny Bakewell… as is Jesse Jackson, or ALL the other pseudo-advocate-types making or having made names for themselves while prospering – as self-appointed representatives of the best interests of the hood!
OK Obama apologists. Calm down. This has nothing to do with Obama. At least not as far as Tavis Smiley and Dr. West is concerned. This is all about Ali trying to start some shyt. I don’t know if there is some jealousy towards Tavis and West. Why all of a sudden this fool start going off at them? He seems to have a problem with them campaigning against poverty. Somehow, he is confusing this with dissing Obama. I can see how this guy is trying hard to make himself irrelevant. Someone needs to give him a talk show or som’n. This seems like straight crab in a barrel mentality.
Tavis Smiley would be the one exhibiting crabs in a barrel mentality. Dr. West is using Tavis Smiley for the press opportunities! Walmart treats their hourly employees pretty badly. They typically can’t afford any health care coverage. Also, by moving into inner city neighborhoods… small businesses are no longer capable to compete! This hurts the neighborhood. This big monopoly sucks the neighborhood dry… and does little to give back! Why is Walmart given a pass? Perhaps Tavis now sits on their board like Hillary Clinton used to.
All you said about Walmart may be true. But at the same time, there are two sides to every coin. It was Andrew Young who last got in trouble for highlighting the fact that Walmart is a welcome alternative to the Jews and Asians who leech off inner city communities. Now having some decent mom and pop stores that will go out of business is one thing. But we know that more than likely, it will be the Asians, who are not even part of that community and only comes in the day time to drain it of capital.
Now we need to be realistic when it comes to expectations from Walmart. If they have been unmoved so far about their labor practices, what make you think that Smiley and West will make much difference? Therefore, I don’t really see Smiley and West alliance with Walmart as a source for the level of controversy that Ali is trying to generate, and I suspect a more nefarious agenda.
Take these words from Ali. “while at the same time trying to undermine President Obama’s re-election campaign in key battleground states.“ Whenever you hear someone being so defensive of Obama, you know it’s not sincere. Basically what this clown is saying is that we should ignore the continued existence of poverty, because by acknowledging it, we are implicating the sitting president. As if poverty wasn’t here long before Obama and will continue long after he is gone.
It’s the same with the crab in barrel argument attributed to Smiley and West with regards to Obama. Why you got to be trying to bring the man down by holding him accountable? In the end, Obama is the one who would benefit from acting on Smiley and West criticisms. Don’t you see how little enthusiasm he is generating this time around?
Don’t fall for the Okey Doke folks. Ali has a plan, and Smiley and West just happens to be the means to that end.
Andrew Young was asked about whether he was concerned Wal-Mart causes smaller, mom-and-pop stores to close:
“Well, I think they should; they ran the `mom and pop’ stores out of my neighborhood. But you see, those are the people who have been overcharging us selling us stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables. And they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they’ve ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it’s Arabs; very few black people own these stores.”
Andrew Young was asked about whether he was concerned Wal-Mart causes smaller, mom-and-pop stores to close:
“Well, I think they should; they ran the `mom and pop’ stores out of my neighborhood. But you see, those are the people who have been overcharging us selling us stale bread and bad meat and wilted vegetables. And they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they’ve ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it’s Arabs; very few black people own these stores.”
The saddest part…. why would we allow them to sell sub-par goods in our neighborhoods? The power in that is do not buy them… boycott the stores!
Also, there are NO African-American stores in our neighborhoods? In New York the neighborhood stores still exist! Also… he was fired for that inflammatory statement! In small business the owner needs the customers… and the customers need the convenience of the store. WIN-WIN!
I believe there is a nefarious agenda with Tavis / West alliance! With Walmart as a sponsor what exactly are their plans, when they go into the battleground states?
Tavis has been angry since the Barack Obama sent Michelle Obama to his event; Dr. West has been salty since the inauguration (over some tickets).
I believe that Dr. West has raised some valid points!
I believe that President Obama has been given a pass of sorts by people of color… We never seem to ask for anything in return for our vote! If we did not ask for anything… why not start now?
With that said, We have all seen the really UGLY side of politics since having the First African-American President. The GOP has all but tied his hands. They would rather see the U.S. go bankrupt than to work with our sitting President!
But… what is the expectation if the GOP nominee is voted into office? Mitt Romney has made it clear who he represents!
I grew up with very little… I worked hard to reach a solid middle-class position. I am very concerned about the future of the middle-class!
I have struggled for years… I am really nervous. My spouse was just laid off…by a company that has shipped most jobs off-shore.
Please note: When I say “I”… I speak for many!
Whothafkuc appointed Najee as the next Jesse Jackson anyways? That dude is such a joke with good intentions!
I respect Tavis and West, and even though I’m in no means a fan of theirs, for Najee’s ignorant behind to come out and speak against these two established and EDUCATED bruthas is absolutely astounding. He’s not even on the same playing field. Anybody following behind him is just as ignorant.
I’m thinking that Smiley and West won’t even dignify him with a response.
Walmart, sigh is no friend of minorities, women or the poor. A Billion dollar company and the majority of their workers make peanuts and
qualify for food stamps.
So while Tavis and West shine a light on poverty….Walmart gets a pass. Wow.
How about we just close all of the Walmarts.
I wonder if this Najee Ali character has a problem with the president’s Wall Street sponsors as well? Is he seeking to boycott the White House too? Hmmm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/05/wall-street-campaign-donations_n_1858086.html
Of course he isn’t. Najee is an opportunist. After his recent stint in jail, I’m surprised he’s not more quiet.
I imagine that you would dumbfound him by showing him the facts of Wall Street donations.
Wow! Good point.
For all we know, Walmart may be donating more to Obama than whatever benefit Smiley and West may be deriving from the alliance.