Tavis Smiley turns 48 today
*Tavis Smiley and his beloved brother in the struggle, Cornel West, just got kicked off a Chicago radio station due to declining ratings.
Smiley addressed the split recently in a heated open letter to Torey Malatia, president of Chicago Public Radio affiliate WBEZ.
“One could argue that it is easier for an African American to be president of the United States than it is to host a primetime radio program on Chicago Public Radio,” Smiley declared. He went on explaining how “demeaning, derogatory and dead wrong” Malatia and his folks are about the drop.
Smiley explained Chicago Public Media cut them off, citing declined ratings. According to the group, listeners went from 37,900 to 13,200. Besides that, officials didn’t like that the show was slanted a particular way.
“The show had developed much more of an ‘advocacy’ identity, which is inconsistent with our approach on WBEZ,” a spokesman said.
Others, however, suspect the cancelation had more to do with the pair’s relentless criticism of the president.
Read/learn more at Time Out Chicago.
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I remember the old Tavis Smiley. Intelligent, articulate, and down to earth. Than he joined forces with Cornell West to critically demean Obama every chance he got. G He took on Poverty In America. That was cool but your show on OBA is backed by WalMart? The majority of Walmart workers are eligible for Food Stamps……while the shareholders get rich. Wow
My bad about the G be4 He.
You reap what you sow
this “brother” has become delusional. long gone are the days when he was the head of the black justice league of america with its cadre of super-negro’s. the decent was rapid and painful for him im sure. welcome to reality fool. there is a new sheriff in town, and his name is Barack Obama. now sit down, shut up, and enjoy the show. dumb azz.
WOW!!! I remember back in the day when Tavis was the man. He use
to say how proud his family was of him(coming out of poverty and
making something of himself) He use to bragg on certain shows I
would see him on that he’s a millionaire!!!! Hope he saved some of
that money b/c he’s through.!!!!
Remember how the women were so in love with him and wanted him.
What u say now women?Still want him? He so arrogant and full of himself
and think himself the shi&**. He’s was once one of the most thought
of well admired MEN in the country…No More!!! You messed up big time Tavis!!!
“there is a new sheriff in town, and his name is Barack Obama.” LOLOL
I am curious if anyone on here watches Tavis’ PBS show. I DVR it and watch every episode and I find it to be one of if not the most well-rounded, intelligent programs on television. He can go from having the prime minister of Great Britain on one day to T.I. the next and author Jackie Colins the next and they ALL seem to respect and like him. This notion that “Tavis has changed” is absolutely ridiculous. He is the same mix of brilliant, compassionate, egotistical, arrogant, caring person he was pre-Obama.
What’s scary is that it seems the Black community has changed. There is a pre-Obama consciousness and a post-Obama consciousness. The latter is an utter state of delusion in which on paper almost every measurable indicator has gotten worse for the community, but in their minds, things have gotten better. It’s a scary, bizarro world a lot of Blacks (present company included) seem to be living in right now.
little Black, Latino, Asian and etc kids can now see themselves as possibly reaching the highest office in the land. that in and of itself is a beautiful thing whether you are pro or anti Obama. now get off of your hateful soapbox and catch up with the rest of the intelligent people of color who thought they would never see the day that a black man would occupy the office of the presidency. if not for you selfish self, then for kids of color everywhere in the us of amnesia. dumb nucca’s like you kill me. always lambasting a motherfucca and cant see the big picture to save the blind azzed eyes. holy fuccn haters batman…
Symolism is important for a nanosecond. The biggest takeaway from his presidency though is that “yes, my Asian or Latino or Black self can win the highest land but I have to bend over backwards to not remind people of my heritage, to appease at whatever cost, including dismissing the concerns of my people, the White folks.” So what is the real legacy here Huey?
You are clearly suffering from Post-Obama Delusion. I have some medicine for you though. It comes in the form of Mark 8:36: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Take this medicine daily Huey. Meditate on it. Whenever your mind starts to go that deluded place in which you start giving Obama credit for a Latino seeing himself as president, meditate on that scripture. You’ll feel better in no time. Let me know if you need more medicine. I’ve been told that Post-Obama Delusion is prone to return over and over, in which case I will have to increase your dosage.
“Symolism is important for a nanosecond. The biggest takeaway from his presidency though is that “yes, my Asian or Latino or Black self can win the highest land but I have to bend over backwards to not remind people of my heritage, to appease at whatever cost, including dismissing the concerns of my people, the White folks.” So what is the real legacy here Huey?”
nothing that u have said here makes any sense…..its circle talk. you have gone round and round in a circle and have said nothing other to wind up right back at your position of this so-called Obama disillusion. you have now validate argument.
now who you voting for? Romney?
Well stated and I concur completely
TGen i couldn’t agree wtih you more. Glen Ford did an excellent commentary on this called the Black Achilles Heel (i think was the title). It’s as though Black people are incapable of recognizing the enemy when he’s in black face. My poor people.
Well, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Mitt RobMe and his ilk are far more detrimental to the entire populace, than President Obama could ever be.
There’s an old saying that I coined that goes “A has been never was.” Once Tavis was the toast of the town in Black American and reveled in the adoration by Black folks about how smart and articulate he was. He just ate it up big time! When Obama rode in town with 100X Tavis’ intellectual capacity, Tavis got jealous and been jealous ever since. Cornell Jest is jealous too, because no one talks about how smart he is. It’s all a question of sour grapes and the color green which signifies envy. Whenever I surf the channel and run across Tavis’ show I kick my surf board into high gear and keep on surfing. LOL!!! Fanteeking
Post-Obama Delusion 101
Just a note, I DID NOT make a mistake when I wrote Cornell JEST. Jest is short for JESTER, you know the clown that performs and turns cart wheels in front of the king.
This is a severe case of Obama Delusion. I’m sure there are some meds you could take to get a cure. I will research that for you.
so i take it you are voting for Romney?
lol NO. I actually already voted for Obama. However, I don’t suffer from Post-Obama Delusion. I fully recognize who and what he is, and I fully embrace and encourage critics to stay on his weak azz. I just find it disturbing that there are so many true believers out there, so many of “us” who believe this shady POLITICIAN really gives a damn about them. He needs to be treated like the POLITICIAN he is. Folks should embrace the Smileys and Wests of the world who dare try to hold this POLITICIAN’S feet to the fire.
“lol NO. I actually already voted for Obama”…i asked you who you are voting for this time?
so somewhere in that crazy head of yours u misconstrue the fact that many of the posters are proud to have an African American president in office, yet we don’t have the capacity to determine when our best interest are not being served by this president, or any other interest for that matter because we don’t choose to sit her in this forum and debate with you about what is or is not getting done by our president. you never once articulated the racist right wing opposition that this president has been up against while trying to get measures past. you sit hit and cherry pick all manner of topic that you feel will point out that posters who support the president are delusional. has it ever occurred to you ignorant behind that just maybe you are don’t have the capacity to see this situation for what it actually is? 21st century racism. what the fuc actually goes on in that head of yours?
Huey, I want you to get out of your head that this a Black president. He is a dark-skinned president who identifies more with Whites than Blacks. He is another White Democratic president, who is actually mediocre in comparison to other White Democrat presidents. That’s all he is–someone a slither better than the Republican opponent. He is not the savior of all things. He is not the pride of Black folks (because he doesn’t even acknowledge Black folks). He is not a great thinker or leader or anything. He is a subpar politician who happens to have dark skin.
My prescription for you Huey is to try to re-adjust your thinking to embrace this. If that doesn’t work, come see me again and I will prescribe some stronger medicine. Just let me know…
Huey, there is this thing called early voting, of which both TGen and I have taken advantage of to cast our votes for the Dems. Yes, this time also.
As an Obama fanatic, I thought you would be the first in line to cast your Obama vote. So what you waiting on? With Obama leading, you got to know the Repubs going to try and pull some last minute shyt? Did you forgot all them long lines at the polls and the roaming Republican intimidators on election day? This time around, they planning to use voter ID to cause all types of delays.
“TGen and I have taken advantage of to cast our votes for the Dems. Yes, this time also”…u must think that everyone that post on this website is and idiot. if u think for five fucn minutes that i believe that u two internet trolls voted for Obama then you have clearly taken leave of you gotdayum senses.
Maybe TGen was right about your delusional musings. Being so intensely fanatical about Obama, you may be blinded to the notion that there are others who actually rationalize when casting a vote. We would have gladly passed on him for a better alternative. Say one who was not an untrustworthy vulture capitalist who doesn’t give a shyt about anyone except those amongst his elitist circle of friends.
nigga please….u dont fool my black azz. i know when a muthfuca trying to hoodwink me with silly puddy bs. u a right wing extremist posing as someone who actually thinks about whom he is voting for. knock it the fuc off. u are a republicant through and through and there aint shyt u can say that will make me feel differently. capesh…
Yeah, “capessh.” As TGen said, “your Post-Obama Delusion is clearly a lot further along than I originally thought.”
BTW, it’s capisce.
Rampant delusion afflicting house negroes in the era of Obama. The Messiah cometh, and if you dare criticize him, be prepared to bare the wrath bestowed on Tavis and Cornel.
At times like this, one can’t help but recall the definitive article written on Obama.
A Dark Pupil, Watching: On being black in the era of Obama
To speak “critically” (read honestly) of him is tantamount to a death sentence in the white-controlled black media. The rules for black people are crystal clear: 1) we must be silent in our suffering with regard to him. 2) We must not be critical of the person who quotes the very best of us while continuing the policies of the very worst. 3) Individual success is far more important than aggregate success. His example shows us that the fate of every black man, woman and child pales in comparison to the opportunity of one African-American to become president.
OOOHHHH GEEEESSSHHH! If Willard gets in the White House the cost of meds will go sky high so his billionaire pharmaceutical cronies can make more billions. I won’t be able to afford those meds that you infer are needed. Please don’t research for me, I’m on my way to LA Fitness and I’ll try to run it off.
Tell them david,that Tgen is some thing else but you told them right, like your comment
TGen: This is sssoooo disingenuous!! If you feel that President Obama is a shady politician who doesn’t care about “us” then retract your vote and vote for Romney. At least, you’d be true to your core beliefs. To come on this forum and demean Obama and then say, but I vote for the guy is like me complaining about how racist the KKK is and then going into their shop in Alabama and buying one of their sheets and pillow cases and leaving a $100 tip for their next rally!. Don’t make no rational sense ta’me. Fanteeking, Cape Coast, Ghana
good point
Bitch
I see your point. However, your post supposes that Romney (of ALL people) is someone who embodies my “true beliefs.” lol That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Honestly, I stood there on October 15, staring at that [computer] ballot and there were three names on the list: Obama, Romney, and Gary Johnson, and a line for a write-in. I had the intention of leaving that part of the ballot blank, but I thought about 1) Bill Clinton and how if Obama could have even a slither of Clinton’s foresight, that would be nice. Clinton was out campaigning and he was an effective surrogate, and sold Obama’s re-election better than Obama, 2) Bush’s tax cuts that Obama said (yet again) he would get rid of which to me was preferable to Romney’s plan to continue Bush’s policies, and 3) I liked Buddy Roemer, Ron Paul, and Jon Huntsman and they all dropped out. I liked Gary Johnson too but not to the point to vote for him. So those were my thoughts. I still left the polling place with the same negative view of Obama that I had when I went in, but I cannot STAND (and I mean I loathe him passionately) Mitt Romney, especially after the disrespect he showed at that first debate. His arrogance and condescension is too much for me. I also cant’ stand his arrogant Stepford wife. So there is my rationale. If that makes me a hypocrite in your eyes, so be it. I still will defend to the death those critics who dare hold Obama accountable for ish he needs to do, and I still have that prescription medicine to give you if you need it. Just let me know. I’ll get you right, I promise.
David, agreed. Tgenerate is the biggest disillusion poster i have seen in years. she claims to have voted for Obama yet has spent the last for years pointing out everything she hates about the man and his wife and has not one thing she supports, and claims to having already voted for him again? what? after four years of hating many if not all of his policies? what? are you kidding me? im sure of one thing. she will say that she voted for him so that she can continue to lambast his policies.
” The latter is an utter state of delusion in which on paper almost every measurable indicator has gotten worse for the community, but in their minds, things have gotten better. It’s a scary, bizarro world a lot of Blacks (present company included) seem to be living in right now.”
…what person in there right state of mind would reelect someone for president after typing this? it makes no sense whatsoever…
@Huey & Versatile: Let’s not waste our precious time trying to reason with TGen, because in my research on slavery history, there were ALWAYS those slaves who had to be drug from the plantation kickin’ in screamin’, after the Emancipation Proclamation, because they ‘knew’ that “Ole Massa” “done bin good ta’them” and they didn’t trust their own God-given visceral instincts to survive away from bondage. Let him go and play footsies with Allen West, Herman Cain, Mia Love & Mikey Steele and stay on the plantation! Shakin’ My Head, Fanteeking
lol Yeah, I will need to prescribe stronger meds for you. Your Post-Obama Delusion is clearly a lot further along than I originally thought. Stay tuned. It will be a challenge–your condition is far advanced and is spreading over your body–but I will get you right. I promise.
David, you are correct, her statement: “He is a subpar politician who happens to have dark skin.”..yet, his father is from Africa….smdh. Tgenerate is as dumb as post.
He’s African, but not “Black.” I don’t expect you to understand since your condition is so far along.
“He’s African, but not “Black.” ….the more u type, the dumber u sound…
“All your skin folks are not your kin folks.”
YES YES YES DUMBER, TELL IT.
Wow Tavis looks terrible!!
YOU NEED THE MEDICINE, BETTER YET, YOU NEED THE MAN WHO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SIN, YELL I SAID I DO NOT LIKE TAVIS AND I SAY IT AGAIN, WHO EVER YOU ARE,IT SOMETHING WRONG WIH YOU.WHAT EVER YOU SAY, WHO CARES
@Huey: Oh, TGen, Africa-America’s answer to sarah Palin. I wonder if TGen can see Lagos, Nigeria from her back porch. SMH, LOL!!! Fanteeking
This is my very first post as I came across this site, while googling one of my favorite black celebrities. I like how you organize your stories on subjects I would be interested in, so I’m glad I signed up.
Now here’s my view on Tavis Smiley:
I am so sick and tired of Smiley’s diatribe criticisms of the President. After a while it just sounds and becomes rhetoric which loses all of its meaning and fighting power. Leave it and him alone already. He is a damned good President. And the first African American President we have and I do not want to see him constantly harassed by our own people. Smiley especially needs to learn how to use his smarts to be diplomatic in his approach to get what he wants. I understand when there is the time for passion to the fight but you have to know when to use it and when to STOP. Martin Luther never lost his cool. He exhibited great diplomacy, intellect and intelligence in how he handled the racists whites in the south. He went through a lot more than we do today or we EVER will again in the future. Them days are over! But there was nothing radical about Martin Luther King because he walked in peace. He was a man who stood strong.
We are in a much better place now I say because of him and other civil rights leader of the day who paved the way for us. He need to embrace that while continuing to address the institutional racial inequality our people suffer in today’s world. We’ve come a long way as you see and we should continue ride that note of success our people have made. There’s a way, an approach and a respect in how we should fight today. If you’re not a part of the solution of the problem then you’re the problem. Tavis Smiley needs to put down that sword and make amends with the President to start real work on the problems of the urban black community. He’ll get much farther that way…Honey vs. Lemon. Get what I mean?
Good post, you make good points. However, your post insinuates that Tavis is somehow “radical” and that at some point he “lost his cool.” When was this? I have not seen him do this. I have seen him beg the WH and others to address poverty issues to no avail. I have not seen him be rude or mean or out of control or anything, so I don’t follow. But maybe I’m reading your post wrong.
What EXACTLY has Tavis begged the WH for? Did he also beg the Bush WH?
It is a known fact that Tavis has been pissy since Barack Obama did not come to the “2008 State of the Black Union”. He tried to send Michelle Obama… but Tavis did not want her!
Cornell West was pissy after not receiving additional tickets to the inauguration.
They both then became vicious in their criticisms of President Obama.
Some of the criticisms may be valid… our President inherited a mess!
Is he perfect… NO, does he deserve the constant criticisms of team Smiley-West… NO!
IMO President Obama has done a pretty good job… with the hand he was dealt.
I thought I was explicit in my post. Tavis has made povery his focus and has asked the politicians especially at the federal level why they don’t even mention the word “poverty” let alone a plan to address it. Yes, I believe Tavis was very vocal during the Bush administration as well. He had a ton of those forums to discuss poverty and other issues every year. Do you not recall this? He authored a book on this. You should check it out. He also used his forum on Tom Joyner’s morning show to address this. You should try to find those transcripts. In other words, your suggestion that he only started speaking out when Obama came to office is a major FAIL and just not true. You reduce them to petty whiners while admitting that their criticisms are valid. What gives? What matters? Their personal feelings toward Obama or THE ISSUES THEY RAISE? It’s all about perspective.
I am very aware of Tavis Smiley’s perspective on the TJMS.
So Tavis Smiley wants politicians to use the word “poverty” that is his fight?
What exactly does Smiley/West want? In this country the poor receive a fair amount of help. Medical, food stamps (food), section 8 (housing), is this perfect NO.
Jobs are needed… there is not a bridge off of public assistance. When you are poor and get a job… the freebies are gone!
So is there something in this SPECIFICALLY that Smiley/West are suggesting?
I have searched for Smiley going after Bush with his fight for “poverty”. I am not finding anything quickly… but I will search. I will see if he did this to the then President Bush.
I did not suggest he started speaking out… I stated that he became vicious in his criticisms after Barack Obama did not attend his event.
So what they raise an issue… what do they suggest for a solution? Anybody can complain… if you are not a part of the solution… you are a part of the problem!
Citizens tell you what’s wrong–public servants FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. Citizens will usually not have all the solutions because they are not privy to all the machinations of the government. And you dismiss “mentioning poverty” as if just saying it doesn’t matter. You couldn’t be more wrong. One of the MOST IMPORTANT things a politician especially on the level of a president can do is to SPEAK on something. When they raise an issue, the media raises it. The Congress raises it. The country starts to pay attention. 90% of the job of a president is to SPEAK OUT because that is the first step in setting an agenda. If he doesn’t SPEAK about something, it does not really become a cause. Surely you recognize this LadyElle.
Tgen,
Our President inherited a nation on the verge of financial collapse. We had a host of problems. I understand that “poverty” is an issue that faces us.
I also understand that a HUGE number of the middle-class was suddenly joining the ranks of the poor.
Jobs were shipped off-shore under George Bush in record numbers. President Obama was there when the housing market went bust, stock markets took dives…, Car companies on verge of bankruptcy, a couple of wars, high-unemployment….
I think it is safe to say our President had a lot on his plate. Now you say that 90% of his job is to SPEAK OUT on something? We can just agree to disagree.
I would love to see a change… With the GOP making statements that their goal is to see that he serves Only ONE TERM…. makes a great deal difficult.
I don’t know what the solution should be…. but we as a people will need to do more to define what we want.
There are trends in the job market… there are a huge number of Indians being used in corporate American! They are technical, manager (project, product, technical), directors, V.P.’s…. for companies that African-Americans spend large amounts of $$$.
There are other trends… (hair care, beauty, food) other ethnicities own / operate businesses that are supported almost 100% by African-Americans.
How can we help ourselves… or ask for help… what do we want?
African-Americans, are poor, middle-class, rich!
We should be able to ask for something in return for our votes… like every other group (Latino, Gay, Jewish, etc.)
I am at a loss for what we need to ask for. We can ask for appointments (eg. Supreme Court), but what else? Until we as a people can place a frame around what we want… and attached a timeline… I suspect we are our own worse enemies.
My parents were poor, from a different era. They pushed education, voting, working hard, worship. Now our poor can receive a great deal of help and a great deal of them will not take advantage!
Please know I am related to some of the poor that I described. I am middle-class and my struggles are daily!
The rich… well they likely work hard daily to keep as much of their $$$ as possible.
We have to somehow come together as a group to ask for things that will work for the long-term growth of our people!
I agree whole-heartedly Lady Elle.
However, I submit that if someone calls himself running to publicly serve EVERYONE, he should NOT dismiss a question about Black unemployment with “A rising tide lifts all boats” when that’s b.s. or condescend to folks who raise the very legitimate issue of how illegal immigrants’ work pushes down wages for the uneducated class. (Yes your president did this, said folks were just “using illegals as a scapegoat.) In other words, a LEADER is supposed to lead. If you see that a major percentage of your politician is disproportionately hit by a recession, you adjust. You shouldn’t even have to be asked to do so. You should do so automatically. If you don’t–if you allow others to deter you from doing what’s right–you are derelict and should in good conscious step down from your post so that someone who is willing to do the right thing can have a shot to do so. But I will end my rant here…
TGen, unfortunately you have described ALL politicians! Now we have had a fair number of advocates that have fought for the poor, disadvantaged, those without a voice.
This is the gamebook from the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s….how is it that we have NOT advanced?
Seems like we receive a bone…. like an immediate treat.
I say again we have to be able to place a frame around what we want, and we as a people will need to take it and run. We have become complacent as a people.
We have a generation that either don’t know… or don’t care… about their ancestors. The very ancestors that fought and died for freedom, the right to vote, equality, the right to learn.
I will end my rant here…
LadyElle, please read this article: http://thegrio.com/2009/06/25/obama-failing-to-address-the-root-of-african-american-unemployment/
I read the article. The author has an opinion on how she feels. I can agree with the author regarding not all those that are unemployed being from urban America, and not liking that the President cut the only African-American woman off.
The causes of unemployment are many, the solutions therefore would be many. African-Americans have a higher rate of unemployment. There is not an easy solution.
Once again… what is the solution?
I know so many professionals that had to reinvent themselves after the year 2000. So many lost their jobs without notice.
People that followed the American dream… (finish high school, get college degree, certifications etc., work hard). Without notice the jobs were shipped to other countries.
This is like an urban America example. Under George Bush we lost a great deal.
I think we have a major problem with the “middle-class” starting to join the ranks of the poor.
So that I don’t join them… off to work for me.