Forgive Tavis Smiley

Today some surprising news occured. Broadcast Journalist Tavis Smiley, weekly Political and Social commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, quit the TJMS Show. Tavis has held that position since 1996. It was around that time Black Entertainment Television fired Tavis Smiley as their television news anchor on the since dissolved evening BET newscast and subsequest BET interview program Tavis hosted.

It was in early February when upset callers began to 'voice their opinions' about their discourse on talk radio shows aired on the Syndication One News/Talk network after hearing that Tavis Smiley -- upset that Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama turned down his invitation to Smiley's 9th Annual State of the Black Union special that aired on C-Span February 23rd., 2008 -- decided to comment about Obama refusing Tavis's invite on his weekly commentary. Senator Obama's reasoning for declining Tavis's invitation was because of his previous fast-approaching campaign commitments in Ohio and Texas. Obama did win in Texas and lost in Ohio. Senator Obama's wife Michele -- quite possibly the next African-American First Lady, was however free for the February 23rd date and would have gladly represented the Obama campaign at Tavis' 2008 State of the Black Union. However Tavis Smiley refused to accept Michele Obama as guest on his annual program. Hilary though did accept Tavis's invitation. Tavis is a Hilary Clinton supporter. Because of Tavis's commentary threatening to call Obama out, a multitude of reactions came from news-talk radio hosts and their listeners. Many comments towards Tavis's commentary centered around the fact that if Hilary would have refused the invite and Bill Clinton was available to attend in Hilary's place, Smiley would have accepted Bill Clinton. "So why not Michele Obama?"

I am unsure if Tavis allegiance are now with Senator Barack Obama or not. Congressman John Lewis recently changed his super-delegate vote and support over to Obama and so did former President Clinton staffer New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. I think that you would agree that Tavis Smiley has a seat at the 21 century African-American leadership table, but so 'did' Bill Clinton before the South Carolina primary where Bill made numerous attempts to sway white voters away from Obama. Bill Clinton does have experience campaigning for segreationist before, indicated in a previous blog http://kirktanter.blogspot.com/2008/01/clintons-versus-barack-obama.html.

The fall from grace is the very real dilemma that Tavis is now facing. Another Hilary Clinton supporter, columnist Earl Ofari Hutcherson in his recent blog found on the Huffington Post blogsite 'labeled' African-Americans that intelligently (or not so intelligently) answer those that criticize Senator Barack Obama: "The Black Obama Thought Police". Hutcherson encourages Tavis Smiley in the blog to "Hang Tough and Don't Let 'the Black Obama Thought Police' run you out." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/hang-in-there-tavis-smile_b_96253.html.

Please remember folks that a very short time ago more than fifty percent of now Obama African-American supporters that currently criticize reporters that question the Illinois Senator, did not support Obama in the initial months following Obama's announcement to run for President in Springfield, Illinois. It wasn't until Senator Obama won the Iowa caucus that the vast majority of African-Americans overwhelmingly supported Obama in the form of casted votes. You and Ofari remember the common question back: "Is Obama Black enough?" Senator Obama made a number of speeches addressing the ridiculous question using sentiments of the Civil Rights era pedalstaling Dr. King as the basis for his "I am Black enough" argument. Obama had African-American Congressman and community leaders introducing him at campaign rallys echoing that Obama is Black enough with additional evidence from his community activist days on the Southside of Chicago - a predominant Black area. But since the impressive Iowa victory, Obama now has near ninety-percent voter support from registered African-Americans.

The much-overstated illusion is that Obama supporters will not hear from any African-American that supports Hilary Clinton or McCain. The prevailing notion from news reporters is that African-American Obama supporters pigeon-hole Black Hilary supporters as 'Uncle Toms" and "Oreos", a basic anti-Black African-American. Another stereotyped notion is that Obama supporters feel Congressional representatives should cast their super-delegate vote as their constituent district voters voted in the primaries. The prevailing viewpoint from Hilary supporters is that the "Obama Black Thought Police" are not fairly allowing the Congressional Representatives "freedom of choice" to cast their super-delegate vote as they damn well please. This is untrue. These Representatives can go to the poll and vote 'individually' the way they wish. A valid question to submit is why don't these US Representatives cast their 'added' super-delegate vote as their district's predominant and collective majorite vote. And yes there are a number of DNC members that are superdelegates, also professors and other non-Congressional people. It is my opinion that there should be no super-delegates. However, Congressional Representatives and Governors are elected to serve their voting constituentcy and should at least "consider" casting an important super-delegate vote as their district voted. If their district voted for Obama then they should also "consider" casting their super-delegate vote for Obama. But we all understand that it is their sole decision. The closeness of this Democratic race has simply heightened the importance of those Super-Delegate votes that has placed a microscope on these elected Politicians. The Democratic race is tight and have Representative's constituents aware of the total process, including what the hell is a super-delegate. Many believe that their voted delegates are taken away by the vote of super-delegates, which is not the case. District delegates are totally seperate from a super-delegates vote.

Competitively though every vote counts and the super-delegate votes are now more important than the popular and normal delegate votes. Hilary was supposed to be the nominee by now and the Hilary supporters are highly upset that the Hilary Presidential coronation has switched over to Obama. The Clintons arrogance, lies, and failed campaign strategy has cast a suspicous shadow over voting Democrats. However when folks attempt to villify the Illinois Senator and Obama supporters, Hilary suppoters get pissed off when they are questioned about anti-Obama statements. Last I checked Hilary supporters...this is a free country.

Now since the Tavis Smiley commentary on Obama, Smiley has been questioned by Obama supporters. I would anticipate that questions would arise from a forum that has a majority percentage of Obama supporters as is the Tom Joyner listening audience. Tavis should expect that forum to disagree with him. Tom Joyner reaches close to ten million mostly African-American 'weekly' listeners or two-million a day. Tom Joyner's radio show airs on over 100 radio stations. With that in mind, read Tom Joyner's comments about Tavis Smiley's resignation that will close out this blog.

'Prior to' Smiley's 9th Annual State of the Black Union Television event on February 23rd., and 'post-Obama commentary' aired on the Tom Joyner show (Joyner is an Obama supporter) a few weeks before the C-Span television show, not only were the emails filling up both Joyner and Smiley email addresses but Black Talk radio shows throughout the country were busy with callers expressing their disdain for Smiley's critical comments about Senator Obama denying Tavis's invitation. Black Newspaper Columnist, Web-Bloggers, TV-Radio commentators, and Professors also had their say, along with the comments from their readers, viewers, and listeners that followed. The point is that the complaints about Tavis Smiley's commentary was widespread from prominent African-American communicators. Tom Joyner, an Obama supporter, stated that the Tavis-bashing was just too much for Tavis to take, as you will read in Tom Joyner's full comments, which again closes out this blog.

I think that Tavis Smiley may have just retired from being a commentator period, but why should he. Tavis Smiley is a visionary and due to his information gathering stature, we need to hear revelations along with his opinion and problem-solving tactics Tavis is now famous for. Doing nterrviews is nice, hosting Presidential debates is admirable, and succeeding as an author shows off investigative skills. A problem solving commentary is much more important than that three combined. We have serious problems in our high school drop-out rate, underresourced communities with too many potholes, and crime infested Black communities with little hope for improvement soon. The over 10,000 Black elected officials, the clergy, and the many so-called Civil right leaders have failed us in this sense. What greater task to take on than to bring up the issues and then challenge us along with Tavis to quickly solve these problems. The agendas of both Senator Obama and Hilary address these infrastructure issues, which means Tavis will not walk alone. Quiting Tom Joyner is one thing, but to quit as a revealing commentator is not warrented.

I know and worked with Tavis Smiley at KGFJ in Los Angeles prior to his ascension to celebrity status. Tavis held down the hour-long Sunday public service show in late 80' through the early 90's at KGFJ. Tavis was a major part of the successful truce between the Los Angeles Gangs to stop the killing. The killings and drive-by shootings rate have not return to the high late 80's level ever since. Tavis Smiley used his communication pulpit to make a differnce. Leaders of the LA gangs along with Jim Brown were guests of Tavis' on many occasions up until the truce was complete. Streets were safer. A big part of the LA infrastructure was changed for the better.

Back to the Tavis-Obama commentary, I personally thought that Tavis's statement criticizing and threatening to blast Senator Obama for not coming on Tavis's annual show, in the midst of a serious campaign fight with Hilary Clinton in the closing high delegate battle in Ohio and Texas -- was a bit too much. Now if the date of the State of the Black union would have been during the beginning of this six week primary/caucus break before the Pennsylvania primary, then I would expect Obama to be there, but it was not. I do have a theory on why Tavis was so harsh toward Senator Obama not accepting Tavis's invitation. Me having covered the Republican Debate for the Syndication One News-Talk network hosted by Tavis Smiley at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Tavis Smiley got most of the limelight. Tavis received more attention than the participating Republican candidates themselves. You recall the main Republican candidates also declined Tavis's invitation to partake in Smiley's Republican Debate aired on PBS stations nationally. What was different than the Democratic Debate hosted by Tavis at Howard University in Washington DC was Tavis Smiley uniquely staged a large corner for himself in the media room following the Republican debate at Morgan State. Tavis Smiley's name was visibly posted, moreso then the candidates selected areas. After the debate the media flocked to that designated Tavis corner. When Tavis walked into the room, he was immediately swamped with reporters asking Tavis to comment on the absent Republican candidates. My theory is that due to the attention that Smiley received in the media room at Morgan State, plus the subsequent major interviews that followed on TV and Cable TV news programs the day after, I think that went to Tavis's head. Tavis's attempts to equally juxtapose the two events (Tavis's comments about Obama declining his invitation to the State of the Black Union with the Republican leading candidates declining Tavis's invitation to his debate) are totally two different things. Smiley did not recognize the difference between the two scenarios and the two nationally televised events. Tavis quickly found out.

My view now of Tavis's not to well received commentary about Obama declining his invitation has changed. I should re-phrase that to mean that I forgive Tavis Smiley. I forgave Tavis when I viewed the 9th Annual State of the Black Union broadcast on C-Span on February 23rd. Instead of blasting Senator Obama as Tavis promised, Smiley made a conscience decision not to do so during the broadcast. Smiley was respectful in mentioning that the "invitations went out to all three of the candidates and Hilary Clinton accepted, she will speak near the end of the program." That was it! Nothing more as expected and nothing less. Tavis refused to chastise Senator Obama as Tavis chastised the Republicans in that Baltimore Republican Debate. Tavis verbally assaulted the absent Republican candidates at Morgan State during the Republican debate, and further, Tavis symbolically placed podiums on stage with the names of the absent Republican candidates. In the legal field that is called Grandstanding. But at the 2008 State of the Black Union program Tavis instead respectfully and calmly stated that the absent Presidential candidates (Obama and McCain) declined the invitation. By handling the moment in such a manner Tavis Smiley showed me that while he was miffed that Senator Obama declined his offer, Tavis Smiley changed his stance. Tavis silently admitted that he overreacted in his commentary. Forgiveness granted by me, and should be granted by all of those that wrote and/or complained about the original commentary, but that is not the case.

We all know that Tavis will state on the Tom Joyner show Tuesday morning that he is resigning because of the busy schedule with upcoming major events and his PBS program. Face value Tavis's schedule is a lot to juggle. Maybe Tavis now has a special lady now that request more of his time, which is totally understandable. Tom Joyner disagrees and many other do as well. The very announcement by Tavis Smiley to officially answer why he is resigning during the highly contested Spring book temporarily benefits the show and sponsors. We all cannot wait to hear that. A bit dramatic but good radio nonetheless. A written statement would have been sufficient, or a statement on that night's Tavis Smiley television broadcast. I am quite sure that Tavis decided to personally make the statement on the show where he made his controversial commentary against Obama. Tavis could be taking a chance though with a pro-Obama audience versus quietly making a statement and moving on to the coming projects. Staying on the program for 8 more weeks could also be counter productive. Tom Joyner does not think that Tavis will remain through the end of June -- Joyner states this in his written comment about the Tavis resignation below.

Sometimes we 'do not' adequately think of the reprecussions 'before we speak'. We all do this. Not thinking of the viewpoint of others before we open our big fat mouths happens throughout our life. We simply put our foot in our mouths. Sometimes we need to keep our mouths shut instead of offending people with our controversial or negative forethoughts. We just slip sometimes and it is obvious that Tavis slipped on that early February day on the Tom Joyner show. Tavis realized this immediately with the bombardment of disagreeable comments that came his way. Tavis must have thought "oops I should not have sad that" or "if I knew what the reaction was going to be this tough, I would have shut my mouth."

I sensed that something was going on in the Tom Joyner camp when during the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death in Memphis on April 4th in an interview with CNN, Tom Joyner was asked if Obama should be in Memphis to commemorate King's assasignation. Tom reluctantly stated: "Well I think Obama should be here, but with all the upheavel over saying anything honest about Obama. My weekly listerners, mostly African-American, frankly we are not allowed to make 'perceptual negative statements' against Obama in any form or fashion." We all know that Joyner was referring to the Smiley statement and backlash that the Joyner and Smiley camps negatively received.

Below is one of the first articles from Journal-isms announcing Tavis Smiley's resignaton. Following the Journal-isms article is the news release by Tavis Smiley announcing his resignation with a full explanation to air on Tuesday's Tom Joyner show. The third and last piece below is Tom Joyner's statement about Tavis Smiley's resignation from the daily Joyner radio show.



Journal-isms
Tavis Smiley Quits Tom Joyner Show
April 11, 2008

Activist Said to Be Hurt by "Hate" Over Obama StanceAfter 12 years as a fixture on radio's syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show," activist, commentator and broadcast personality Tavis Smiley has quit the show, Joyner told listeners on Friday.
Tavis Smiley"He called me yesterday and said, 'I quit,'" Joyner said on the air.

Joyner said Smiley told him he was working on too many projects, but believed the real reason was that "he can't take the hate. "He can't take the hate he's taken over Barack Obama. He's always busting Barack Obama's chops. They call. They e-mail. They joke. You know Tavis like I do. He needs to feel loved. "We're so emotional about this Barack Obama candidacy. If you don't say anything for Barack Obama, you're considered to be a hater. . . . It's just that it hurts so deep when the people you love don't agree with you.

"He loves black America and black America has been very critical of him," Joyner said of Smiley. "It hurts. It hurt me to hear black Americans criticize him." Joyner said Smiley's resignation was not effective immediately, but Joyner considered it to be so. "I asked him to reconsider," Joyner said, and although Smiley agreed to do so, "he had pretty much made up his mind." Smiley had been critical of Obama for not attending Smiley's annual "State of the Black Union" symposium on Feb. 23. Of the presidential candidates, only Sen. Hillary Clinton accepted the invitation. Obama said he would send his wife, Michelle, but Smiley insisted that was not good enough.
"I'm catching hell," Smiley acknowledged in an interview then with Michael H. Cottman of BlackAmericaWeb.com.

"Who Died and Made Tavis King?" asked a headline on theRoot.com over a column by Melissa Harris-Lacewell. "Does Tavis realize that Obama is trying to win an election?" Not only have Joyner and Smiley been friends and allies, but Smiley's twice-weekly commentaries brought political analysis to the Joyner program, which also serves up music and comedy.

Joyner's "decision in 1996, to hire former Black Entertainment Television host Tavis Smiley to provide daily political commentary on The Tom Joyner Morning Show, was pivotal in raising political activism and awareness among blacks via the airwaves," Chandra R. Thomas wrote on Time.com last Saturday, in a story called "How Black Radio Found Its Voice."

Joyner urged listeners to call or e-mail Smiley or even their friend, professor Cornel West, who has been a part of Smiley's forums. "I think we should all let him know that black America still loves him." Smiley addressed the controversy in a Feb. 14 commentary on the Joyner show, but it apparently failed to persuade listeners. Among the projects Smiley is working on are a documentary, a bus tour and a book publishing company. But Joyner said both he and Smiley have always been multi-taskers.

Joyner asked one of the show's comedians, Huggie Lowdown, to make Smiley the "'Bama of the Week" for resigning.



Tavis's statement regarding TJMS
Date: Tuesday, April 15th 2008

Friends and Supporters:

There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I’ve had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.

Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and e-mails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.

I did not "quit" the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately. In July, I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June. Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall, and beyond.

I look forward to continuing the dialogue on Tuesday and in the coming months.


Tavis Smiley Quits the TJMS
Date: Friday, April 11, 2008
By: Tom Joyner

Well, you did it. This isn't the way you wanted it to happen, but it happened anyway. Just like I knew it would. I got a call from Tavis on yesterday. And he told me he was quitting the show. He told me the reason was that he was tired and has a lot of things going on, and he feels that now is a good time to leave the show. We all know that isn't the real reason he's leaving the show. The real reason is that he can't take the hate he's been getting regarding the Barack issue. The hate from the black people that he loves so much. He needed to feel the love. We all do, whether it's from our radio audience or from people we know personally. He wasn't feeling any love, so he quit.

A while back, he told us that I don't speak for him. But this morning, since he isn't here to speak for himself, I think it's my job as a colleague and a friend. And maybe this time, you'll really listen to me. Tavis truly loves black people. I tried to tell you that. The hate he's been getting hurts. He'll never admit that, but it's true. And here's something you may not want to admit: Black people need Tavis. You may not agree with what he has said, but he said it because he has love for black people. I'll admit that sometimes listening to him was like trying to figure out the DaVinci Codes. I'll also admit that I wanted Tavis to show a little more love to Barack Obama, and I was frustrated over his failure to do so.

But what Tavis was saying made us think. It had us talking, it had us listening to a different point of view, and it was damn good radio. Tavis on the radio not saying everything that we want him to say is a lot better than not having Tavis on the radio at all. The Tom Joyner Morning Show without Tavis gives our listeners one less reason to tune in, and in case you don't know, all of us in radio -- and in black radio especially -- are in a battle for our lives. We need good, controversial, compelling radio, and Tavis brought that.

When Tavis put the first Covenant book together, he was on a mission to hold whoever led this nation accountable to black people and to things that were critical to us. At the time, he had no idea that Barack Obama was going to run for president. His goal was for EVERY presidential candidate to answer to every covenant in the book during this campaign. He has said all along that he is holding Barack and all candidates accountable. Dr. King would have done the same thing. When asked what Dr. King would want him to do on this campaign, Barack has said Dr. King would want him to address the issues. That's all Tavis was asking of him, and I think Dr. King would have been proud of Tavis.

But because Tavis has not come out and said, I am for Barack Obama, everybody has started hating on him and threatening him and clowning him, and he cant take it. Those of us who know him well know that. If you read his autobiography, What I Know for Sure, you know that no matter how deep his love is, if he feels that he's right or that you're wrong, he doesn't back down.
When his mom made him step down from being class president because his grades were slipping, he didn't speak to her for two years. His own mama, a single parent of eight! He lived in her house, ate her food while he sat at her table and didn't say a word to her for two years. All because he didn't feel the love that his mom was trying to give him. Tavis said the things he said about Barack because he wants the black people that he loves so much to think -- but to most of you, it sounded like hate, and it sounded like that to me too. Love or hate, real or perceived, none of it matters now.

What matters is that Tavis wants to quit the TJMS -- and that's real.I want you to call him, e-mail him, text him, hug him, kiss him, get him in a corner and wrestle him and tell him how much you love him and appreciate his love for black people. Everyone needs that sometimes. And Tavis needs it right now