Thank You, Tavis

It was announced Friday morning, April 11, that Tavis Smiley will leave his twice-weekly perch as a commentator on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS). I think this is a big loss (disclosure: I've appeared on Smiley's PBS television show). His departure is disappointing and reveals what happens when one has the audacity of independent thought. Tavis has the temerity to think for himself, ask Black people difficult questions, and avoid the temptation to look at matters through rose-colored glasses. But, alas, no good deed goes unpunished and Smiley's prize has been blistering, often off-based criticism from some longtime TJMS listeners who think that Tavis crossed the line for not joining the fawning over Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign. I can't help but believe that listener reaction to his position pushed him out of the door. I know it's being played as a scheduling thing, but the reality is that Smiley speaks to more people on the TJMS than on his radio and television shows combined. It's a valuable outlet, so I don't believe that he wanted to give up access to such a large audience.

There are plenty of people who can do commentary -- but very few who can do it intelligently -- and I'm sure they are salivating at the opportunity to fill a plumb vacancy (disclosure: I've been a weekly commentator on WVON-AM in Chicago and the Cliff Kelley Show since June 2005). The reality is, however, that Tavis is an original and almost singlehandedly created this role for Black commentators on national radio. Black-formatted radio shows all over the country have taken the TJMS lead and now have regular commentators/analysts talking politics. That's an important contribution in an arena where such talk has been sorely needed. He used his notoriety to branch out into his own television and radio shows, which he has used to bring much needed Black voices to America's ears and, for that, he should be commended. In this way, he's the embodiment of DuBois' "Talented Tenth."

Bon voyage, Tavis. You've done well. You were brave to take the stances that you have over the years, including your wait-and-see approach to Obama. You were right not get caught up in the hype and seek accountability from all, regardless of color. Too bad your people didn't appreciate what you were trying to do. Worse, still, is that they took your approach for hatin' on Obama or, ridiculously, that you're in the Clinton's pocket. Sadly, one of the lessons of the Democratic presidential nomination fight is that we can't have objective conversations about Obama; you get fired when you try.

I know better, Nupe, and wish you well.

Comments

[lilyflower8604]

Commentators are criticised all the time, and its a shame that Tavis didn't have the strength to take the hits and also voice the opinons from the other side of the line. Did he expect black America to just agree with him on every issue!!! I love you Tavis but you gotta be stronger than this, as a black man I'm sure you've been through worse.

[kcnativnla]

You can be objective, ask tough questions, and not be a "hater". The way Tavis threw a tantrum because he didn't participate in his forum was amateurish and unprofessional.

Bye bye, Tavis. You won't be missed by me.

[halyscomet]

Tavis' error was not his much-celebrated candor, but tremendous hubris that grew more quickly than his ratings. Had he not taken Obama's decision not to attend his symposium personally, as evidenced by what seemed to be tantrum-like comments when referencing the Senator, he might have survived.

The lesson for Tavis is to take this experience, like others, and learn from it.

[pfgibbs]

part2
(Bill Cosby does not fit in this category as his criticism right or wrong are backed by love and concern.)

Tavis Smiley is a thoughtful and insigtful commentator and as a rule right on the mark. Mr. Smiley does ask the tough question of the Black community and does so with intelligence and integrity, however his recent spat with Senator Obama seems to be fueled by a sense of entitlement and ego. Mr. Smiley's wait and see approach to Senator Obama's campaign is not exclusive, it is the approach the vast majority voters in the Black community employed before lending their support to Obama's quest. However once Senator Obama was embraced and supported, his campaign was supported with a passion and enthusiasm that should not be at all surprising for the first viable African American presidential candidate and any undue or misplaced criticism of Senator Obama's campaign will be met with harsh disdain by his supporters. Tavis Smiley a highly intelligent man with insight and supposedly his finger on the pulse of Black America should know this without being told. Mr. Smiley who is leaving the TJMS of his own accord and was not fired. If he his leaving the TJMS because of the heat he has received from Obama supporters shame on him for not having the courage of his convictions.

[Shantee]

Tavis Smiley, Andrew Young, Vernon Jordan and Bob Johnson may be Clinton supporters, but they all smell like republicans and there is nothing more repugnant than a black republican. Remember the dispicable remarks Johnson made about Obama, and the remarks Young made about Bill Clinton having more black woman than Obama. Real classy!

[onedivasinger]

Americans are a funny lot. We claim to want to be told the truth, and that we want to be inspired to something better than the status quo. We say that we are tired of the horror of the last eight years, and that we want a different kind of politic. We don't.
Mr. Fauntroy, the "fawning" comment smacks of a kind of envy. I am a mature woman who doesn't make decisions lightly or in a vacuum. It was one of the toughest decisions that I have ever made when I pulled that lever for Senator Obama here in New York on primary day. I respect and admire Tavis Smiley. His work on behalf of the community and this country is to be greatly admired. It just seems to me that the very thing that people of color have been working hard to do, is to have an equal seat at the table. Now it seems that we are so busy pulling the chairs from underneath each other, that we might not get to the feast.
There is room at the table for all of us. No matter what our backgrounds are.Tavis really didn't need to leave. We really don't need to go through all of this. Senator Obama and his supporters didn't need to receive 'snark' from you in order to make your point. We are not all 'swooning' lunatics whether Tavis waits and sees, or you prop another Nupe while broad brushing the rest of us!

[Denni]

"Too bad -- your people -- didn't appreciate what you were trying to do"

Oh the irony!!!! I think 'his people' did understand what he was trying to do. You're right 'his people' didn't appreciate it.

[Tejano1]

damn tooting. he's a sellout and i'm glad that his hackery has cost him.

[mag64]

Tavis deserves the criticism.

[Demsneed2win]

Bless you Tavis.
I am still a big fan.

[4wehttam]

I don't think Tavis has any gripes with Obama except for the state of the black union address. He was on Bill Maher and all he did was defend Obama. I like Tavis, I'm sorry that he's upset about Obama not coming but I'm sure he now understands.

PS.....Nobody is asking Tavis to "fawn" all over Obama. Give it a rest with all that.

PSS... Just because his supporters are inspired by him doesn't mean we're fawning over him. We support his candidacy because we believe in what he stands for and represents. He is dedicated, honest, with great integrity, intelligent and most of all he's GENUINE...........not the status quo that we've become accustomed to.

[Tejano1]

i watched him on maher and he didn't defend obama. he was stand-offish and didn't offer anything credible or impassioned.

[4wehttam]

Are you kidding? He was saying people are completely uninformed when it comes to MLK and Rev Wright. He said that MLK said some of the most controversial things about our government in his day that Rev Wright has made and that people ARE taking it completely out of context.

I know what I saw. People the the audience applauded his comments, thank you very much.

[awb]

the problem with Tavis is he formed his political opinions based on his own ego - that is why people are annoyed with him

there are plenty of african americans who support sen clinton and support sen obama -

When Sen Obama did not reorganize his schedule to appear at Tavis' "State of the Black Union" directly coincides to Tavis' "issues" with Sen Obama

That is the problem.

Sen Obama immediately offered his wife Michelle to come to SOTBU - but Tavis said "no". And what is really interiesting is that when the event was planned in Nov/Dec - the Clinton's said "no" to an appearance as well --

But after the debacle in SC - Hillary Clinton made a last minute switch and appeared in a special end of the day discussion at the SOTBU and got CSpan coverage and for that Tavis fawned all over her --

Tavis has a lot of good and important things to say - maybe being forced off TJMS will help Tavis get his bearings back and come down to earth -
It is not the world according to Tavis Smiley - and we really need the important things he has to say - just not from the prism of his own ego--

[CitizenTess]

Tavis has become positively snarky in his comments about Obama. Just like his beloved: Hillary. Get over yourself Tavis, you are being a real whiner, it's very unattractive. Shall we brace ourselves for your well planned tearing up on just how hard your position is & how it's just so unfair....(sotto sniffling)

[Desdemondo]

No one has any tears to shed over this long overdue departure.

In leaving, he should not allow the door to hit him - you know where.

[brooklyncitizen]

The Tavis-Obama issue played out what often happens in the black community: envy at the expense of unity. THis has plagued Obama from the beginning with the not "black enbough" comments repeated in the balck community and mouthed by black leaders such as Andrew Young.

Exactly what was so offensive about Obama not attending that event? Tavis then went on to slight Obama and his wife Michelle by refusing the offer to have her attend instead. THis is helping the black community ...how?????

I live in the Hassidic community in brooklyn and I continually marvel at how tight Hassids and other Jewish communities are...unbelievable. There isn't a single black America because there is no black "community". Tavis' tantrums just proove that.

[AnninCA]

I fail to see how gaining 90% of AA voters has been a "plague" on Obama!

I do see that those who dare to not support him are plagued.

[Demsneed2win]

Thats part of the reason he won the Caucuses.

[kj11]

Well put brooklyn citizen. I thought it was so rude for Tavis not to accept Michelle Obama at the State of the Black Union. Why did he dishonor Senator Obama that way? It shows his own ego is more important than the community.

[kj11]

Well said brooklyncitizen..."envy at the expense of unity."

I used to admire what Tavis was doing with the SOBU. But when he refused to accept Mrs. Obama in lieu of the Senator --- I lost respect for him. It was clearly a case of his own individual ego over the good of the community. Very rude to the Obama family and to the rest of us.

[Nommo]

Did y'all have the brown paper bag thing going on, Nupes?

[the964kid]

Michael, I've got some bad news for you: virtually nobody feels the same way you do. Did Smiley pay you to write this?? The reality is that people are celebrating that Smiley got run out of town. Thats what he gets for being on the wrong side of history. Fool.

[AnninCA]

43% of Dems voted for Clinton. Yet you think, somehow, that everyone agrees with you?

Wow......now, that's arrogance.

[4wehttam]

Where in his statement did you get "everyone"? OPEN YOUR EYES, or get a pair of glasses- bifocals if necessary.