Tavis Smiley: "Tom Joyner Morning Show" Commentary 2.23.2010

Broadcaster Tavis Smiley to Moderate Conversation on Need for Black Agenda
Public Forum Also to Activate Black Participation in 2010 Census

LOS ANGELES (February 23, 2010) Some noted Black leaders recently have suggested publicly that President Obama does not need to focus on Black issues. In response to mounting evidence showing African Americans are disproportionately lagging behind on all economic indicators despite assertions of a so-called post-racial era, Tavis Smiley said Tuesday he will moderate a national conversation examining whether in fact there needs to be a Black agenda and the accountability of leadership to address issues facing Black Americans.

The nationally-televised forum, We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda, will be held from 8 am noon Saturday, March 20 at Chicago State Universitys Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center, 9501 South King Dr., Chicago, IL. The event is free and open to the public on first-come, first-served basis. Advanced registration is available at www.tavistalks.com.

From the Carolinas to California millions of Americans are in crisis as a direct result of the recession in historic proportions. Given the joblessness rate compounded by the lack of access to healthcare and the collapse of the housing market, the statistics continue to show that Black Americans in particular are getting crushed, Smiley said.

I think the time has come to have an earnest dialogue between Black leaders and Black people about easing the suffering of disaffected communities. A Black agenda is Americas agenda in that what affects the least of us, affects all of us.

Invited panelists include noted scholar Cornel West, professor and author Michael Eric Dyson, Jesse Jackson, Sr., Marc Morial, National Urban League, and Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the president for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. Others include Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink; Tom Burrell, author of BRAINWASHED; U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Ben Jealous, NAACP President; Al Sharpton, Dorothy Height, and Louis Farrakhan.

The conversation will also raise awareness about participation among Black citizens in the 2010 Census. The forms, which will be mailed in March, are due on April 1. The data collected by the Census helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Your Census form is your chance to be heard about how nearly $450 billion will be spent in your community for schools, job training, health care centers, etc. Its too important to bypass the opportunity to be counted, Smiley said.

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[whiteliberal1]

@sagebabin7 Please, tell us what race of people did the NAACP oppress.

[blueBlackpurple]

For Tavis to publicly call out some Black leaders like Reverend Al Sharpton in such a negative way is inexcusable. He could have done this privately with those people if he had concerns or questions about what they have allegedly said. It is fine to have disagreements, but Tavis could have privately talked to Al Sharpton and the other people he called out, to at least get clarification about what they said. Tavis is doing more harm than good.

[blackswan833]

Black America are you just going to sit there til the agenda come to your door delta airlines have planes that can sit in mid air and hurt people with heat waves elf waves and a big bright light that blind you and make your eye sockets very dry csx have a skyccaple that can come from the train to your home all of these things are on my home they are trying to kill me with most of my neighbors help fox wood plantation rd.30213

[ENHarris]

I've always respected Tavis Smiley. What I just heard was deep. Very thoughtful.

[d1nine1]

what if u tavis dont know or wernt sent meet 1

[oceans14cuz]

Copy and Paste until something happens:

NO MORE TALK! TIME FOR ACTION. LEADERS, COMMIT TO ONE ACTION TO IMPROVE THE LIFE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS NOW. PUBLICIZE IT SO OTHERS CAN HELP. NOW!!!

[teward]

UNITED WE STAND BLACK amerikkka

[wh0m33]

Shut up Tavis. King was a adulterous hypocrite and you know it. Stop sounding like an uncle Tom. Tell Cornell West to get a hair cut. The fro has been dead for 30 years.

[scorpionJB]

@apostlete brother/sister, please send me a message in private....we gotta talk.....there's only a few people who see this situation for what it is.....

[omoshtwin]

Tavis Smiley, STOP whining Run for President and smile.