First, some thoughts on his book: Tonight, he's wrapping up his talk at the Pratt Library in Baltimore. I'm sure the sum and substance is the same as what I heard at Georgetown, on the stage of the august, amazing Riggs Library there in Healy Hall. there was a reception before the talk on the third book in Tavis's "Convenant" Trilogy. I and faculty colleagues attended, though it was sponsored by one of Tavis's bankrollers--health insurer/HMO UnitedHealthcare. Wells Fargo, which used it's TARP bailout cash to pay for goodies including all of Wachovia is another major sponsor. ExxonMobil, yet another. Keep that in mind in case you buy Accountable and read Tavis's railing against the banks, Big Healthcare/Pharma, Big Oil. But wait...read carefully. It's not a screed against these villians. Much slicker than that. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Hold the people we elect accountable to keep these monsters in check. And I, Tavis Smiley, will be your instrument. His job is to make Barack Obama a better president. Like all prophets do with politicians, so says Tavis. Frederick Douglass made Abraham Lincoln. Martyr Dr. King pushing first black mayor Carl Stokes of Cleveland...and LBJ. Clever, eh? Not really. But he doesn't have to be, given his fanbase. And he is their prophet. Supposedly...
Now, I took copius notes. Only about 30 students bothered to show. The rest were us as invited guests, ringers ushered in by UnitedHealth. I could flip you my ersatz transcript but why bother? You to recall that I have never been a Kool Aid drinking Obamaholic. That said, I was glad I knew how to swim, for I could have drowned in a tsunami of ego. Listening and reading between the lines, parsing his examples, metaphors, analogies--I simply couldn't escape this impression. He is utterly oblivious to the real reason why folks were mad at him when he carried water for Bill and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries. He's not even honest with himself as to why he dissed barack and michelle. Ahhh...it's not about them, he says. It's about civility and differences of opinion, and he's always taken the high road. He's taken the high road with Tom Joyner, someone else he "loves." He feels Barack appropriated this whole notion of accountability from him, of course. And on the even of the Denver convention he phoned Barack and said "Don't let them steal your soul. Don't sell out." As if Barack asked for the advice? And that should give you a hint about what's going on in Tavis's dome. I recall a conversation I had with an ex-boyfriend of my wife's after we'd gotten engaged. He wanted to get the last word in as well, and it was some pseudo-deep advice, platitudes patronizing. And I'm sure it made him feel good. Powerful. Not relevant. Powerful. I won the prize, but I had to be made sensitive to his power. Yet in a subdued way. Not loud, or outlandish. As a prophet would. Quoting scripture and all...
Tavis is our version of Rush Limbaugh. Just more dangerous. Whoa--more dangerous than Rush? Rush's self-importance, ego, viciousness wraps an inner core of irreverance. As if he truly doesn't believe half of what he says, and his laughing at us all as he cashes his checks. Tavis rocks like a true believer. Understated. Confident. Passionate. Like St. Paul--wearing a tobacco company or Exxon logo on his toga.
11 comments:
OMG. I heard about this tour and the book. So they wanted you all there as props.
Tavis is a fool.
You were able to be in the presence fo the Great Tavis Smiley...ha ha ha. I don't think he will be happy being compared to Rush. The thought is funny though...
I never read any of his books. I did however watch a bit of his covenant series and never felt that anything was actually done to enact these commandments for success. And his foray into PBS prime time was an unmitigated disaster. He seemed like such a sycophant and his show hardly focused on just Black causes—it was fairly diverse.
Accountability has been a pervasive meme in the Black community (hello doesn’t he remember the million man March and Cosby’s painful admonishments) for a long time, therefore Obama stealing his ideas is crazy disingenuous and remarkably conceited.
I never thought Obama represented the Black community or that he had a particular “black agenda” as so many Whites feared. I knew that whatever we had to do had to be at the grassroots level even if Emmanuel will influence Obama with Israel. I believed he was focusing more on a distinctly non-racial platform and made great pains not to align with any radical afro centric thought (despite Wright) patterns and become universally appealing to everyone—that is the only way he could have won. I only see him and Michelle as positive symbols that highlight diversity in the Black community. I am proud of them only for that and not on what he can or will do for the Black community. I never expected them to help the Black community.
SoCal 82Tiger Says:
Professor- As someone who has listened to Travis since his early days on KABC radio in LA I can tell you he must be envious of what the young upstart Barack has accomplished!
In LA Travis was the hip, smart, well educated, well-spoken and erudite man of the street. He was the prize graduate out of "Cambridge Community College" in Boston long before our esteemed President was on the political radar, and yet Travis never developed the means to become a true political player in the landscape of American politics.
On the radio and TV Travis has always been a good provocative talker but not much more.... It's funny to see/hear you describe him labor to recast himself as a seminal figure that made the success of Barack possible...
He is envious and hurt he's not the center of attention. I like the prophet analogy.
Tavis aside, shouldn't we hold elected officials accountable?
With regard to corporate sponsorship, we're all "sponsored by" in one way or another. If you live in the US & think you're not working for and consuming for "the man," then you're really drinking the Kool Aid. Well, unless you're Amish. I suppose there could be a rating system for just how unethical our corporate "citizens" are, but when you get right down to it, they all deserve a failing grade. The litmus test is flawed, with too many false negatives (that company is BAD. As opposed to...?) and false positives (Universities are "good" and thus, "better" than corporations. Hahahaha).
On to Tavis -
SoCal 82Tiger - What do you mean by "Cambridge Community College in Boston"?
Chris - Tavis more dangerous than Rush? That's serious. Don't be surprised if the CRIC has a protest outside your office over those fightin' words.
--Lady J
I've been waiting for this.
I listened to our local talk radio station as Tavis was on his book tour, and the thing that got me was -----how come his book signings weren't where the Black folk are?
I'm just a-sayin'.
He chose 2 places where, while of course Black folk could get to them..
If you were trying to sell to Black folk, I could give the names of a half-dozen places that were ' Negro friendlier'.
Places where Black folk didn't have to pay an arm and a leg for parking to get to see Tavis. But, maybe I'm just being too picky.
You to recall that I have never been a Kool Aid drinking Obamaholic.
No, you have not.
That said, I was glad I knew how to swim, for I could have drowned in a tsunami of ego.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA
You don't say.
Listening and reading between the lines, parsing his examples, metaphors, analogies--I simply couldn't escape this impression. He is utterly oblivious to the real reason why folks were mad at him when he carried water for Bill and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries. He's not even honest with himself as to why he dissed barack and michelle.
And UNTIL he is honest about that, I need not listen to anything Tavis said. Folks have accused me of drinking the ' Kool Aid'. I disagree. I read REGULARLY, folks that are far harsher on President Obama than Tavis. But, the thing is, they are true constructive CRITICS of the President. They are not ' haters'. And, Tavis is a 'HATER', plain and simple.
Tavis will never admit that the Black Community fell out with him because he disrespected MICHELLE OBAMA. THAT was his sin. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Black folk have no problems with Black folk who want to be 'critical' of The President. But, it better not have a whiff of ' haterade' wrapped up in it. Black folks were done with Tavis when he disrespected Michelle Obama AND tried to lie about it. When we as a community were ' on the fence' with regards to Barack Obama, the feelings for Michelle Obama were clear - attack her at your peril, if you are Black. Juan Williams should have known better after watching what happened to Tavis.
Ahhh...it's not about them, he says. It's about civility and differences of opinion, and he's always taken the high road.
Oh, such utter bull, I can't even begin to comment on that..LOL
I agree 100% with rikyrah. Of course the President regardless of party affiliation, race etc. needs to be accountable however, Tavis is only hating. He offers no solutions.
Great point about the location. Every single one of the book tour locations where "august" old-school academic or grandiose venues. Nothing super Negro friendly. Places where you truly had to want to get there (park at Georgetown? Ha!). Even the Pratt Library Main branch in Balto's a downtown building which, though on the major bus routes, etc., is not within a neighborhood).
He does see himself as a prophet, like the old Testament dudes who warned kings! And when/if the kings fail, the faithful will return to him! I know that sounds crazy, but I've dealt with meglamaniac's before and this is the type of subconscious shit you find when you dig deep...
When Black folk encounter Tavis they should break out in unison with this chorus, "Hi Hater, Hi Hater, Hi Hater".
Tavis is an egomaniacal twat without any self-awareness. Why the hell would ANYONE follow Tavis Smiley across the friggin' street much less into the political wasteland of US politics littered with corpses of failed Black leaders and racially motivated landmines?
I am all for accountability but after all the water carrying Tavis did for the Clintons his call NOW for the accountability of the Obama administration is more than a little disingenuous. Tavis is mad that Obama is cutting into his profits from his regular gig as the "supposed" leader of the Black community.
And tell me exactly what has the SOBU done for the community? After ten years of the SOBU what tangible improvements to the Black community can be directly attributed to the SOBU?
I did not know that pontificating had a real effect on anyone's life unless partnered with vision, planning, effective grassroots organizing, fund raising and execution.
I commend the Tavis Smiley Foundation for its contributions to youth but these kids are generally part of the "talented tenth" who would have made it without Tavis or the Foundation's help.
But overall what I see is Tavis empire building but unfortunately for Black folk it is an empire of one.
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