This video is part of the commentary that started the fallout between Tavis Smiley and Rev.Al Sharpton.
So who's excited about this meeting or "choir rehearsal" as he calls it? You know this type of mess has to stop.How many "meetings","discussions",and "conferences" do we need to have to have a dialogue about the "Black Agenda"? Haven't we sang this song before?
In 2005
The State of The Black Union's theme was:Defining The African American Agenda-Part1.
In 2006,
The SOTBU's theme was: Defining The African American Agenda-Part2.
Now here we are 4-5 years later and the SAME people are about to sing you the SAME song...."WE NEED A BLACK AGENDA AND WE'RE GOING TO FORCE THE POTUS TO ADOPT ONE".
Umm OK,good luck with that.And what exactly does a "Black Agenda" consist of?
Are you going to demand that the President mandate Blacks be hired before anyone else? Are you going to demand that the President make jobs available "FOR BLACKS ONLY"?
Seriously, someone help me understand what a "Black Agenda" is and how does this President survive politically if he does so? Does Tavis and his crew of "Black Leaders" think working class whites and latinos who voted for Obama are going to just sit by and let that happen? That will single-handedly destroy his presidency.
But for the sake of argument,let's just say this DOES need to be discussed(in public).
How can Tavis be objective after he's criticized the President for the last 3 years? That would be like me hosting a birthday party for Michael Steele.
How can Tavis appear credible when he has Michael Eric Dyson on the panel who said "the President runs from race like a black man does the police"?
Tavis has played this record time after time after time and no one appears to be dancing anymore. It's like a football team that runs the same plays but they never score. At some point you need to come up with a different play,better players or get a new coach. Rev.Sharpton tried to sit Tavis down on the bench and give him a new play.He even suggested he defer to new players(Roland Martin,Jeff Johnson,Warren Ballentine)but Tavis is content with the players he's been using(Dr.Cornell West,Dyson,Jesse Jackson).I say it's time for a new coach.
Sure,he and those "Black Leaders" will draw a crowd of "followers".Sure,everyone will try to one up the other with witty punch lines. But when the crowd leaves and the cameras stop rolling,you still haven't scored. You're in the same position as you were when the meeting started. Except now,you REALLY won't get what you want. The last thing THIS President needs right now,is an ultimatum from people who should be doing what they're asking him to do.If you're suppose to be a "Black Leader" then,LEAD!!! But the question is,who will follow you? After all the witty one liners and punchlines that took place during your "choir rehearsal",who's gonna actually help you sing the song?
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That was a good post. This whole "black agenda" issue doesn't even make sense to me. In my opinion, it's just another attempt by these "black leaders" struggling to remain relevant in the age of Obama.
ReplyDelete@ N.B.W.-Welcome to The Board Room,I'm a huge fan of your blog.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment.This whole idea of a "black agenda" is crazy.
My black agenda looks much like the agenda that my white friends have: quality education for my children; the ability to amass a retirement fund/account that will see me through old age and/or infirmity; quality, affordable housing; clean, safe, and well-appointed neighborhoods and cities; affordable health care; and so forth and so on. It is ridiculous to marginalize the things that would benefit black Americans to a single agenda. Our concerns and interests are so widespread and various that they cannot be addressed with a list of social ills as if they affect no one but blacks. Plus, to mark something specifically for the black community is to ensure that those who hate us will oppose it, make it substandard and difficult to get, and then ridicule us for asking for it. We need an agenda for this country that will address the issues that affect us and others. The black agenda issue is great for selling books (both editions of The Convenant for Black America--one of which I purchased), but much like your blog on Black History Month, only relevant once a year.
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