Showing posts with label tavis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tavis. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
THREE BLACK CRABS IN A BARREL
Tavis "Self-Proclaimed Leader of Black Folks" Smiley will not stop. After a historic night in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, this self righteous, wannabe leader has found a way to still talk bad about Barack Obama with two academics that I had previously respected, Dr. Cornel "What's with the Scarf In Summer" West and the president of Bennett College, Julianne Malveaux. These three got together on Tavis' half hour "whine & cheese" show AKA The Tavis Smiley Show and complained about what Barack Obama didn't say in his 42 minute Democratic nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field. They mentioned how he didn't speak about Dr. King and how Barack reduced him to just "a preacher from Georgia". Hadn't every media outlet already spoken of the King "I Have A Dream" speech connection? Did he really need to repeat the obvious, so Malveaux could be pleased? Malveuax then responded to Tavis' very, callous, "so much hype... did Obama deliver?" comment by saying to him, "Not at all and quite actually her heart was broken". Malveaux then spoke with glowing kudos of the speeches by Hillary and Bill Clinton. Malveaux continued that Jesse Jackson has been very gracious about passing the "baton" on to Barack Obama. Is that not the man, who wanted to "cut the nuts off" Barack Obama a few weeks ago? If that's "passing the baton", Julianne, you can keep it. Well, Julie, if your heart was broken, you're breaking my heart right now. Dr. West then complained of how Obama didn't speak about poverty in his speech. Cornel West is a man, who recently stated in an interview that "Lil' Wayne is an intelligent brother" (if you don't know Lil' Wayne just topped the music charts with an ode to receiving fellatio titled, "Lollipop" and has previously gone to rehab for an addiction to cough syrup). I know Cornel is trying to keep his street cred with the hip-hop community, but he is really pushing it and I must take his comments with not a grain of salt, but an entire salt lick. It is amazing how these so-called highly educated people cannot grasp the concept that Barack Obama is not running for the title of "Leader of All Blacks" (a moniker presently held by a recurring guest on the Howard Stern Radio Show), but President of the United States, which includes white people and people of many other ethnicities. In a country where we are not the majority, not even the largest minority, you cannnot expect this man to layout the agenda for Black America, while trying to become leader of America. And even with what Senator Obama has achieved in this historic race, racism is not dead, there are still people out there, who will not vote for a black man just because he is black and the race is not complete until a Tuesday night in early November and John McCain has called Barack Obama congratulating him on his historic win. Malveaux and West tarnish and severly damage their images with this nitpicking on Obama's every word. They are no better than the 24 hour news cycles that daily pick apart and translate people's words to their gain. Tavis Smiley should be ashamed that he is still trying to piss on Obama's parade after his first attempt failed during the Democratic primary. I read once that "Critics are people, who sit on a hill and watch a war. And when it's over they go down and kill all the surviviors." Watch this clip above and see these three unload a few clips on Barack Obama. I have heard that the blue crab has become an endangered species, but tell me when the black crab is endangered, so I can look forward to their extinction.
Now Follow Me! Follow Me To Freedom!
Friday, February 22, 2008
GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY POCKET!
“Get your hand out of my pocket!” Those words were echoed in the film “Malcolm X”, by a Nation of Islam member, who was upset with Malcolm X, whose honesty and separation from the Nation seemed to dig into the religious sect’s coffers. It also seems to be the words a certain activist is screaming at a certain Democratic presidential candidate.
Talk show host/author/activist/pundit for black folk, Tavis Smiley has no doubt done good for the black community, via his talk show, his radio show and his many tomes, which can all be purchased on Amazon.com or a bookstore near you. According to the Louisiana lieutenant governor's office, Tavis' "day of service" (where people volunteer in rebuilding efforts) will be the largest in the state of Louisiana, since Huricane Katrina hit and I applaud him for that. But over the past week, Tavis has taken issue with Democratic presidential nominee hopeful, Barack Obama for not attending his annual State of the Black Union. Mr. Smiley feels as a representative of “black folk” (a favorite colloquialism of his) that Mr. Obama not appearing at his State of the Black Union would be a "critical miscalculation". Ironically, Mr. Obama took part in a Democratic presidential debate that Mr. Smiley moderated in 2007 on the campus of Howard University. Mr. Obama also appeared on Mr. Smiley’s public television talk show for thirty minutes. Far be it from me to scratch my head, but between a two-hour debate and half hour of "one on one" time with this man, can Mr. Smiley not get the gist of Mr. Obama’s platform. Because I can't find the "critical miscalculation". Recently on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Tavis pontificated during his weekly commentary on Joyner's syndicated radio show about “what a free man is” and “his right to question political candidates” and again as I said a "critical miscalculation" for Obama to not attend his annual “rhetoric fest”. Yes, I called it a rhetoric fest, because in my opinion that’s what it is. The State of the Black Union? Smiley gets some above average minds, below average minds with some celebrity and Cornel West (a mind that I highly respect and don’t dare question) to appear on a symposium about the State of Black Union. I hate to paint the Black Union with broad strokes, but it’s fu***d up. A cannibalizing, drug epidemic, an educational system that’s not in decay, but stench-reeking, decomposition and BET (thirty minutes at a time) have contributed to eroding the State of the Black Union. I mean with all these problems, I can’t see what renting an auditorium to have people on a stage talking about problems does for Black America--- did you hear me?! They're just TALKING and not doing a thing.
But let me not digress I'm here to speak about Tavis Smiley and his recent comments towards Barack Obama, who is the first, truly, formidable black candidate for the office of the presidency (and please don't utter Jesse Jackson's name, because his run for the White House was symbolic at best, but never taken seriously by anyone but black people). In the beginning I couldn’t understand why Mr. Smiley took such issue with Obama not appearing at his annual "black" party, until I thought about it, but now I get it. Smiley, while philanthropic is a bottom line, businessman. Any good businessman will tell you that you must know your market and their needs. As the neo-cons found and targeted “NASCAR Dads” in the past presidential elections, Tavis Smiley has found his audience, which I call “MOTOWN/Soul Train Blacks” (patent pending). This would be the black people, who were very young children during Motown’s heyday, teenagers when Soul Train really mattered and they have just enough knowledge of hip-hop to recite Rapper’s Delight and some Run DMC lyrics. They are a solid bunch of people, that recall a day, when Jesse Jackson wasn’t sitting front row at a Tyson fight or reciting "Green Eggs and Ham" on Saturday Night Live. They find the humor in the thought that people call Bill Clinton “the first black president” and in some bizarre way a few of them (NOT ALL OF THEM) believe it. I’ll admit Clinton did a lot for people of color during his two terms as Commander-in-Chief, but he is not a black man. If by some stroke of egregiously, terrible luck, that the slavery of black people was reinstated, I just don’t believe that Slick Willie would be willing to stay out back with the rest of the coloreds and eat scraps from the "big house". Most importantly about MOTOWN/Soul Trainers is that, while holding a tremendous respect for gaining a college education, they also respect the concept of a leader, a black leader to be exact— King, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell— that beacon in the community to proudly lead and for us to follow. Tavis Smiley has picked up that torch, copyrighted it, patented it and got some mega-corporations to pick up the tab. Smiley infuses terms like “black folk", forms of alliteration and 70’s slang into his speech to give himself that air of a black leader and ingratiates himself into said MOTOWN/Soul Trainer's life. Some of you out there may not agree with my feelings, but you can’t actually believe the State of the Black Union symposium, while free to attend, is being paid for out of Smiley’s pocket, because it is not. Yes, the revolution is being televised on C-SPAN and it is also sponsored by Exxon/Mobil, McDonald’s, Wells Fargo Bank and Allstate. I must note that Smiley's weekly comments on The Tom Joyner Morning Show are sponsored by Wal-Mart, so even his "King-like" passages have been sold to the highest bidder. As I said earlier, a true businessman knows his market and knows what they want. If I’m promoting a concert, I’m not selling one ticket if my headliner is Cisco singing his new song, “Thong 2008”. No, I’ve got to have a person, who is going to be a real draw and put butts into the seats. Tavis is throwing his annual political concert and he needs a political rock star to headline. Hillary is coming, but she’s Lil’ Kim (there’s a bizarre, interest in her, but we know her steelo), McCain is Lil Richard (we respect what you did, but we’ve got better things to do with our time) and Barack Obama is Kanye West (I don’t know what he's going to do, but whatever it is I don't want to be the one to say I missed it). So while I don’t agree with Mr. Smiley’s words towards Mr. Obama, I totally and sadly understand his need to protect his financial interests.
"Get your hand out of my pocket!" I heard you the first time Tavis.
Smiley has created his own cottage industry, ("poli-tainment", if you will) and when you create a brand, you will do whatever you must to protect it and hang a lantern on it for all to see and continue seeing. Jim Carrey will always do zany, comedies, Richard Simmons will always wear tight, booty-shorts, Flavor Flav will always wear a clock, Clay Davis (for you WIRE fans) will always say 'sheeeeeeeeet, Tyler Perry will always perform as Madea and Tavis Smiley will always preach/entertain to his MOTOWN/Soul Trainers aka "black folk". So to Tavis Smiley I say back the hell off Mr. Obama, for he hasn't done a thing, but try to be the president of America (not just black America) and to the MOTOWN/Soul Trainers I wish you peace, love and soooooooouullll!!!
Now Follow me to Freedom!
Talk show host/author/activist/pundit for black folk, Tavis Smiley has no doubt done good for the black community, via his talk show, his radio show and his many tomes, which can all be purchased on Amazon.com or a bookstore near you. According to the Louisiana lieutenant governor's office, Tavis' "day of service" (where people volunteer in rebuilding efforts) will be the largest in the state of Louisiana, since Huricane Katrina hit and I applaud him for that. But over the past week, Tavis has taken issue with Democratic presidential nominee hopeful, Barack Obama for not attending his annual State of the Black Union. Mr. Smiley feels as a representative of “black folk” (a favorite colloquialism of his) that Mr. Obama not appearing at his State of the Black Union would be a "critical miscalculation". Ironically, Mr. Obama took part in a Democratic presidential debate that Mr. Smiley moderated in 2007 on the campus of Howard University. Mr. Obama also appeared on Mr. Smiley’s public television talk show for thirty minutes. Far be it from me to scratch my head, but between a two-hour debate and half hour of "one on one" time with this man, can Mr. Smiley not get the gist of Mr. Obama’s platform. Because I can't find the "critical miscalculation". Recently on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Tavis pontificated during his weekly commentary on Joyner's syndicated radio show about “what a free man is” and “his right to question political candidates” and again as I said a "critical miscalculation" for Obama to not attend his annual “rhetoric fest”. Yes, I called it a rhetoric fest, because in my opinion that’s what it is. The State of the Black Union? Smiley gets some above average minds, below average minds with some celebrity and Cornel West (a mind that I highly respect and don’t dare question) to appear on a symposium about the State of Black Union. I hate to paint the Black Union with broad strokes, but it’s fu***d up. A cannibalizing, drug epidemic, an educational system that’s not in decay, but stench-reeking, decomposition and BET (thirty minutes at a time) have contributed to eroding the State of the Black Union. I mean with all these problems, I can’t see what renting an auditorium to have people on a stage talking about problems does for Black America--- did you hear me?! They're just TALKING and not doing a thing.
But let me not digress I'm here to speak about Tavis Smiley and his recent comments towards Barack Obama, who is the first, truly, formidable black candidate for the office of the presidency (and please don't utter Jesse Jackson's name, because his run for the White House was symbolic at best, but never taken seriously by anyone but black people). In the beginning I couldn’t understand why Mr. Smiley took such issue with Obama not appearing at his annual "black" party, until I thought about it, but now I get it. Smiley, while philanthropic is a bottom line, businessman. Any good businessman will tell you that you must know your market and their needs. As the neo-cons found and targeted “NASCAR Dads” in the past presidential elections, Tavis Smiley has found his audience, which I call “MOTOWN/Soul Train Blacks” (patent pending). This would be the black people, who were very young children during Motown’s heyday, teenagers when Soul Train really mattered and they have just enough knowledge of hip-hop to recite Rapper’s Delight and some Run DMC lyrics. They are a solid bunch of people, that recall a day, when Jesse Jackson wasn’t sitting front row at a Tyson fight or reciting "Green Eggs and Ham" on Saturday Night Live. They find the humor in the thought that people call Bill Clinton “the first black president” and in some bizarre way a few of them (NOT ALL OF THEM) believe it. I’ll admit Clinton did a lot for people of color during his two terms as Commander-in-Chief, but he is not a black man. If by some stroke of egregiously, terrible luck, that the slavery of black people was reinstated, I just don’t believe that Slick Willie would be willing to stay out back with the rest of the coloreds and eat scraps from the "big house". Most importantly about MOTOWN/Soul Trainers is that, while holding a tremendous respect for gaining a college education, they also respect the concept of a leader, a black leader to be exact— King, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell— that beacon in the community to proudly lead and for us to follow. Tavis Smiley has picked up that torch, copyrighted it, patented it and got some mega-corporations to pick up the tab. Smiley infuses terms like “black folk", forms of alliteration and 70’s slang into his speech to give himself that air of a black leader and ingratiates himself into said MOTOWN/Soul Trainer's life. Some of you out there may not agree with my feelings, but you can’t actually believe the State of the Black Union symposium, while free to attend, is being paid for out of Smiley’s pocket, because it is not. Yes, the revolution is being televised on C-SPAN and it is also sponsored by Exxon/Mobil, McDonald’s, Wells Fargo Bank and Allstate. I must note that Smiley's weekly comments on The Tom Joyner Morning Show are sponsored by Wal-Mart, so even his "King-like" passages have been sold to the highest bidder. As I said earlier, a true businessman knows his market and knows what they want. If I’m promoting a concert, I’m not selling one ticket if my headliner is Cisco singing his new song, “Thong 2008”. No, I’ve got to have a person, who is going to be a real draw and put butts into the seats. Tavis is throwing his annual political concert and he needs a political rock star to headline. Hillary is coming, but she’s Lil’ Kim (there’s a bizarre, interest in her, but we know her steelo), McCain is Lil Richard (we respect what you did, but we’ve got better things to do with our time) and Barack Obama is Kanye West (I don’t know what he's going to do, but whatever it is I don't want to be the one to say I missed it). So while I don’t agree with Mr. Smiley’s words towards Mr. Obama, I totally and sadly understand his need to protect his financial interests.
"Get your hand out of my pocket!" I heard you the first time Tavis.
Smiley has created his own cottage industry, ("poli-tainment", if you will) and when you create a brand, you will do whatever you must to protect it and hang a lantern on it for all to see and continue seeing. Jim Carrey will always do zany, comedies, Richard Simmons will always wear tight, booty-shorts, Flavor Flav will always wear a clock, Clay Davis (for you WIRE fans) will always say 'sheeeeeeeeet, Tyler Perry will always perform as Madea and Tavis Smiley will always preach/entertain to his MOTOWN/Soul Trainers aka "black folk". So to Tavis Smiley I say back the hell off Mr. Obama, for he hasn't done a thing, but try to be the president of America (not just black America) and to the MOTOWN/Soul Trainers I wish you peace, love and soooooooouullll!!!
Now Follow me to Freedom!
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