Comments on: Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union: Quick random notes

By: Lawrence Burgess

Lawrence Burgess — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:41:20 +0000

Dear Tavis,

Let me start by saying, there are many people who have benefitted from the work that you do, for which you deserve a round of applause. I would like to share a concern that I have relative to a statement you made at the conclusion of the State of the Black Union program. True Black people use the term “Negro” (no-grow) to describe individuals who are not clear in their thinking or commitment to the struggle. At the end of the program you stated that you wanted to thank a few Negro’s who helped to make the program a success. I think you owe them an apology for using that term to describe them, not unless you feel they are truly that. (your call on that). Furthermore, you truly confused Senator Clinton when you used the term “Negro”. The look on her face seemed to suggest, “Now I’m not sure what to call them, Negro, African-American or Colored”. Please be careful, and think before you speak.

By: Lawrence Burgess

Lawrence Burgess — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:47:20 +0000

Dear Tavis,

By: Angel scott

Angel scott — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:32:34 +0000

In 1950 there were black boys and girls that have grow into men and women that left school in the 9th grade not because they wanted to . each story is diffrent. Now would you beleive that to this very day they are still trying to get that High School,GED.” Now look at this” with no High School studies how do they Pass a GED test that a community College has for them. GED class are for people who when to Hight school. How can we help those black men and women who still “have a dream of going throught to the 12 grade “,Now mind you some have takeing and are taking the GED classes ,However; They left school in the 9th grade how do you do Hight school or college level work when you never recevied a hight school education. Can you ,would you tell me ,were or how to help them .” Is there some place they can go to get a Hight Scool foundation in their 50’s if so please let me know,write me at Agnes Scott 6201 N. 15th st Phila. Pa. 19141. I’m a siliver life member of the NAACP, Thank you for you time,I pray to here from you,In the name of Jesus christ. Tavis Smiley ,and all the people who care keep up the good work . God is watching

By: claudia cian

claudia cian — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 20:44:27 +0000

I cannot find website to send message to Tavis Smiley so I hope this is forwarded to him. First, let me congratulation him ona wonderful presentation this past weekend..”The State of Black America”.. Also, his parents need to be recognized for the outstanding job they have done in raising a cultured, refined, sensitive young man. I would bel proud to call him “son” (I am 71 years of age so feel qualified to make this statement). Cornell West needs to “look in the mirror”-he should be ashamed of himself and all people of color should be ashamed ofhim. To make the dumb statement that Senator Obama should have been at the conference was totally insenstive. Cornell West, had he been as educated as he claims should have applauded Senator Obama for taking this special day to announce his run for president of the U.S. Reminds me of what my dear grandmother used to say about “crabs in the basket”. Cornell West certainly showed his true colors on this day. Senator Obama is to be congratulated and Lord knows I pray he becomes president. Is Cornell West perhaps a bit jealous? Every person of color at the event hopefully was proud. History will remember this day..Senator Obama announced his presidency - I also applaud Jessie Jackson..heretofor I have not been is greatest fan but he made me do an about face emotionally. when asked about the racial identity of Obabma, he answered the question with truth and honesty. We are all mixed..even whites who are not willing to acknowlege thispart of their DNA. Remember or recall Henry Louis Gates doing the racial composition of those beloved people we know, i.e. Oprah, himself, Quincy Jones, etc. We should be the same thing withthe famous whites and I can almost assure you the growth of the black population would indeed increase. For the love of me I have never understood why when a person has a white parent, society (white) has forced them to give up that part of their identity. From my math days, 1 + 1 still equals 2 and not 1. George Bush…who cares..this was much much more important. Let us all, and I mean all people support Senator Obama and forget about Cornell West. Sad individual if he couldl make such a insensitive remark and congratulations to Tavis Smiley for being gracious. Dear Dr. West, there is so much more to lifel than your Ph.D.. you need class and that comes from our background/parents. If we does not come from them then it is our responsibility to obtain it ourselves. You must catch more hell or have caught it to be so small in your thinking. Maybe you need another Ph.D…maybe you would learn something then

By: ieasha

ieasha — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:40:11 +0000

Does George Bush have an original man as a father?

By: Duane

Duane — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 03:19:39 +0000

So using your logic here, could George Bush be a black man under white skin?

Why or why not?

By: ieasha

ieasha — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 03:04:11 +0000

first of all the man you say founded the nation was a white man. He came from the far east with their skin tone. Black father so that he could have the knowledge of us to deal with us, and white mother(skin tone) so that he could slip past the white man. I asure you if he came with the skin tone of a black man, besides the issues black people would have had with that, he would have surely be arrested if not assassinated. God does things for a reason, you should not poke fun of what you do not understand. “Come out of her” the Bible says. As the writer eluded to earlier if you wish to lay with your slave masters sons and daughters do so. When God gives them their justice and it has begun, all of you who wish to hold on to them will burn with them as it is written. If you don’t know where it is written pick up some material. Most all of the scriptures Tora, Quran, and Bible speak of an End. People just interpret them different.

By: Duane

Duane — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:06:50 +0000

They evidently do not consider feeding the poor, assisting the elderly with medical problems and/medicines and assisting with educational needs those that are less fortunate moral issues also).

Sylvia, Sylvia, Sylvia…

For starters, churches have been doing a better job at these kind of things by themselves without the aid of government.

As far as Democrats go, please point to at least two programs they have pushed for in the past that address such issues with LASTING results.

As far as the other points you mentioned, in the interest of staying within the context of THIS particular post, we can address those at another time.

Thanks for your comments.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 19:27:18 +0000

For whatever the reason, just remember WE ARE of color whether labeled as the N word, black, or African American. It is a fact that we lacked unity from the time of slavery. Then jealousness and/or envy swept in among our people. We need to get ourselves together and focus on us as a people and correct our inadequacies and help one another. This will call for unity in our own race.

George Bush received support from most of the Black churches and their congregations because he was against abortion (moral issue). They evidently do not consider feeding the poor, assisting the elderly with medical problems and/medicines and assisting with educational needs those that are less fortunate moral issues also). Katrina should show that if possible George Bush would eraticate the whole Black race. Another point to mention is the 2nd plane that crashed into the 2nd World Trade Building could have been prevented had the air traffic controller been able to contact someone in the Executive branch of government. Bush would not excuse himself from a school classroom, and Rumsfield and Chenny could not be contacted. One of them were in hiding. This information is in the Commission Report on the 911 incident and was showed on CSPAN once. Is this protecting the American people? Is Oil on his agenda and was that the real cause for the War? With the above said, “I’m sure any Black person that voted for Bush would not be willing to agree with Tavis Smiley and help any Black person that needed it.

By: Duane

Duane — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:11:31 +0000

Ooookay! Let’s deal with some facts.

#Farrakhan says that he has proof that the levees were blown up and as expected, black folk get mad. When asked to produce this “proof”, instead of apoligizing for not having the evidence, he says he heard it from the mayor. Instead of challanging him on this issue, black folks like some of y’all lap it up –refusing to question it lest you are preceived as anti-black.

#Farrakhan spends a great deal of time suggesting that white folks were created by an evil scientist and are therefore evil, but does not fully deal with his fact that the Nation of Islam was founded by a white man (Savior’s day anyone?)

#At the recent Million Man March, the turnout was way less than the first event. Let me guess, the white man rigged the cars of black folks to keep them from coming.

I bring up these few points for this reason, if black folks are really serious about progress:

#1- Acknowledge it when you see it instead of dismissing every successful black man who has a difference of opinion with politically with many fellow black folks, doesn’t wear a gold chain or cusses every other word as an uncle tom.

#2-Stop blaming the governement for every bad thing that happens in our own communities.

#3- If you suspect that white folks will ALWAYS have some sort of conspiracy against you, and you still choose to live in a country that is roughly 70% white–YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS CRAZY!

Admit that we did not integrate instead we attempted to assimilate and that was our downfall.

Please come out of the deep with this one and explain.