According to Tavis Smiley,
 

10 Things Black Folks Should Do Now!

1. Trust somebody Black.

2. Listen to "Wake Up Everybody"-twice.

3. Read the comic strip "The Boondocks."

4. Play "the dozens" with a stranger-no fights-just to keep your skills fresh!

5. Say the "N" or "B" word one last time-to get it out of your system.

6. Write your congressperson about an issue that bothers you and ask what her or she intends to do to change it.

7. Start a campaign to bring Arsenio Hall back to late-night television: I'm starting to miss him.

8. Make white people understand that when they say reverse racism, they're admitting racism exists.

9. Make sure your child knows the details of the Nathaniel Abraham case in Michigan. There is no better example to get them to understand why they ought to stay out of trouble.

10. Watch "Eyes on the Prize" again.


-From Tom Joyner.com

i agree, 100%, whole-heartedly, in spirit AND in truth! especially with #5 (if you haven't already done so).

I agree, especially with #'s 5 and 10...My Mom has the compplete set of "Eyes on the Prize" and forced my siblings and I to watch it so we could "learn something"...

Re: According to Tavis Smiley,
 

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/party/yelclap.gif Thank You!

I agree 1000% with Tavis, especially on #6.

My mother taught me a long time ago to file a complaint, instead of complaining. It's time that we started working the system to our advantage. Amazing things can happen when you use your public officials, especially on the local level.

21 Things African Americans need to do according to Tavis Smiley...
 

1. Register to vote, or shut up!

2. Take all that money out of those stocking caps, tin cans, mattresses, and floorboards and invest money in something. For starters, invest in the food you eat and clothes you wear.

3. Learn another language, Ebonics do not count.

4. Stop using the "N" word in the year 2003, especially since Merriam-Webster has announced it isn't changing the definition.

5. Buy something each week from a black vendor.

6. Stop blaming white folk for 98% of your problems, while giving them 100% of your money.

7. Subscribe to Ebony, JET, Black Enterprise, Essence. Then subscribe to one of the three weeklies: Time, Newsweek, or US News and World Report. After we read about what's going on in our world, how about knowing what's going on in theirs? It is, after all, your world.

8. Stop walking past each other and not speaking.

9. Be on time for something ... anything!

10. Get an annual check up; herbs do not cure everything!

11. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him (GOD) and He shall direct thy path." And prioritize this as #1.

12. Stop being jealous of one another, learn to look past the material things and see the person for who they are.

13. Get involved in at least one charitable or voluntary community service.

14. Say a prayer for someone besides yourself.

15. Hug your child/spouse/parent today.

16. LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

17. Learn to Let Go and Let God.

18. Stop talking about it, and be about it.

19. Let GOD order your steps instead of the world.

20. P.U.S.H.!! Pray Until Something Happens!

21. In all that you do, get understanding, (turn off the TV, and open a book).

*Don't just read this, DO IT and encourage others.

So, fellow GC members, do you agree or disagree with what Tavis says? I will post my opinion later. :)

#6 from Tom Joyner has amazing effects. I rattled off an email to my college state senators, as well as my home state senators. I didn't expect anything from any of them--the Senate was to vote on something about which I felt very passionately, and I urged them to look at the other side of the issue before making a decision (they are all Republicans and it kinda got me worried). Lo and behold, I got a letter yesterday from one of the Senators! He explained his stance (which was actually identical to mine), the votes he had made on other issues, and things like that. It definitely reminded me that my concerns are being heard--even if it was from an intern. :p

Since I don't know anything about the Nathaniel Abraham case (and neither does Mr. Munchkin, which is odd if you knew him), I will educate myself now.

Excuse me, I am the slow one. What is number 9? I've never heard of the Nathaniel Abraham case.:( I love number 8, I never thought of it in that way.

Re: 21 Things African Americans need to do according to Tavis Smiley...
 

I agree 200%:D :cool:

yo Tavis needs to get a TV show again. If Bill O'Reily can have a show Tavis should have one too

Strengthening the Black Family, Morning
Smiley Group
Miami, Florida (United States)
ID: 180689 - 02/28/2004 - 4:20 - $39.95



Smiley, Tavis, Talk Show Host, NPR (National Public Radio)
West, Cornel, Professor, Princeton University, African-American Studies and others...




Tavis Smiley Presents The State of the Black Union: “Strengthening the Black Family: Preserving the African American Imprint on America," held at the New Birth Baptist Church in Miami, Florida.


Did Anyone Watch this show (other than RBL) on C-SPAN this weekend.?

To view the video, go to C-SPAN:

http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.a...t=tavis+smiley

I guess I am missing what is so informative and monumental about what Tavis is saying..it all seems like common sense to me...however I do disagree with one thing in particular..

Trust someone black.. uh...I disagree...I put my trust in GOD. And if I am to trust anyone...their belief in God matters to me a lot more than their skin color.... My people are so racist sometimes...but are the first ones to call on the name of God...or to tell people to Pray Until Something Happens!

Most of what he says is common sense...i.e. Register to vote, Write to Congress People, Pray. get checked up etc..

So I guess this is why I say what's so monumental about what he's saying:confused:

As a wise person once told me...."common sense is not always common practice". That's why he continues to say it.

Voter regisistration in this country of ALL people is what??? Maybe 40%?? (I'm just guessing--I have no idea) Then, out of that 40% how many actually go and vote??

Sad to say, I would agree that common sense is not always common practice. And I don't mind Tavis saying this kind of stuff. Really, it's time for US (and NOT outside communities) to hold each other's feet to the fire and demand higher standards and values.

Realistically, though, I doubt this will happen because it seems that every time someone veers from an "accepted norm," there's a whole grip of complaining.

He should, but who is going to give it to him? I could only see NPR doing this.

I see...well I guess I'm not in the business of coercing people to vote. IF the fact that our ancestors, fought, shed blood, and died for the right to vote...isnt enough to get someone to the polls...don't know if the vote is really beneficial

Doesn't he have a show now?

Yes, it comes on PBS. I try to catch it when I can. He has great guests on it all the time.

I think for many people who could vote and do not vote, especially young people, to say people fought for us to be able to vote does not carry much weight because it is not in their true cultural memory. If the adults and educators in your world do not make this something that you can relate to or really feel, it will have little affect. If you have not been made to watch Eyes on the Prize and seen the video of the dogs, the fire hoses, etc. you may feel disconnected from this history. Also, given the state of education here, there are many who cannot understand civics to understand what impact their vote will or will not have. As with most issues, you have to show people how it affects them to get them to understand why they should take a particular action.

Personally, it is important to me to do voter education in communities that are overlooked and ignored that much hope will not ever get it together and vote. I don’t see it as coercing. Usually it only takes a little education and taking the time to look at someone who feels disenfranchised as a person worth listening to in order to get them to see they have something to say.

Although many of the things on the list are common sense, it does not mean that people do them. I see nothing wrong with keeping these thoughts in front of people and encouraging them to make them part of their routine. Additionally, I think many are also offered as discussion points to stimulate dialogue. We will never all think alike but that does not mean that there will not be some common ground or shared beliefs.

Besides, many of the most revered quotes over time do nothing but state the obvious succinctly. I am not mad at Tavis for doing that. There is nothing more amazing than how much more affective an argument can be when you KISS (keep it short and sweet- as my professor used to say)

Good show
 

This forum was so good I found myself watching it twice. My 10 year old son even got into it which I was proud to see. I am and will be forever in awe of Cornel West and the knowledge and wisdom that he possess. Simply amazing. Julia Hare, Judge Greg Mathis and the young brother, Jordan A. Harris were very good (for the lack of a better word) as well.

I think u missed my point...I didnt say anything was wrong with what he said...what I said was I couldn't see the big deal over his comments because they were all common sense...people were reacting to what he said as if it was so really enlightening....so I guess people are just getting excited about hearing him repeat things that have been said for years....:confused:

Tavis does have a show on PBS. In my area it comes on at 12:30 am.

Agree to disagree...move on...old thread...did you all see the forum?
 

If so, isn't that THEIR right?

Maybe, as one "grows" he or she sees something in a different light... it becomes relevant to them IN THEIR OWN TIME/WAY. What's wrong with that?

Many may not be as enlightened as you. You are to be commended for ALL of YOUR knowledge AND wisdom you bring to the board on the subjects you are very passionate about.

If someone is excited about something... LET THEM HAVE THEIR EXCITEMENT... regardless of how many times it has been said or not been said. The way the world is today, we ALL need to get excited about something. Obviously, what has been said YEARS AGO hasn't gotten through to MOST/SOME/ALL of us.


:confused:

TO ALL(SIDEBAR, I GUESS):

What I've learned in all my years on GC is that everyone will not own your opinion. You will not own their opinion. Do not AUTOMATICALLY discount/discredit someone because you do not share the same beliefs, etc. At the end of the day, you only will find yourself upset wondering..."how dare she or he say, think or feel this way..."? Make your point...move on...

THE END!

Just a lil tidbit from your Moderator. :D ;)

Re: Agree to disagree...move on...old thread...did you all see the forum?
 

ANd if someone wants to post something...then they have that right to...right?? Whether its in agreement or disagreement....at least that's what i thought...

Oh, okay. I don't know that I think I have really seen anyone make a big deal about it but I do agree that in a sound bite kind of world, he who can take common thoughts and turn them into concise nuggets gets the glory.

Did we miss the points or issues that were being made during the forum by just concentrating on Tavis ??
:confused:
I was very enlightened by several guests, Marva Collins , Julia Hare, and Cornel West. Actually every guest had a nugget of truth and wisdom that should be heard by all?

The next step is .......

I think the issue came with the original posts. This was an old topic which dealt with Tavis Smiley. Since I saw the forum last weekend, I brought this thread "to the top" edited the title to reflect the forum.

Please check the date of the first few posts.