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.