Tavis and Tom Joyner

[Professor]

I was asked to pass this around. I don't know anything about the matter - you decide

Tavis & Tom Joyner(Chicago Radio station D.J) Get Slammed By Comp USA:
> You know what to do!
>
> I don't know how many of you listen to Tom Joyner in the morning It is
one
> of the few shows where one can get important information and good music.
> Well, if you are a regular, you know that every Tuesday and Thursday,
Tavis
> Smiley (BET host) does a commentary informing us of this week's injustice
> against our people. For the last eight weeks, he has been trying to speak
> with CompUSA about their lack of advertising dollars spent in our
> neighborhoods or towards our people. And for the last eight weeks, he has
> been ignored. Thousands of receipts were sent in from people who bought
> products from CompUSA, but were protesting Still no response from Comp USA
> and not so much as a phone call to make an appointment to talk
>
> Today, we finally have a response from CompUSA. They are suing for
> defamation of character! I can't even express how upsetting it was to hear
> Tavis Smiley near tears this morning and Tom Joyner talking about how they
> are talking about taking his show off, or Tavis has to stop giving his
> commentary!
>
> There are thousands of hate groups that are allowed to speak against us on
> a
> daily basis. They march, they have talk shows, they even have
websites,but
> when we are trying to make a large corporation have a simple discussion of
> why they ignore African American people in their advertisement and say
that
> we don't buy enough from their stores to have to worry about us, we are
> told
> to stop; I am outraged. So today, in the midst of you sending the usual
> junk email (if you send this to ten people) please send a note to the
> people
> you know letting them know how far we've come in the last hundred years
> Once
> you know, you can only blame yourself when things! don't happen I wouldn't
> buy a pen at CompUSA now!
>
> They only showed us again how little they think of African Americans and
> that they don't need to address our complaints, just tell us to Shut Up!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[shadrach]

Didn't the same thing happen a couple of years ago when one of the networks threatened to cancel Joyner's show because of the defamation law suit? I thought the CEO of CompUsa appeared on Tavis's show( at least I think it was his show) and "promised" to do "better" with his efforts to diversify his company and invest more in the black community. Is this the same thing or has the issue become more complicated?

[straightBOS]

If Tavis and Tom feel that they have a strong enough case and that they can fight the suit than I think that they shouldn't be worried. Especially if CompUSA promised to "do better." Its not defammation if the allegations prove to be true.

I think they should stay strong, and positive and fight this.

Its a shame that CompUSA would even think that they have the right to bring a lawsuit in the first place.

We don't get Tom Joyner here, so I've never heard the show, but I will try to stay up on any future developments.

[Rain Man]

Professor,

How recent and/or accurate is that initial post you received? As far as I know, I remember either late '99 or early 2000, the CEO of CompUSA was on TJMS and spoke with Tom and Tavis and to make a long story short, the matter was resolved--I remember listening to the show when the issue was squashed.

Unless something new or radical has came up recently (I don't listen to the show like I used to), that initial post is VERY old news.

Please check the date of that email.

RM