Worried About the Wrong Thing: Tavis Smiley/Al Sharpton Edition
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
, Posted by JD at 6:22 PM
If you haven't heard, Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton got into a bit of a tiff yesterday. Smiley appeared on the Tom Joyner Morning Show yesterday morning and gave a convoluted monologue in which he accused Sharpton, among other prominent blacks, of saying that President Obama doesn't need a black agenda. Smiley is part of a growing cadre of black pundits who seem to believe Obama is getting a pass on racial issues. [I don't have even 1/3 of the energy it would take to explain how it is inherently impossible for Obama to receive such a pass, but I digress...]
Sharpton got wind of Smiley's comments and had Smiley call into his own show to discuss. Sharpton wasted no time berating Smiley for misportraying comments that he and other popularly quoted activists have made.
The sticking point was a quote that appeared in the NY Times in which Sharpton was quoted as saying that President Obama is "smart not to ballyhoo a black agenda." Smiley isn't convincing me when he says that he interpreted the quote to mean that Sharpton doesn't believe Obama should promote a black agenda. I think it's pretty clear that Sharpton was encouraging President Obama to be savvy in his approach to any sort of black agenda--not to eliminate it entirely.
Whatever the case, here is the latest example of public figures arguing about the wrong thing. I have no idea what Smiley or Sharpton mean when they say "black agenda," but I do know this: Black activists and thinkers aren't giving President Obama much to work with in terms of specific policy recommendations and regulatory suggestions. What I see is our most prominent black leadership writing books, organizing shows, and pursuing punditry. In other words, there is a push to promote thought rather policy.
Unfortunately, very few blacks are pursuing opportunities at think tanks, nor are they conducting research nor are they pursuing lobbying careers or even careers in program management for the Federal government. So many are focused on writing books and speaking on panels. Unfortunately, even most of the books that are written by black political 'thinkers' today are OBSERVATIONAL not research-based. Much of black discussion is centered around and promoted by academics, a circle that is largely inbred, lacking true political relationships, and decidedly more liberal than the rest of the black community. Out of touch is one way I would describe the circle of black thinkers who have become most popular in the blogging and punditry world.
The sticking point was a quote that appeared in the NY Times in which Sharpton was quoted as saying that President Obama is "smart not to ballyhoo a black agenda." Smiley isn't convincing me when he says that he interpreted the quote to mean that Sharpton doesn't believe Obama should promote a black agenda. I think it's pretty clear that Sharpton was encouraging President Obama to be savvy in his approach to any sort of black agenda--not to eliminate it entirely.
Whatever the case, here is the latest example of public figures arguing about the wrong thing. I have no idea what Smiley or Sharpton mean when they say "black agenda," but I do know this: Black activists and thinkers aren't giving President Obama much to work with in terms of specific policy recommendations and regulatory suggestions. What I see is our most prominent black leadership writing books, organizing shows, and pursuing punditry. In other words, there is a push to promote thought rather policy.
Unfortunately, very few blacks are pursuing opportunities at think tanks, nor are they conducting research nor are they pursuing lobbying careers or even careers in program management for the Federal government. So many are focused on writing books and speaking on panels. Unfortunately, even most of the books that are written by black political 'thinkers' today are OBSERVATIONAL not research-based. Much of black discussion is centered around and promoted by academics, a circle that is largely inbred, lacking true political relationships, and decidedly more liberal than the rest of the black community. Out of touch is one way I would describe the circle of black thinkers who have become most popular in the blogging and punditry world.
At some point someone has got to do the dirty work of assisting the President in pushing through a political agenda that benefits black people and I'm sorry to report that blogging, writing books, attending conferences, and giving speeches simply isn't enough to get things done. Someone has got to write legislative texts, comment on proposed regulations, and actually perform the research that lawmakers and lobbyists use to justify positions. We have too many Michael Eric Dysons and not enough Robert Drummers.
Certainly, there should be people who lead the discussion of what the big picture of a 'black agenda' might look like, but what happens when everyone is discussing and no one is acting?
If President Obama has ideas in mind that he believes should be implemented that are specific to issues that disproportionately impact black people, he still can't move on them without catalysts and people to execute those plans. So while Smiley and Sharpton focus on their radio and TV shows and panels, I wonder who will actually do the work they both seem to believe should be done. Work that is behind the scenes and devoid of the publicity so many seem to crave.
Nobody's going to "do the work" because there's really no "glory" in the grunt work it takes to really get things accomplished! As a former federal employee, and one who sought to make change from WITHIN the system, I can attest to the fact that Barack Obama is operating in systems that seem to be impenetrable to CHANGE or any efforts that might bring about efficiency. I like to think of my self as a part of the "next generation of Black leadership", but the truth of the matter is, people like me aren't a part of the system, and there appears to be no "pipeline" available to set us up to take over "the movement" (whatever it may be). Yes, Al & Tavis are "glory hogs", but what solutions are there for the "everyday people" on the grind trying to make a difference in the world without a platform?
Girl speak to my life.
I see these lobbyist come up here. I listen to the same sh*t every year. I'm not hearing any black folks tell anybody what they want.
We're just supposed to know?
When's Tavis coming to the Hill to lobby somebody? What's his plan? What are his ideas?
Don't get me started. It really pisses me off when they wanna go in on President Obama like he owes them something. Tavis was salty with Barack when he was still a candidate. He needs to sit down and shut up. #youmad?
I think that as it stands you're correct that the system is bigger than Obama's ability to change it in the ways many of us desire. People like you who want to impact the system in a REAL way are getting discouraged by the relative lack of progress...that's why we need MORE people to take on the task not less. But once again, like you said, there's ZERO glory in it.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE! Thank you. I wrote an editorial piece about this exact same issue about three years ago. Sharpton and Smiley remind me of how my uncles blow around a bunch of hot air, and get all riled up about issues that plague the black race, for the sake of finding out who can be the loudest, and then someone makes a comment about last nights game, and the issue, as well as the argument, is soon forgotten. This is not the barbershop black men. Get off your horn, and stop being so concerned with promoting your own agendas.
Don't talk about it, be about it.- Mos Def
Dem Folks are just trying to get paid at the end of the day. As someone mentioned, people are not willing to "get their hands dirty" and really affect changes. Rather, folks want to stand at the podium and sprout their views. There are enough CBC conferences and such out there but people are more concerned with exchanging business cards, grab on some booty at the closing gala and trying to sound like the smartest in the group.
I always love your posts. This one is just as thought provoking as the rest. As a person who will be the first one to stand up & say I don't know much more than what the media promotes about our political process... and the little bit that I remember from 3rd grade social studies, I love that I can come here and get something real to chew on. Sad - with all there is to do to improve our communities that we spend so much time "beating our chests".
@ Primarythoughts. Thanks for the compliment. You know, I can respect you not knowing about the political process...furthering the community isn't necessarily everyone's interest. I just hate when people CLAIM that's their interest and then go about the business of doing something totally at odds with what needs to be done. Like aceklub said...just trying to get paid.
Hey community,
LOVE this post!
I'm not one in nitty-gritty knowhow of how policy is changed, but I do know that any informed decision has to be made based on sound, proven research that is completed in an unbiased process.
One thing I also know is that there aren't enough people of color in the right channels and corners of knowledge-collecting institutions to collect, examine, and disseminate information that informs policy, which is discouraging. We need less Hollywood...more Brookings.
Zoom zoom~