SOTBU is no more

[angee_is_mad]

Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union is no more.

I can't see that I am upset, because Tavis made a hell of a lot of money for Himself with the conference, while complaining about what others (Obama)should or have not done.
Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/tavis-smiley-ends-black-state-of-the-union_n_412825.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. I always had a problem with the heavy hand of corporate sponsorship of this event.....

and noted each time how prominently the corporate signs were displayed right behind the podium for all to see throughout the event. It made Tavis appeared to be bought and paid for, and couple that with him hawking his books at all times made the whole thing down right creepy.

Also the fact that Mr. Smiley (who I am related to by marriage; my first cousin is married to his first cousin who bears that last name) acted like a brat back in 2008, when Barack, then candidate was too busy to show up due to being involved in the campaign of his life. When then candidate offered to send Michelle to speak, Tavis rejected this solution out of hand in a dismissive and downright hostile tone....as though Michelle wasn't good enough for him. He missed out on that offer, because Michelle has proven to be exactly what the "state of the Black Union" should be about; strong, assertive and intelligent spokespeople who have succeeded in America.

Plus the fact that Tavis supported Hillary over Barack to me demonstrated that he's from the old school, and that wasn't very refreshing.

But of course, those are just some of my opinion.

So no, I'm not sad to see it go.

[firedupdem]

2. +1

agree with everything you said. I couldn't watch the last event at all. He was hocking that freakin book and twitching and acting kinda crazy in my opinion. That Wells Fargo sign was making me ill as I was in a big fight with them at the time. LOL

He also seemed hell bent on getting others to speak a bit negatively of the newly elected president. I'm not sad to see him go. That rude behavior in not wanting Michelle to come in place of her husband was ridiculous.

[HopeOverFear]

4. Every five minutes Frenchie..

Tavis was saying "let's give a big hand for (insert corporation here). I'M NOT LYING!!!!! And in his next breath, he'd be talking shit about Obama. Fuck him, man.

[FrenchieCat]

5. It was quite shameful.......

although I certainly did enjoy most of the guests....
who's hotel rooms were purchased by corporate America.

Reminded me of those corporate named ball parks;
made the whole event seem cheap and contrived. :(

[HopeOverFear]

6. OMG!!!!!!!!! He plans to publish R. Kelly's memoirs

BWAAHAHAHAHAA!!!!! :rofl:

[HopeOverFear]

3. YESSSSSSSS!!!!!

oooh is it wrong that I'm happy about that? I'm sorry but Tavis Smiley is an asshole, plain and simple.

[Fire1]

7. Yep. I used to think he was cool until President Obama got

elected and he started showing his ass.

[HopeOverFear]

8. The petty monster got a hold of him, just like it did Michael Eric Dyson.

damn shame. *smh*

[quiet.american]

10. No need to add anything to that! Took the words out of my mouth! nt

[Number23]

9. I went to one when I lived in DC with a girlfriend of mine who was a professor at Howard

(Full disclosure: I really went to see Brother Cornell, and damn sure not Tavis. I have a bit of a crush on Cornell West :blush:)

The event itself was interesting but it was a "preaching to the choir" moment. Damn near everybody in the room had Master's and PhD's or were in the process of getting them.

But the thing that stood out to me more than anything was that when the event was over, Tavis and his boys JETTED. There was no interest in talking to the folks who took time and money to be in attendance. Tavis actually looked NERVOUS when members of the hoi polloi dared to even look his way, let alone approach him. That really stood out to me as 90% of the people in that room were black DC residents who were obviously politically minded enough to go to his event. I could see him acting like that if he got approached outside of a Washington Wizards game.

I'm still waiting for my ticket to the Legends Ball. Maybe if Nat Burner can write his song and get Oprah to marry him like he was talking about, he'll invite all of us to come to the next one. :)

[kwassa]

11. I think Tavis is a new version of old black politics

and the model isn't effective anymore. I don't think he took it well when he saw himself eclipsed by Obama, and the new and younger generation of black politicians.

I basically had enjoyed him over the years, but he really has self-destructed in a way.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. Just wait, PBS won't be far behind. He'll conveniently leave to concentrate..

on his book company. I wouldn't buy anything written and/or published by Tavis. I sometimes wonder if he posts here. I was really disappointed when Dr. West recently joined in the pile-on, stating that the president seems to care more about Wall St more than Main St., or something to that effect. Tavis' opportunities are dwindling, and I think he's mad at blacks folks b/c we support this president, and want to see him succeed. Jealousy is a very ugly critter.

The black Hillary supporters were every bit as vile as any others. I know, my sister was a Hillarite, and we've only just begun to reconnect, and that was only because there was a death in the family.

[Number23]

13. I'm probably far too forgiving of Cornell than I should be

but for some reason, his comments about Obama being more about Wall St. than Main St. didn't bother me as much. Here is the video of him saying that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=415016

Seems as though he genuinely feels that way and is not being an "opportunist" the way that Tavis always came across to me. I get the impression Cornel probably feels that way about every damn President we've ever had...

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. You're probably right. But, of course, it was portrayed as a "swipe" at the Pres.

by the media. I'm sure Cornell is honest in his feelings.