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AALBC.com's Thumper's Corner Discussion Board » Culture, Race & Economy - Archive 2009 » Tavis Smiley: The State of the Black Union Interview « Previous Next »

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Troy
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Username: Troy

Post Number: 1674
Registered: 01-2004

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Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 05:53 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Tavis Smiley: The State of the Black Union Interview, with Kam Williams


KW: Congratulations on staging another State of the Black Union. What do you have planned for Saturday?

TS:
Another riveting conversation, as we enter into this Obama era. As you know, we’ve been doing this for ten years, and when we started, Kam, nobody could have ever imagined that in our 10th anniversary year we’d be celebrating the 100th birthday of the NAACP, Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the inauguration of the first African-American President, and even the election of Michael Steele as the head of the Republican Party, for that matter. So, it’s an interesting time to come together and reflect on these conversations we’ve been having for the past decade.

The Rest of the Interview
http://reviews.aalbc.com/tavis_smiley.htm
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Ntfs_encryption
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Post Number: 3566
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Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 01:08 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Didn't watch it this year for the same reasons I didn't watch it last year. A collection of Negroes sitting around pontificating about the issues or black Americans. WHAT WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR? What has changed since the so-called Million Man March (more than 10 years ago!) where Negroes allegedly atoned for their bad behavior, expressed passionate pleas and resolutions of black solidarity and a rejection of self destructive behavior and vowed to change their communities? Answer: NOT A DAMN THING! Talk the talk, walk the walk! But I guess all of this is politically incorrect. Oooops! My bad......
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Carey
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Username: Carey

Post Number: 1731
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Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 02:54 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hello

I am going to agree with Ntsf on this one. Well, not all of it but ...this: "A collection of Negroes sitting around pontificating about the issues or black Americans. WHAT WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR?"

That mess, "dem negros" talking that thang, gets on my nerves. There were great moments and great speakers at this years event. My daughter called me and asked if I was watching. I said no but I turned it on. Much of it bored the heck out of me. Many of the speakers were saying the same-ol-same-ol. Many appeared to simply be playing to the crowd.

I differ with NTSF in that much has changed for the positive if only in the hearts and minds of a small percentage of us that experienced the events. The unit of change is hard to define.
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Ntfs_encryption
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Username: Ntfs_encryption

Post Number: 3573
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Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 07:05 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"That mess, "dem negros" talking that thang, gets on my nerves. There were great moments and great speakers at this years event. My daughter called me and asked if I was watching. I said no but I turned it on. Much of it bored the heck out of me. Many of the speakers were saying the same-ol-same-ol. Many appeared to simply be playing to the crowd."

My point exactly. We are on the same page with this my friend. The rousing speeches are like high school pep rallies. If there was substantive and verifiable results that could be documented as a result of such speeches and rambling -I would be behind it 100%. But that later has yet to show any measurable results.....PERIOD!

"I differ with NTSF in that much has changed for the positive if only in the hearts and minds of a small percentage of us that experienced the events. The unit of change is hard to Define."

Understood. But this is the conundrum bro. THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR THESE TALKS AND NEED TO MODIFY THEIR SELF DESTRUCTIVE LIFESYTLES ARE NOT LISTENING!!! THEY COULD CARELESS WHAT THESE NEGROES ARE SAYING!!!!! The people who need to be in the audience are not there and have no intentions of being there or watching. The people there (State of the Black Union) are concerned and care. They are not the ones living and acting out in this urban nihilistic cultural quagmire! This is where the saying "preaching to the choir" comes from. That's the difference.
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Carey
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Post Number: 1738
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Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 01:56 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR THESE TALKS AND NEED TO MODIFY THEIR SELF DESTRUCTIVE LIFESYTLES ARE NOT LISTENING!!! THEY COULD CARELESS WHAT THESE NEGROES ARE SAYING!!!!!"

Okay, I can see your point. Yeah, who's really listening?

"The people who need to be in the audience are not there and have no intentions of being there or watching"

I watched some of it because I like to listen to good speakers. Substance ...well? I saw Cornell West run up to the podium/stage to give another speaker some dap. Now I don't know if what the man said was all that new so I think ol'Cornell was there for the thrill as well.
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Kam
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Username: Kam

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Posted on Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 10:03 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Thanks for the feedback.
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Troy
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Post Number: 1696
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Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 06:11 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Ntfs_encryption is hear you. I did not watch this year's cavalcade of Black inteligencia either. I was not actively boycotting it; it just was not high on my list of things to do.

Kam has a follow up where he covers the actual event: State of the Black Union 2009 Coverage
http://reviews.aalbc.com/state_of_the_black_union_2009.htm

I usually supplement my content with youtube videos and have included video's from prior State of the Black Union conferences. I included videos of Dick Gregory (who is a screem!), Michael Steele (chairman of the Republican party -- a truly brave man) and Minister Louis Farrakhan.

It was the Farrakhan which lead me indirectly to this Youtube video of Farrakhan Versus Mike Wallace on Nigeria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq4aQdaxBcM

This video of Farrakhan is one of the reasons I've always considered the Minister one of the greatest orators alive. It is priceless -- check it out.

Tavis, if nothing else, exposes people to some of the most interesting Black folks running around today.

Sure, folks HERE know the individulas Tavis highlights; and one could argue we would benifit from seeing some new faces. And yeah while WE have heard the problems before.

However the are a lot of people, perhaps most, who don't know these folks and need to hear these problems reiterated...
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Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption

Post Number: 3576
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Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 12:38 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"I saw Cornell West run up to the podium/stage to give another speaker some dap. Now I don't know if what the man said was all that new so I think ol'Cornell was there for the thrill as well."

Cornell West is pathetic. He is one of the reasons I didn't watch The State of the Black Union.
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Carey
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Post Number: 1751
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Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 01:23 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

"Cornell West is pathetic. He is one of the reasons I didn't watch The State of the Black Union".

Ntsf, we've been in the same car on this issue but could you explain why you dislike Cornell West. I wouldn't call him pathetic. In fact, off the top of my head he would be one of 25 Black Americans that I would love to sit down and talk with. But listen, here are a few more that I'd like to kick it with. I'd love to sit in a room with these individuals without cameras. Of course Obama would be there. A few more: Oprah, Louis Farrahkan, Denzel, the woman that got fired at NPR, Cornel West, Condeliza (sp) Rice, Colin Powell, Walter Moseley, Jamie Fox, Whoopi, Cedric The entertainer and Ali.

That's the short list. I also have a never ever list: Every TV evangelist, Travis Smiley, Tyra Banks, and Steele.

That's my lists. My reasons are varied but it's mine and I am stickin' to it.

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