Tavis Smiley

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August 5, 2011

Why I confronted Cornel West: Words matter

OPINION - The question is not whether we should call Obama out when he errs, but in what forum, manner…
July 25, 2011

Smiley and West take Obama critique on the road

(AP) - Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are planning a 15-city "Poverty Tour" to bring attention to the needy and…
July 22, 2011

Cornel West, Tavis Smiley continue to complain about Obama

theGRIO REPORT - Cornel West, Princeton professor and celebrated black intellectual, refers to Obama as a "mascot" and a "puppet"…
May 17, 2011

Cornel West vs. Barack Obama

Cornel West is President Obama's silenced, disregarded, disrespected moral conscience, according to Chris Hedges's recent column, "The Obama Deception: Why…
April 11, 2011

Why Sharpton and West's heated debate on Obama won't cool down

OPINION - Cornel West is correct to challenge Sharpton on this important issue and the discussion must certainly continue...
January 5, 2011

Slideshow: theGrio’s most influential Kappa Alpha Psi members

SLIDESHOW - Today marks to the 100th anniversary of one of the most storied and celebrated African-American fraternities...
December 31, 2010

There is no silver bullet for a black agenda

OPINION - Strong criticism has been directed at the White House by black leaders, who claim the president has not…
August 5, 2010

Cornel West upset with President Obama

Dr. West has become increasingly vocal in his critique of Obama, and even went as far as to say that…
April 17, 2010

Sharpton's National Action Network: An organization like no other

OPINION - They don't get together to talk about what will make the world a better place, they actually get…
March 29, 2010

Dr. King's legacy on Vietnam sparks new controversy

VIDEO - April 4 is the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 assassination, but it is also the…
March 22, 2010

Dyson and Bernard debate Obama’s lack of a ‘black agenda’

VIDEO - PBS host Tavis Smiley held a public meeting with black leaders and activists in Chicago calling on Obama…
March 22, 2010

Black leaders to Obama: ‘We have a right to expect something’

In the words of Princeton Professor Cornel West, it was about "a black face in a high place.''...
March 21, 2010

Why Smiley and Sharpton are both right about racial politics

OPINION - There is little hope of holding any Democratic president "accountable" to a "Black Agenda."...
March 20, 2010

Tavis Smiley can’t win with anti-Obama talk

OPINION - While Obama-mania is bad for African-Americans, consistently attacking him in black America is like telling a child that…
March 9, 2010

Slideshow: Friends or foes? Where black leaders stand with Obama

Who among these influential African-Americans support the president or challenge him the most?...
March 3, 2010

Smiley vs. Sharpton: The faux-beef we could all do without

The Tavis-Sharpton on air fight over whether or not President Obama was going to have a black agenda started out…
March 2, 2010

Why African-Americans have given President Obama a pass

OPINION - Black leaders have at times lightly chided Obama to do and say more for African-Americans, but they're also…
March 1, 2010

Al Sharpton and Boyce Watkins discuss Tavis Smiley and ‘black agenda’

VIDEO - Last Tuesday black talk-show host and commentator Tavis Smiley criticized Rev. Al Sharpton over a New York Times…
February 26, 2010

Slideshow: theGrio’s week in review 2/21 – 2/27

Sharpton vs. Smiley, Obama vs. Republicans and Paterson vs. the polls. These are theGrio's highlight's from the week that was...
February 24, 2010

Sharpton-Smiley fight reveals rift in black leadership over Obama

OPINION - While the battle between Tavis Smiley and Al Sharpton makes for good radio, it does not make for…