As I sat and listened to the argument between Tavis Smiley and Rev. Al Sharpton, I was sad. Both Tavis and Rev. Al have made tremendous contributions to the black community, and it seems that the “Great Obama Divide” has plagued our ability to move forward with a concerted agenda. No one knows what the future holds or which ideas are going to work, so everyone believes that their approach to leveraging the opportunity that comes with a black president is the one that will work the best. Our Black Leadership Boat is in uncharted waters, and every leader has an oar pointed in their own direction.
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Smiley and company seem to feel that President Obama isn’t engaging in enough blatant effort to prove to the world that he is committed to supporting black folks. He argues that Obama’s efforts to reach across the isle often lead to him stretching his political legs across a pool of disgusting racism in order to establish connection with those who hate his people. Smiley is correct in that our needs are usually put on the back burner, and that black people are suffering more than nearly anyone else during this economic crisis.
RELATED: Obama Meets With Black Leaders To Discuss Economy
Sharpton feels that Obama has the capacity to show compassion toward the black community and that he is attempting to do that. His meetings with Obama have at least bore rhetorical fruit, with the president agreeing to follow-ups in the future to discuss the needs of African Americans. This communicates, at the very least, that our president is open to genuine black advocacy. The problem, however, is that there are some who are reluctant to challenge Obama the way they would if he were a white man. Whether we hold our politicians accountable should be more readily reflected by the institutions they represent, rather than the color of their skin. What is also true, however, is that both Smiley and Sharpton are holding Obama accountable. The difference is that Smiley is forced to attack from the outside in, and Sharpton is fighting from the inside out, leading to serious conflicts of interest.
Honestly, I am not sure if there is anything that President Obama could do that would not make Tavis Smiley dislike him. But either way, the rift between Sharpton and Smiley is an introduction to the post-Obama America, where being black no longer means being on the same page. It means that the man (Smiley) who once referred to Bill Clinton as the first black president cannot look a real black president in the eye and give him the benefit of the doubt. It means that Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders are forced to do the dirty work on racial equality because our black president has been terrorized into political silence on issues of race.
RELATED: Tavis Smiley Calls Obama’s Health Care Victory “Small Change”
The post-Obama America is one where the heterogeneity of the black community becomes more prominent and undeniable. Being a black Democrat now has a number of possible meanings, not just one.
While I hope that Smiley and Sharpton overcome their problems, I don’t think they ever will. Sure, the public may get a chance to see them reconcile, but there are some divides that simply can’t be bridged. Sharpton’s greatest incentive is to protect his relationship with the White House to enhance his ability to be effective. Smiley, who has been exiled by Obama (but not Hillary Clinton), has every incentive to undermine the president’s vast support within the African American community (which is not going to work). The Great Obama Divide is with us and won’t go away anytime soon.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
at 11:18 am
I guess yall expecting the president to show up and get your kids dressed for school pull em away from tv to do homework and get yo man to stop runnin with pookie and them too. My president is addressing the most pressing issues affecting black families such as health care and education, these two things will lead to a better black america. You expect this man to recklessly come into office and say ok the two wars end today causing anarchy and civil wars that would spread to neighboring countries and the rest of the world, you expect him to come into office and say here black folks here’s your forty acres and a mule with interest that was promised by the white man in which pookie would immediately try to trade for some new sneakers, gold chain and a pimped out whip yeah I said it yeah I’m sure the republican members of congress would approve that. My brother is a perfect example yeah I somewhat give him a pass because he has been disenfranchised, I advised him that a local agency was gonna be a benefactor of some of the stimulus money training people for green jobs, especially targeted towards the local black communities and what was great it was in walking distance from my mothers house where he refuses to leave, it said it was targeted toward dropouts, ex offenders and unemployed in which he fit all three, he told me he aint got time for that bulls**t, I told him these would probably be good payin jobs, he said whatever. When I got married I didn’t think it was necessary to further my education cause my husband would take care of me, after he left and I ended up on welfare with no job training I fell into a rut, section 8 welfare foodstamps watching Oprah everday at 4:00, I wasn’t feelin real good about myself. When I went to renew my foodstamps I told my caseworker this and she said we can put you in a job training program and help you with daycare, I was like oh yeah Ima interview with a room full of more experience workers and white girls and get a job right, she said you can volunteer and get job experience, I said can I volunteer here she said I’ll see and get back with you. I started training dealing with five kids, school and part time volunteering which turned into a job as a clerk. Applied for position as claims processor with a big company got that gig, bought a house, applied with federal government been there ten years, so I know we can pick ourselves up and do it, but ain’t nobody gonna do it for you, you have to recognize and seize up on opportunities. Our president has to work harder than other presidents to prove himself and we know why, just like all my jobs I had to work harder than Suzy Q, he has the tea baggers out protesting against him when curiously no one was out in force like that when we entered into a bogus war that is costing us trillions or when those people were in the superdome dying in Louisiana, people asking for his birth certificate when they really mean his “race certificate” showing that someone of his race is good enough to be president and Tavis Smiley’s still jeolous ass, mad cause he wasn’t the first black president. And believe me I am not trying to make fun of black people relating to the beginning of my post but we have to accept some responsibility, and I know there is a lot of depression in the black community but we have to recognize and move forward take opportunities that are there and support this president cause it is a reflection on all of us, can’t you just hear one day, yall can’t even run a country, but they give a dumb b***h like Sarah Palin all accolades, support this president now don’t be fooled into keeping the crabs in a bucket mentality.
at 10:09 pm
Has Barack Obama truly “exiled” Tavis Smiley? Is this accurate? Dr. Boyce, this is quite a statement: What is your source for this information? Tell me: Has he also “exiled” Cornel West? At some point, somewhere, someday, Barack will have to look both of these gentlemen in the eye.
at 5:37 pm
I have listened to the comments of Al Sharpton and if the quote in the New York Times is true “that we do not need to ballyhoo a black agenda”. OK, first of all what does “ballyhoo” mean. Why would you quote that to the New York Times. If I were left to interpret that statement with no real definition of the term, it would mean to me to put the black agenda on the back burner. If a Hispanic/Latino leader were to say “we don’t need to bally-hoo a Latino agenda,” the Latino people would have a fit. If the Mayor of Los Angeles were to say that to the Times, there would be a march right away. First of all, Mr. Al Sharpton I thought your Michael Jackson eulogy was great, but the gift of tongue does not equal the gift of politics. I mean who are you working for really? Obviously your family is fed and you have not missed any meals. I hope Tavis can stand his ground and represent a people whose families have not been fed. If you ever want to measure if what you are saying to the media makes any comparative sense, say the same thing yet apply it to another ethnicity. If the quote doesn’t work for any other ethnicity, then it for sure doesn’t work for who you claim to represent, the African-American people. In regards to Al Sharpton Bold yes, intriguing maybe, another Martin Luther King, no. I dare you to challenge, Minister Farrakhan the way you challenged Tavis. The Minister would rip a hole in it.
Farrakhan is the only real leader that has the balls and the proper perspective on true prosperity and healing for Americas black people. And I say this as a Christian. The rest of you are just black face minstrels skipping around happy you got sponsors for your piece of over priced chicken.
I am disappointed in all of the Willy Lynch, ball grabbing puppets. The white man, the Republicans are all laughing at these devisive, “whose got the bigger dick and pie of the white man” self appointed men. Martin Luther King would have never stooped to such levels. You know why, there was never any money in it. Seems to me Al Sharpton, Tavis Smiley have the “big dick” syndrome. Including journalist Mr.George Curry who wasted our time with a silly commentary discrediting Tavis Smiley regarding a girlish grudge they had regarding a magazine cover that Mr. Curry could have put Tavis on the cover of yet didn’t (because Mr. Curry had to display his white man given power) and Tavis for “supposedly” holding a grudge. And now political ghosts from Bush past come to administer division within the psyche’s of the Willy Lynch n****r offspring to fight over who has the bigger piece of chicken and watermelon. Wouldn’t massa Willy be so pleased to see that once again his tactics of selective affirmative action career handouts have produced such a divisive sense of ego amoung its n****r-rich participants. None of you people have missed a meal, just blowing smoke up our asses on behalf of your sponsors.
And I want to comment on those who say the Pres. Obama is not responsible for just African Americans but for all Americans. AND YOU ARE RIGHT AND CORRECT. But every group has a representative looking out for the best interests of that group when policies are being made. African Americans still need a rep to make sure they are not left to the side. Every group has a representative to look out for the best interests of their people their group, whether it be gays, latinos, non-profit sectors, single mothers, orphaned children, immigrants, etc. Latinos have needs, the poor have needs, the elderly have needs, African americans have needs, and each need to be properly represented or they will be left out. Yes, it is correct to say that Pres. Obama has to look out for all of America, yet is he the only intelligent leader that has come out of black america? Someone must “ballyhoo” (a blackface minstrel term I yet to know the definition
of)to make sure that a fairness takes place in Washington and every group needs to have a rep. If Sharpton doesn’t feel that his meeting with the president was a “ballyhoo for black people” moment, word it like this:
WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL MEETING THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS. AFRICAN AMERICANS AS WELL AS ALL AMERICANS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE POLICIES THAT THE PRESIDENT IS PUTTING IN PLACE.
America has a history and m.o. of leaving black people to the way side while making modern day penitary slave policies, or other racists endeavors. And so after one year we’re not suppose to not say anything about what blacks need. Obama is only one man and it is possible that the Republicans will try and keep him so occupied with matters of the country and the world that blacks can end up once again sitting on the sidelines impoverished and embattered “well, cause, least we gotta black president.” That is bulls**t, somebody better rep, somebody better “ballyhoo” and not just “ballyhoo” for blacks but for whoever needs representing.
at 1:31 pm
I will evoke a phrase from JFK. Ask NOT what your President can do for you, ask what YOU can do for your President.
Tavis Smiley and those of his opinion, would have every focus to be about the ills of minorities, winning a small battle (with many subplots), while losing many wars (with exponential subplots).
Is it really that difficult to understand the President was voted in with a majority with some minority support? His audience is clearly all American people and that is precisely what it needs to be for him to be successful.
What are we black people doing to be more successful in an environment rife with challenge? Are we getting more educated (black women are)? Are our children doing better in school (decidely not)? Are we unifying our message and providing powerful support and constructive debate (the jury is out on this one)?
Division is and has always been the Achilles heel of blacks in America. It literally is the record stuck on repeat ad nauseum. I personally am quite tired of this same ole song.
Unfortunately, I see no overarching solution, no light at the end of the tunnel. Obama is a man, an exceptional black man, but still a man, he is NOT God. He cannot wave his hand and create peace and harmony for the black race. He can, however, continue to set conditions for Americans to succeed and we would do BEST to focus on unity, progression, and timing to advance the cause.
There are many instances that demonstrate that blacks suffer more when things are bad in this nation. Yes, this is true, but a President cannot solve such things. Individuals, working together, can achieve such things. It truly takes a village to raise a child, but our black villages are in worse shape today than they were over forty years ago.
What has happened to the momentum that spawned so much rapid change as to propel a black man to the Presidency, yet see the masses of blacks with an entitlement stamp on their foreheads?
It is shameful.
at 1:16 pm
“… It means that Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders are forced to do the dirty work on racial equality because our black president has been terrorized into political silence on issues of race…”
priceless words, Dr. B, just simply….priceless!
at 11:48 am
Why are all my post awaiting “moderation”? Moderate already!
at 6:16 pm
I like what Obama represents SYMBOLICALLY as the blackman comen back into power like ancient times…
but realistically…….. sheeeettttttttt…..
I’ll put it like this….
is it better get shot by the KKK or to get shot by a nygga from my own hood ??? you feel me
at 2:07 pm
Both have valid points in the arguement, but I’m siding w/Tavis.
at 3:10 am
“1BillioaireMnd I AGREE WITH YOU SWEETHEART” BUT I WILL EVEN TAKE IT A STEP FARTHER… FIRST OF ALL LET’S GET ONE THANG STRAIGHT… I AM OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD… THEREFORE DON’T GO TRYING TO LABEL ME… BECAUSE I DON’T EXCEPT MAN MADE LABELS AT ALL… NOW PEOPLE DON’T YOU GET IT… WE AS A BLACK COMMUNITY ARE DIVIDED AGAINST OURSELVES.. AND THIS IS WHY WE ALWAYS FAIL… GOD COULDN’T HAVE SAID IT ANY PLAINER OR CLEARER: MARK CHAPTER 3, VERSE 25: AND IF A HOUSE BE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF… THAT HOUSE CANNOT STAND…AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE GETTING NO WHERE FAST… WE HAVE LEFT OUR ONLY PROTECTION WHICH IS GOD… NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THE SPEAKING OF GOD – THE BIBLE OR NOT… BECAUSE THE CHOSE IS YOURS… BUT THE BOTTOM LINE STILL REMAINS THE SAME… NO PROGRESS IN ANYTHING… MOST IMPORTANTLY PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW… THAT GOD – JESUS CHRIST – AND THE HOLY GHOST IS WITHIN THEM… GOD IS NOT OUT SIDE OF US SWEETHEART… MAN YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING IT YOUR WAY… FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH NO RESULTS… NOW WHY WON’T YOU TRY IT GOD’S WAY… AND SEE HOW EASY IT REALLY IS…
at 3:34 pm
Pantherg08, We may not agree on A LOT, but u know I got you here!
at 3:33 pm
_A_, You said it yet again…People need to realize the overall DAMAGE that bailouts are doing…We are going to feel that ‘hurt’ for a LONG time, way after Obama is gone. But I digress, its all good cuz hes ‘black’ right? lol
Sub-Negro, Yes I am a trip…I try my best at it!
at 2:06 pm
@CALIFEMME
CHURCH! LET THEM KNOW WASUP!!!!