21st century Minstrel show. This quickly turned into, who can get the most applause from the crowd. It was long on speeches, stats, and hyperbole, but short on any measurable goals. In fact, one young lady at the end said, what are we gonna do next, and they basically told her, don’t wait for us, go out and do your own thing…lol…so what was the point in coming here then? just to listen to people preaching? Farrakhan should be ashamed of himself being a part of this begfest. He has turned from Religious leader to political leader in the past 20 years, and these people still ain’t listening to him and his ideas!

[...] more here: VIDEO: Tavis Smiley Asks Farrakhan About Obama Criticism Posted in The 411 Tags: black, chicago, facebook, house, louis farrakhan, nation, sphere, tavis, [...]

I havent even listened to the clip and Im wondering why you would call a group of highly intelligent and caring brothas a minstrel show? Are you serious? Have you seen a Minstrel show? Are you and agent yourself?

tavis keeps on bringing the same ole blacks on each year to talk and say nothing the biggest problem faceing blacks is in the home meaning most black babies without a dad but they would never bring that up because you cant blame whitey for that one.

Agent?…lol…Good one! A 21st Century minstrel show consists of black leaders who call conferences with the sole intent to be heard, while offering up nothing substantive. A minstrel show is nothing more than a form of entertainment very similar to what goes on in the black church every Sunday morning across the country. In fact, I wouldn’t have been terribly shocked, if a collection plate was passed around. Highly intelligent???? Highly intelligent people don’t form committees begging for crumbs. Highly intelligent people put themselves in positions to bake and keep the entire loaf for themselves. I watched the entire 4 hour minstrel show for myself, and outside of a few good one liners, there was absolutely nothing important discussed.

@ _A_ So tell me sir, who’s preaching now? If truth be told, those who gathered at the table to discuss issues have the power to motivate others into action or to follow as they lead. Tell me brother, besides criticism (which I see you can plainly do) who have you lead, who have you motivated, what actions have you accomplished that were successful in making your country, state, community, neighborhood, or hell your home better? If none of the above, then please brother, get out da way and stop tring to prevent others from movin forward with your pointless rhetoric.

@ Mr. _A_, Mr 6ft6 Blkman Religious leader to Political leader. dig this wise man, DID YOU support him or follow his Religious Movement? Nooo.

Did YOU Support him or what he stands for on a Political level? Nooo. The Million man March was for ALL THE BROTHERS OF ALL RELIGIONS AND ALL POLITICAL PREFERENCES. NOW I ASK, WHERE WERE YOU INSIDE OF ALL THIS? Oh, I know, Shucking and Jiving and making these watered down comments. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, WE ALL BEGGING FOR CRUMBS DAILY ON THEIR JOBS, DEALING WITH THEIR BANKS AND CREDIT, TO GET THEIR FOOD, AND THEIR MEDICAL SYSTEM, AND SCRATCHING CRUMBS FOR THEIR EDUCATION TO KEEP THEIR NATION STRONG.

So I hope this little Minstrel will give you a little insight on how leaderless you are as a people. How you accept anything today and will destroy the reputation of your own on a whim!

Whenever a Black man has a group or following of Black People, religious or other wise, it’s Political. Where has this kid been at the last 400yrs?

PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE BLACK MEN IN AMERICA, CRY BABIES, DO NOTHING NEGRO, AND WILL ALWAYS LACK ANY FORM OF UNITY. YOU WORKING THE SYSTEM ROTHERS, KEEP DOING A GREAT JOB!

@Timothy-365

Dig this my brother. I went to these gentlemen pages and it’s sad to say, the youngest is 37. These are the cowards our kids have has examples today.
Mr. _A_ is not even in the United States and his Favorite artist is RAHKIM???

Mr. 6ft6 is just looking for a date in LA. these are what we call clowns in NYC! Clowns

These poor black men are so lost.

the million man march was a waist of airfare nothing came of it things are even worse now so enuf with your crazines

Criticizing what somebody else is doing is easy. What’s difficult is focusing on self, committing yourself to advancing the people within your own sphere of influence however big or small that sphere may be. I hope all these keyboard politicians taking it upon themselves to assert their expertise on national affairs are actually putting legs behind the words.

Very well calculated. Mr. Blkman of 6ft6in, you are actually a WASTE (notice the spelling) of time and a discouragement to MY People! How did I know YOU would come with ignorance, and then on top of that, you cannot even spell! You flew over here looking for what? A hand-out? I met MANY brothers from all over California and I eventually moved out there and WE did organize and do good. The Real Question is, What did you do? NOT A THING and you still just looking to get a woman, LOL. Comedy

beautiful..

Profound!

Yezziirr !

I SEE THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS STIL MISSING… THIS IS VERY DIS-APPOINTING TO ME…

@_A_

You on point about this dude, as I listened to it, nothing was discussed, all I heard was idle talk, that whole show was pointless, all they need now is a tin cup and some old rags to make it official begging.

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BlackInformant and Stefanie Wright, Ife. Ife said: RT @BlackInformant: VIDEO: Tavis Smiley Asks Farrakhan About Obama Criticism http://bit.ly/asw66l [...]

@Timothy365. Most at that table have been on the scene for 50 years, and apparently haven’t motivated many to do much of anything. Who have I led? I have lead myself, with assistance. I will concede the point, that I don’t have a “following” but I’m not a leader. Contrary to what you may believe though, there is no shame in that. The fact is, everyone can’t realistically be a leader. It doesn’t work that way. In fact, one thing a leader needs is followers, which further supports my point about not everyone being a leader. But I will tell you this, I’m always instilling the need to be respectful to others, how to interact properly with others. I also try to instill analytical thinking and encourage them to be strong in mathematics. When your math skills are strong, you can’t easily be duped or fooled. A mathematical mind does not rely on emotion or euphoria to help through problems. Again, This gathering was long on one liners and speeches, and SHORT on objectives and goals. Now, if you differ with that point, please feel free to outline anything you think refutes that.

@Stylemaker2002. Not sure what the point is about Rakim. As far as I’m concerned, the greatest lyricist to ever bless the mic. Secondly, What does my location have to do with it? But if that is really important, I will inform you that I was raised in NY (Brooklyn and White Plains). I love how people try to avoid the issues with sideline nonsense that has no bearing on the issue. I love how a brother like yourself simultaneously “talks” about the good he is doing in the community, while feeding into the materialistic impulses of our people, which is typically the catalyst for low self esteem in our people. See you’re not a stylemaker, your a style provider. There is a stark difference. You come to the community, pushing your wares like the drug man. Then when those young impressionable minds start to believe they’re worthless because they can’t afford Coach, Louis or Gucci, we see many of these children resort to unsavory acts, just to keep up, empty and hollow appearances. I guess in your mind though, being a CEO makes that right in your mind. Ok, you got yours off, I got mine off, I’m not interested in some silly back and forth with you. However, I’m willing to deal with anything you constructively have to say about my comments concerning this gathering. If you have nothing, then save your breath, because I’m not versed well enough in the virtues of Coach bags, vs. Louis bags, to have that conversation with you.

@Eolufemi. I wonder why someone who offers up constructive criticism is always assumed to be not doing something themselves. Using that logic, Farrakhan can be placed in that category as well. I have heard him offer plenty of stinging, relentless criticism of various groups throughout the years. In fact, your argument is further diluted, when you consider the fact that this very gathering was ALL about critiquing the President, although it was based on love. Like I said, I made sure I watched this show in it’s entirety, and there was absolutely NOTHING offered in the way of a solution. Now honestly, I wasn’t really expecting to hear any, so I was not surprised at all by that. I say again, it quickly turned into who can get the biggest response from the crowd. A colossal waste of time! Again, please explain to me the value from this conference that you saw, because it’s also very easy to dismiss constructive criticism, as hate without attempting to refute the actual points that are made.

@_A_..you said: “The fact is, everyone can’t realistically be a leader. It doesn’t work that way. In fact, one thing a leader needs is followers, which further supports my point about not everyone being a leader.”

That’s sad, man…I don’t know where you got that sentiment, but I have to point out that EVERYONE can be a leader…you can be a ‘leader’ every single day of your life. It’s just up to decide the impact that you WANT to have on those around you. You don’t need millions of followers..you just need a message that connects you to others.

If your comment was just referencing the level of ‘leader’ we have in Farrakhan types, then I totally agree.

As for the article/video, I think it is important for the Black community to see that their ‘leaders’ are at least still active in the struggle for equality. Maybe it’ll push people to start working on solutions individually. If it gets ONE person to act, and that ONE person makes a difference, then it was all worth it to me.

@Johnny_walker please read my comments fully, because you do me a disservice when you take them out of context this way. I did say that I lead MYSELF. Suggesting to you, that I’m not sitting back waiting to be lead. I still find inspiration in the books, articles put out by The Hon. Elijah Muhammad. His teachings won’t be acceptable to everyone but it works for me. His teachings alone has gotten me to see, the absolute value in developing a mathematical mind so much so, that I have chosen to pursue a degree in mathematics, but I do a lot of independent study at this time. Every Young person that I’m in contact with these days, gets to hear me promoting the value and importance of mathematics. In fact, THEM taught that a people who knows mathematics can ALWAYS rule a people who don’t.

Now what you’re referring to is leading by example which I’m totally in agreement with. But the man asked me who have I lead, and I took that to mean, How MANY people have I had following me. In that context, everyone is not able to LEAD people. Just like everyone is not able to be a project manager, a coach, a CEO, Captain etc. But NONE of these people could be successful without true and loyal followers. So in that respect, there is no shame in being a follower, if the cause is just and true. Do you agree with that?

Concerning your last comment, I could agree with that. If one person finds inspiration in this gathering to change their life, then I will say it was DEFINITELY worth it. I’m just looking at the fact that many of those gathered have been talking for a very long time, and the fact that we still have to be talking, is discouraging to me.

[...] VIDEO: Tavis Smiley Asks Farrakhan About Obama Criticism | News One [...]

Go Farrakhan…..don’t let ANYONE put you down……..

The man speaks the truth and we need to listen to him.
We can no long avoid the simple truth that White American
hates Mr.President and wants to do him some harm. This is real and not
just idle talk people.

Why are the Black folks in this thread so busy throwing bricks at each other? Philosophers have their place in building and re-affirming culture.

Dr. West, Min. Farrakhan, Brother Dyson, Sis. Malveaux are philosophers. We’d be wise to consider the perspectives of each and grow as a people toward collective maturity.

Who here is willing to start by loving Black people even when you disagree with them?

Obama Was put there by elite white money and power,he was groomed by the same,so he will act accordingly and do what he is told.

Farrakhan preaches about how the new world order works,but paints Obama as a “VICTIM”???? When will people wake up to the contradictory words,actions and inconsistencies of these people??? Anywhere on Earth where there are Blacks in power, the Black citizens under their rule are suffering. It is not by accident..these black people are pure evil.We need to learn to get along with each other and take the power away from them that use to serve their white masters.

These self appointed so called “Black leaders” cannot be trusted.Most of them are damaged goods and work for the enemy,the left overs are powerless to do anything.

If they were truly about what they say, then they would not be allowed to live so comfortably and get so much media air time…the blacks that mean business DONT FRIGGIN GET AIR TIME AND EXPOSURE TO THE BLACK MASSES. THEY GET DEMONIZED,DISCREDITED AND DISGARDED!!!!

THESE PEOPLE HELP THE ELITES INFLUENCE AND DIRECT THE WAY BLACKS THINK THROUGH MEDIA,RELIGION AND ENERTAINMENT.THEY ARE THE GATE KEEPERS. 2 EXAMPLES:JESSIE AND FARRAKHAN ARE ALLOWED BY THE ELITES TO DO THINGS IN DEFIANCE OF THEIR POWER EVERY NOW AND THEN TO GIVE THE ILLUSION THEY ARE “AGAINST WHITEY”.THEY ARE SIMPLY USED TO DEFLATE THE PRESSURE WHEN IT BUILDS UP..THESE SO CALLED BLACK LEADERS AND POWER ORGANIZATIONS ONLY GO SO FAR.

WE ARE BEING HAD AND BETTER WAKE UP…

I’m from the Chicagoland area and you’ll be suprised how many So- called African Americans didn’t want this to go on. I didn’t get to see it in person but got the chance to see it on T.V and everything they said was on point. We can love Mr.Obama but when he does something or say something that effect Black people we gotta call him out. Yeah I called him a House N****r because he can kiss Jews Gays and Latins Ass.But tell us to wait.But once Min.Farrakhan said that we have to be very careful of what words we use I said to myself that I will never call Mr.Obama that again.Now that does not mean I’m gonna give him a pass it’s just that i’m gonna watch my tone. But If you think that Farrakhan,Jackson,Dyson don’t love him or us you’ve been listen to that Devil More than you think.Farrakhan warned America if Harm comes to Him or his Family there we be HELL To Pay. I wonder why the Media didn’t report that I’ll tell you why because they know that he right on point with everything he said. Look what been goingonwith deaththreat’s the last few day’s or so (Last Three years really),See how the so-called Jews are acting the so-called Latins are acting. We’ve been warned byFarrakhan and we let white owned media say some really bad things about him and others( Like Rev.Wright) and everything they said was on point. I’m tell you that something bad gonna happen,I hope I’m wrong but these So-called white folks and those who stand with them are out for Blood.

“But If you think that Farrakhan,Jackson,Dyson don’t love him or us you’ve been listen to that Devil More than you think”

RESP: QUIT DRINKING THE KOOLAID.. THESE SO CALLED “BLACK LEADERS” ARE JUST PRESSURE RELEIVERS,CHANNELERS AND FUNNELERS. THEY SAY AND DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS UP TO A POINT AND IT NEVER GOES ANY FURTHER THAN MONEY COLLECTION OR SOME TYPE OF POLITICAL AND/OR POWER GAIN THAT ULTIMATELY BENEFIT ONLY THEIR ELITE WHITE MASTERS.

AS FOR FARRAKHAN BEING UNTOUCHABLE??ONLY BECAUSE HE DOES WHAT HE’S TOLD. OTHERWISE,HE AND THE NATION WOULD BE BURNED TO THE GROUND.
AND AS USUAL, BLACK PEOPLE WILL DO NOTHING MORE THAN RIOT AND DESTROY THEMSELVES,LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.EVERY RACE THAT HAS TRIED TO BEAT WHITEY HAS FAILED.. AND YOU BELEIVE THAT FARRAKHAN WHOM OPERATES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS GIVEN BY WHITEY IS SOMEHOW UNTOUCHABLE???

THE MAJORITY OF THE SELF APPOINTED “BLACK LEADERS” ARE BLACK MISLEADERS AND THE REST OF THEM ARE SUSPECT.

HOW IS IT YOU CANT SEE THAT WITH ALL THE BLACK THIS AND THAT, OUR SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED… EXEPT FOR THE SHOWCASED TOKENS THEY PARADE AROUND.
THE TALENTED, EDUCATED BLACKS THAT MEAN BUSINESS ARE RUN OUTTA TOWN AND HAVE TO OPERATE UNDERGROUND.

IT IS JUST A GAME.. GOOD COP/BAD COP… NOTHING MORE.WAKE UP. THE IS NO SANTA CLAUS.

@ Evamp12 You say to me Quit Drinking the Koolaid.. These so called Black leaders..Wow you just prove what Farrakhan was saying that the media will
reword anything that brothers and sisters would say.Have you ever thought that why is it that anytime a Blackman or women speak were reverse racist
anti-semtic etc. This is been going on for over 100 plus years(Talking about the media). You say they do and say all the right thing then nothing happens,You know why? we as a people don’t stand up or next to them. We want them to do the heavy work and we get the benifits that what happen with Malcolm and King and others,They die we benifit. Look how the media lied on Rev.Wright and what did we do? turned our backs on a man who served his country went back to his people and help them and what did we do? We told him to shutup go away for a man who alot of our folks could not even say his name 3 years ago.Oh how quickly we forget. I’m not gonna do what some whites want us to do is hate our own,we did that with Dr.King but if you listen to the media,they and we all love King when in fact we as a Nation did not. You my friend need to wakeup.These brothers and sisters have been lied on threaten etc. And for what so we can be treated like human beings but you say all they do is talk well guess what? Why don’t get
up and do something since you know the right way how to handled things. It’s only so much they can do. Stop with the self-hate.

So Harvey33. If you say that black people don’t stand up in time of real crisis or real need to support their “leaders,” then doesn’t Farrakhan’s proclamation amount to nothing more than an empty threat? Evamp12 makes some very good points here. 25 years ago, NO black leader could be seen with Farrakhan. Hell, even Arsenio Hall had a major protest outside his studio when he had the man appear for 15 mins on his “comedy/variety” show. Now I see Politicians, Civil Rights leaders even preachers routinely meeting with him and having pictures taken, with no real fear of retribution. That would have never happened back in the early 90′s. That suggests to me, that he is no longer viewed as a viable threat, for if he were, the power structure would have maintained that same mandate. Farrakhan says if the brother is harmed, America will have hell to pay? From whom? As evamp12 said, the most blacks are going to do is riot and destroy there own neighborhoods if they even do that.

Keep in mind, chief among those that turned their back on REv Wright, was BHO himself. The biggest difference between him doing it and those among the masses was, the masses didn’t have a 20 year relationship with the man!

Just wanted to interject that even though some of these comments are kinda hard to read(swallow) I truly appreciate you brothers having an interesting, intelligent, thought provoking discussion on this. You are all leaders and we need more like all of you! Keep posting, my people and I are following this discussion.
And for_A_, maybe some concrete solutions can come from this dialogue alone, you think? I believe it can!

Appreciate your comment Reenie6. Now for the sake of clarity.

You said:

And for_A_, maybe some concrete solutions can come from this dialogue alone, you think? I believe it can!

Are you talking about the dialogue that we are having here, or the WE COUNT gathering. I will give you my feelings on both. As for the dialogue we are having here, yes I do think that is possible although not too likely. I see this space as a great place to exchange ideas and thoughts, and even learn some new things, like I find myself doing daily. If you are referring to the WE COUNT dialogue, I would have to say NO. The reason for that is, they have been having these gatherings now for 10 years and we are no better off then than now, and that’s in their own words. Secondly, discussions like these have been going on in our community for decades with little or no impact. Here is the BIGGEST problem I see with these meetings. Too many varying viewpoints and perspectives which translates to varying methodologies and objectives. Jesse is still talking about voting, Dr. Malveaux is still talking about strengthening HBCU’s, Tavis is still talking about petitioning OBAMA, Dyson is still dealing with his thing, along with the others. It has to be a collective shared vision of objective and method of getting there. Farrakhan doesn’t believe in asking for handouts (although, i’m not so sure he is that opposed to it as he once was) while Jesse will take all he can get, just for an example. Too many variances, and therefore, they will always be at odds, even though, they may all share “love” for black people.

The way jesse jackson was sitting as farrakhan spoke(4:34)kind of defined the “state of the black union” and its pompous “black leaders”,who will never form like voltron to protect anyone whose not in their clique.

I wonder if some are really reading these comments and not jumping at the first thing posted. Some of you have brought into what the white media has said about these people.Some say that they just talk’ don’t everyone but these men and women have done more than you think, are they prefect? No.
Some whites got us so fearful.

@Harvey33

I don’t think you get it…..You have to force yourself to look at things as they are..Think CRITICALLY/LOGICALLY…Open your mind.

JUST KEEP READING MY 2 POSTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN….

AGAIN THESE SO CALLED BLACK LEADERS AND BLACK POWER GROUPS ARE JUST RELIEF AND REGULATOR VALVES ON A PRESSURE COOKER…. THE CRITISISM OF SO CALLED BLACK LEADERS,ETC. BY THE ELITE WHITE OWNED MEDIA IS JUST A FARCE TO THROW YOU OFF..WAKE UP.. INVESTIGATE. 1 EXAMPLE: HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU EVER,EVER,EVER,EVER,HEARD THE WORDS “BOULE’” WHO THESE ELITE,POWERFUL BLACKS SERVE AND WHAT THEY DO AND THE NAMES NAMED OF MEMBERS WORLD WIDE AND HOW THEY SELL OUT THEIR OWN KIND OUT OF FARRAKHAN’S MOUTH????(OR ANY SO CALLED BLACK LEADER’S/POWER GROUP’S COLLECTIVE MOUTH,FOR THAT MATTER)

YOU NEED TO WAKE UP…THESE PEOPLE’S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO KEEP THINGS JUST AS THEY ARE.. THEY BELIEVE AS THIER MASTERS DO:THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE: THE STRONG RULE-THE WEAK SERVE AND THE USELESS EATERS EITHER DIE OR BE KILLED OFF..LIKE WEEDS OR DISESE CARRYING RATS AND SUCH…THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU.. IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD BE WHERE MALCOM,MARTIN AND OTHERS ARE NOW.THE WHITE ELITE AND THOSE THAT SERVE THEM DONT PLAY.

what would ELijah Muhammad think about Obama ???

The man Farrakhan always talks sense!.. And what the hell is wrong with Jesse Jackson, sitting there looking like he is sick or something, I mean comeon nobody forced him to be there, if he did not want to! And no body told him to talk about cutting off Obamas balls during the Presidential run!
Umm, I would love to know what was running through his mind, anyways I definitely want to watch this, I have been watching these summits the past few years and I am not even from America, well my great great grandfather was who went back to Liberia, but let me not get into that! So yea, hopefully black folks in the US can pay more attention to this! Love yall! Peace

Thank you Brother Minister Farrakhan! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Farrakhan hit a nerve when he mentioned Jesse presidential run.

This is a good article blog foreal.The Honorable ”Minister Louis Farrakhan”.Get the name mentioning right you dimwit you can’t give a considerate concept to the description of a influencing wise African American’s American name you short attention spand ediotic nitwitness nutcase self.

_A_, I’m going to start agreeing with you back at the GENIUS observation and taggin you did of the ‘minstrel show/begfest’…LOL..FIRE my man FIRE!!!

[...] VIDEO: Tavis Smiley Asks Farrakhan About Obama Criticism [...]

@_A_ “Now I see Politicians, Civil Rights leaders even preachers routinely meeting with him and having pictures taken, with no real fear of retribution. That would have never happened back in the early 90’s. That suggests to me, that he is no longer viewed as a viable threat, for if he were, the power structure would have maintained that same mandate.”

I think you make a really interesting point although I do believe that ever since the 84 election Jesse could be seen with him occassionally. I think even “back in the day” every now and then you’d see a politician or christian minister sitting with him but I agree that it happens so much now that its no longer surprising.

I think the fear may have started to wane when he started showing up at the annual Tavis Smiley gatherings and it became clear that though the majority of those in the audience seem to be behind him the other socalled leaders paid him little mind.

Ofcourse the JDL continues to add to their list.

Farrakhan seems to be back on the “seperation” theme again. Im interested in seeing if things heat up as a result.

Again you make a really good point.

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