Tavis Smiley - On Air: The Best of Tavis Smiley

ALSO BY TAVIS SMILEY

Doing Whats Right

Empowerment Cards

Hard Left

How to Make Black America Better

Just a Thought

Keeping the Faith

On AirVolume I

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Copyright 2004 by Tavis Smiley

Published in the United States by: Smiley Books, an imprint of Hay House, Inc.

Distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc., P.O. Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100 Phone: (760) 431-7695 or (800) 654-5126 Fax: (760) 431-6948 or (800) 650-5115 www.hayhouse.com

Design: Tricia Breidenthal

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews without prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

This publication contains adaptations of commentaries originally heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (which have been edited for space and clarity). Many of the commentaries include pieces of public information taken from various newspapers, periodicals, and books. It is sold with the understanding that the author provided accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smiley, Tavis
On air : the best of Tavis Smiley on the Tom Joyner Morning Show,
2002-2003 / Tavis Smiley.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-40190-224-3
1. African AmericansSocial conditions1975- 2. African Americans
Politics and government. 3. United StatesRace relations. I. Title. E185.86
S634 2004 305.896073dc22

2003022577

ISBN 1-4019-0224-3

07 06 05 04 4 3 2 1
1st printing, January 2004

Printed in the United States of America

To my mother, Joyce M. Smiley

CONTENTS

Not too long ago I was speaking to a classroom of young students when one of them asked me, Whats a commentator?

Good question, I repliedbut the truth is, I was stumped. When I recovered a few seconds later, I explained to that room of young minds that in reality, were all commentators. Each of us has something to say about what happens to us and around us every day. I just happen to be fortunate enough to have my views broadcast over the radio. Im also fortunate that one of the vehicles that allows me to share my commentaries is the Tom Joyner Morning Show (or the TJMS), courtesy of my abiding friend, the Fly Jock, Tom Joyner.

Twice a week, millions of listeners hear me riff and pontificate on everything from politics to pop culture, along with my fellow TJMS-ers, Sybil Wilkes, J. Anthony Brown, Miss Dupree, and Myra J. Sometimes Im funny; most times Im serious; but hopefully, Im always enlightening, encouraging, and empowering. My mission is not to get folks to agree with me, but to have them think critically for themselves. Periodically, my intention is to effect change through our airadvocacy efforts. And the TJMS audience is second to none in their rapid response to critical issues. (Thank you!) Most days the audience appreciates, if not agrees, with me. Other days they dont appreciate or agree and boy, do I hear about it! But thats good, too, because this means theyre thinking criticallythere are no plantation politics up in here!

While I enjoy my other radio and television gigs, theres a special place in my heart for my TJMS commentaries. These are my peoplewith struggles and successes I can truly identify with; hopes and fears I can relate to; dreams and aspirations I can share; and curiosities and frustrations that plague me, too. So when I hit the airwaves every Tuesday and Thursday morning, we connect.

When youre a person of color, you long to read, see, and hear from somebody who speaks directly to your interests; profiling the people, raising the issues, and asking the questions you would ask if you were leading the conversation. Even if I dont speak for the millions of mostly African American TJMS enthusiasts, I do try to speak to their concerns. And nothing makes me happier than encountering one of those listeners anywhere in America when they walk up and tell me, Thanks for representing.

As you read through these commentaries, you may be reminded of when you heard the actual show or you might be hearing these views for the first timebut remember, its about the issues, the people, and the rights that we strive to protect. Im not the only one raising these issues, but as long as I have the opportunity, I will continue to use this medium to positively impact Black Americaand all America, for that matter.

I look forward to the day when more people of color will have the opportunity to broadcast their views nationally over the radio, on television, and in print. Our media needs to better reflect diversity (ethnically and ideologically)after all, this is America. Until such time, Im going to keep doing my best to represent, and I hope that one of the young boys and girls in that classsroom will one day decide that America needs to hear what he or she has to say, too.

Tavis Smiley
December 2003, Los Angeles, CA

JUNE 6, 2002
Too Much Bump n Grind?

Let me offer a few thoughts if I mightI know we all have them, but these are mine, and mine alone:

Number one. I think it is first and foremost important to say (and to say and to say and to re-say) that R. Kelly is still innocent until proven guilty, and weve got to keep that in mind. I think this is going to be an interesting case and a long haul. For two years during the O. J. Simpson case, in all the television appearances that I made and as often as I was asked, I would never say if I thought O. J. Simpson was innocent or guilty. In all the appearances that I did, even before I had my own show on BET, I would never answer that particular question, because that was not the issue.

The issue was that even O. J. Simpson deserved a fair trial, and too many people were speculating on his innocence and guilt. The only question is: Does a brother deserve a fair trial, does he have a right to a fair trial? I personally never felt that O. J. did enough for Black folk, but that wasnt the standard during his trial. He deserved a fair trial, and in the same vein, I think R. Kelly is entitled to a fair trial, also.