Tavis' unsettling observations

Have you ever wished you could be two places at the same time? I recently experienced that feeling in a profound way. Earlier this afternoon, I had the privilege to go to a well-attended luncheon featuring renowned journalist and commentator, Tavis Smiley as the keynote speaker. But during that exact hour, just a few blocks away, there was another prominent African-American speaking before a large crowd. That individual was Sen. Barack Obama. Of course, three weeks after I accept my invitation to a corporate luncheon sponsored by the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana, Obama announces that he’s making a surprise campaign stop at the American Legion Mall in Downtown Indianapolis- just a short walk from where I work.

But I do not regret being where I was and listening to what Tavis had to say. Tavis is known to be a rousing orator and lived up to his reputation by giving us a powerful and provocative lecture. He expressed his disdain of the now overused terms: diversity, inclusion and tolerance. He noted that many organizations and individuals make efforts to be diverse, but suspects that many often do so out of convenience and expedience. He also made a point that “loving our neighbors as ourselves” demands far more from us than mere tolerance (putting up with each other) and that tolerance should never be the standard by which we measure ourselves.

The fact that Barack Obama was speaking just a few blocks away was also not lost on Tavis. He began his lecture by joking that those who decided to stay to listen to him must have not been able to get tickets to the Obama event.

Tavis, criticized by many African-Americans for being an early critic of Barack Obama, explained that it is entirely possible for African-Americans to be both proud and supportive of a Black candidate and to also express one’s support by being critical and holding that candidate accountable if and when they gets off of their “pivot” and principles. He cautioned us to never give our uncritical acceptance to an individual and noted that there are too many African-Americans who seem willing to allow Barack Obama to escape scrutiny for fear of hindering his chance to be President of the United States. Tavis exclaimed, “No other special interest group waits until a candidate is in office to then begin holding them accountable!” I don't know how accurate that statement is, but I think I understand his underlying point.

Tavis admitted to being upset by the fact that the issue of racism was never addressed and the word “poverty” was not uttered during any of the three presidential debates between Barack Obama and John McCain. Although Barack Obama gave a memorable speech on racism in America early in his campaign, Tavis took Obama to task for only addressing the issue of racism “when his hand was forced” due to the controversy surrounding his relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He also went on to describe many points throughout the Obama campaign where Barack changed his stance- specifically on issues of campaign finance reform, the death penalty and gun control.

Towards the end of his speech, Tavis warned us all to be watchful of patterns in media coverage and the attempts to suppress the ideas and issues that affect us, specifically racism and poverty.

After Tavis delivered his insights and observations, he assured us that he does not consider his work to be done until he knows that he has “unsettled” us by challenging us to “reexamine our assumptions.”

My co-worker, who also attended the luncheon, leaned over to me and joked that Tavis “doesn’t have any solutions, so he just stirs up shit.” That may be true, but I think I would rather pay attention to someone with unsettling and challenging questions that encourage me to be more aware and make progress than to listen to 30 minutes of lofty campaign promises.