February 28, 2007
Speaking to over 2,000 in Dallas last week, author, lecturer and me-dia host Tavis Smiley made a distinction between Black leadership and Black leaders, as he brought the Covenant town hall meeting to Friendship-West Baptist Church.
“You are the leader you have been looking for,” he told the audience, to thunderous applause. “A strong community does not need a leader. Leading Blacks does not make you a Black leader. We must redefine what is leadership. Each of us must make ourselves a leader.”
He continued, “If you call yourself a leader and nobody is following you, then you’re just out for a walk!”
The Covenant town hall meetings were born out of the New York Times bestselling book, The Covenant with Black America, which identifies 10 issues of significance to African Americans. Focusing on everything from healthcare and education to accessing good jobs and environmental justice, the Covenant helps those who embrace it to begin making changes while holding others accountable.
Released in Houston in February 2006, The Covenant with Black America received such an overwhelming response with thousands turning out around the country for critical discussions on the issues outlined in the book, said Mr. Smiley.
Praising Friendship-West’s pastor, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Mr. Smiley said that every pastor did not open the doors of the church for this candid discussion about issues. And the discussion was candid as Pastor Haynes, Mr. Smiley and Princeton professor Eddie Glaude talked about issues and responded to questions from the audience.
Using the Covenant with Black America and the just released THE COVENANT In Action as the guide for the discussion, Mr. Smiley said the books address the “what” and what can be done to get results.
“THE COVENANT In Action addresses how we can hold others accountable,” he explained, as he encouraged those in attendance to become “change” agents. “Before we hold others accountable, we have to be responsible.
“The ‘what’ is the COVENANT, the ‘how’ is the COVENANT In ACTION and the ‘who’ is us. We are not so good at follow up and follow through, but we are good at illuminating the issue. We have to do the best we can with what we have right where we are.”
Citing historic figures, such as Harriet Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, Mr. Smiley talked about the work they did for others. “When history called upon them, they didn’t punk out,” he said.
Joining Mr. Smiley was Mr. Glaude, who was a student of noted scholar and educator Dr. Cornel West.
Mr. Glaude, who also praised Mr. Smiley and Rev. Haynes, saying that Mr. Smiley “loves Black people unconditionally,” talked about how the headlines dominating the news are far from the ones that impact Black people.
One of the youngest tenured professors at Princeton, Mr. Glaude also addressed Black leadership, saying that today “too many people are referencing the ‘60s to gain their place at the front of the line.”
Clearly he touched a nerve as applause and cheers erupted as he talked about “Black leaders” getting paid.
Mr. Smiley currently hosts a television talk show on PBS and radio show on NPR. An author of several books, he provides political commentary on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, heard locally on 94.5FM, the Beat.
THE COVENANT In Action looks at what people inspired by the Covenant with Black America have done to address issues in the Covenant. It also includes a toolkit that includes strategies to assist in effecting change. THE COVENANT In Action is the result of a partnership with PolicyLink and The Jamestown Project.
|
