Some of the most influential thinkers, entertainers, and political leaders of our time gather each year to discuss the State of the Black Union during February. Presented annually by Tavis Smiley Presents, the symposium was created to educate, enlighten and empower America by bringing people together and engaging them in thoughtful dialogue, leading the way to constructive action.
This year’s event, “State of the Black Union 2008: Reclaiming Our Democracy, Deciding Our Future”, hosted by Tavis Smiley will commence in New Orleans Feb. 22 and 23 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The symposium will provide a national forum for leading black educators, social scientists, business leaders and clergy to discuss economic empowerment, the development and rebuilding of communities, as well as continues support of communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
On Sat., Feb. 23, Smiley will host a conversation with 24 noted politicians, educators, social scientists, business leaders and clergy from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. live on C-SPAN.
Visit Covenant with Black America for more information.
LAMBI FUND UPDATE
Since the story of impoverished Haitians who are resorting to eating mud cookies was published, we’ve been in contact with Karen Ashmore, Executive Director of the Lambi Fund.
We received another e-mail from her with the results of your donations.
According to Ashmore, the Lambi Fund normally gets around four to five online inquiries/donations per day from individuals. The organization received 72 e-mails from Concrete Loop readers (almost 15 times more than they typically receive) and over $2400 to help Haitians become more sustainable. “That goes a long way in Haiti and will make a tremendous difference for a peasant community!” said Ashmore.
The comments and feedback were all heartwarming. The CL Crew commends you all on your kind generosity.
yay blackness!!
i just hate that those people in Haiti have to go through that..the US should have stayed out of there business..
this is the kind of news i like to see & hear!!!
BLACK POWER
I went to the state of the black union last year. It was ok… just ok tho. I don’t want to knock it, because it’s a great concept, but it seemed to me that the focus was more on promoting a book than accomplishing a change. Just the typical black pow-wow “we need to do this/that” session to me… sorry if I offended anyone.
On second thought, I’m not sorry… it’s my opinion. lol
Yes, for the Lambi Fund story! That’s what change is all about!
CONGRATS CONCRETELOOPERS!! THE HAITIANS NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET…
CL, Angel, I’m just going to congratulate you for bringing in something new like this to the Black Community Blogs. J. Dakar is amazing, and now I have seriously made this as my top 5 site to visit for black political, and political news. Thanks again!
I donated!! I’m glad we helped!!!
Brotha J,I give you mad props for this post.I watched something simular Brotha Tavis did back in 05′ on c-span,and he had the usual suspects Brotha West,Brotha Dyson,etc.But there was an Elder Sista who’s name eludes me, who captivated the true purpose of having a symposium when she said ;We as black folks,in order to get something we have never had before means,DOING something we’ve never done before…The 900+ Billion Dollars that Black People made last year went in and out of our hands,that is 10% of the effing GNP,factor in what we made under the table,who knows what we earn on a annual basis.The point I’m trying to make is that short of an act of GOD,economic unity is the only way to end what holds our poeple back.Look at the ARABS& ASIANS they don’t give a eff about who is running for president because they are counting all the money WE give them to really care.
i always tune in to Smiley’s State of the Black Union, good ish.
How come this Haitian issue has not hit national headlines?
Where is Angelina and Brad??
I am a big fan of Tavis and will be watching again this year when they broadcast it on CSPAN.
See a true Barack Obama Supporter
Mitt Romney suspending his campaign is very confusing
Mitt Romney is not suspending his campaign for anyone but his business manager. He spent a fortune of his own money on a failed campaign.
Gotta feel sorry for Mitt Romney. He invested so much and is left trailing to John McCain. Even Mike Huckabee got some of the Bible Belt states. I aint even a Republican voter, but its still a pretty demoralizing thing to go through, when you were so ambitious, at the start.
I Love the state of the black union forum, I wish it was being held closer to me, last year I was impressed with Judge Hachett…She was very well spoken
by the way….
Clinton
1,033
Obama
937
Tavis talks about the state of the black union every year and not a damn thing changes. Tavis and his race politics needs to go sit down somewhere. Tavis, you should do less talking, and get more involved in the day to day grind of improving communities. Tavis—NEXT!!!
*Note to Mitt Romney: Running a business does not make you a civic leader, and $40 million cannot buy you a personality.
Change is possible, all it takes is one voice to start a revolution. I am proud of all of us and all that we continue to do to make the World a better place!
Well done Angela for such a brilliant blog. A sweet combination of news entertainment and socialism.
Thank you for being the one
Thanks to all that donated to the Lambi Fund! CL you are not only entertaining us with this site you are also educating us and helping us help others. This site is like no other Black Blog – CL is simply the bomb.
Are those people gonna come out there with a plan this time or just talking again?.
I agree with #18…NEXT!!!!
Tavis is so anti-Barack and pro-BiIlary it is pathetic. He is all up the Clinton’s a-holes, as if they and only they can save our race.
Tavis, why don’t YOU run for elected office in order to make a MEANINGFUL contribution to society instead of just making a nice little personal fortune by your talk, talk, talk.
Normal elitist negro nonsense. Black bourgeois negroes in suits that play a good role and are sent out to tell black people what they “should be doing”. Shine some light on these cats and ask them some real questions and I gurantee that they’ll fold up. Don’t trust a negro in these letter organizations that they give a microphone to. They’ve been trained and are reading from a script.
#18 and # 24 I FEEL YOU!!!
Tavis Smiley gets on my nerves. He’s always talking about black issues and the problems with “whites.” He needs to press some of the real issues with the black community a little harder, rather than trying to stay so “neutral”, and start talking about some solutions to these problems.
Now I see why they canceled your show on BET!
J. I listened to Warren Ballentine on the radio station yesterday and I heard that Obama was not even on the ballot there. Is this true? If it is, it’s definitely not fair. What are the chances the state will have to opportunity to vote again?
I have seen some of these union’s on tv but I never see any of it put in to action.
To: Angel (the editor of CL)
I don’t know if you’ve heard of Heifer International or not, but they’re a nationally known orginization with offices all over the world who help citizens of impoverished countries overcome starvation. Perhaps you can use some of your pull and contact them regarding the ciitzens of Haiti.
J and CL fam- I just wanted to come and thank you for continually updating us on political things. these posts may not get as many comments as say…. a certain “addictive” video
, but know they are much appreciated!
Thank you for showing that the intelligence of black people can expand to political issues as well ! I totally agree with #10 Jones about the comment saying that Arabs and Asians dont care b/c they wiLL continue to rack in the cash, whiLe we . . . well IdK actually! I think I saw the same woman speaking about the black community and she said a number of remarkable lessons during her speech! I wish the news about Hati would recive more attention, but that would be too much like right.
#24, you have never, ever heard tavis Smely say that he was anti Obama or pro Hillary. All that he has said is that whoever the person is, they must be held accountable. The next time that you listen to Tavis’ commentaries on Tom Joyner’s show, please listen to what he actually says!!! Peace, everybody!!!
@32 How can any of them be held accountable when they not even doing the job yet?That’s one that I can not stand Tavis for.He act like they in the WH.He just want one of them to kiss his ass, both Hilary and Obama.He’s a confused nut.I listen to him every morning on TJ and take notes of what he is saying.He doing all this “talk” because he trying get Hilary or Obama to get to his conference and he feeling saucy because one of them didn’t respond to it on his time.I’m not hating on Tavis, but he’s not that intelligent; acting like he is.I know he just there to provoke thought, but his thought make me think he is a fool, sounds like a republican (not that I have anything against them).What’s happening is that the republicans (the media) are splitting the democrats up (by race and gender) and before you know it whoever side don’t win is going to go to republican.It’s all too easy.
Yo, Tavis!! Now that’s what I’m talking about.
To Mr. Dakar:
Thank you much for nourishing the minds of our hungry ass peoples!!!
I appreciate informing us about all the political information I know I may miss sometimes. I love this post…I really think ya’ll should keep this going.
Good job CL and J. Dakar!!
Tavis not only provokes deep conversation and action, he actually helps our community. Have you detractors forgotten about the millions of $’s he has given to our schools, our people, our communities? For all of you who speak so lowly of Tavis, what are you doing for us, for our communities?
Why is it that everytime the issues in the black community are addressed, someone feels the need to bring up how much a person is giving? The scriptures say to give as one is able (Deut 16:17). If Tavis Smiley gives “millions of dollars” to schools, then that’s beautiful, more power to him. I think the issue that some of our people have with Tavis Smiley and black people of his ilk is that our people can sense that the problems that we have are not going to be solved with money (Isaiah 52:3). Our issues are directly linked to the infrastructure and fabric of America. America literally will fall apart when our people finally wake up because it rose to prominence when we fell. You can give millions of dollars to schools if you want, but what effect will it have if these schools are teaching lies? It’s phony black nationalism. The other races can establish businesses because they have unity. You cannot have an economic revolution (whatever that is) without our people being unified, so all those lofty speeches are for nought. We cannot unify if we’re overly concerned with unifying with all the races that stand to make more off of our people by remaining separate from us.
the state of black america is in peril just look at your cities not one of them is safe and to go to any city to go is to risk your life period. also the mexicans are the choice of the establishment its a myth that they are hard workers shit they don’t work no harder than anybody else. but the lateeno’s are the white mans choice of people and don’t think for one min there working cheap. bullpudd’n them black-hatin lateen’os are getting paided while we blacks are eliminating each other at the glee of the establishment, its called black on black hate there is no UNITY amongst my people period. i don’t ever see it either. have you been south it is pathetic down here like one big plantation SHIT THE “US” IS NOTHING BUT A GREAT BIG [UNITED STATES OF PLANTATIONS] I SEE NOTHING GOOD for the state of black america just look how were treated look around the globe . cubians hispanics -welcome- anyone of african desent NOT WELCOME AND ARE RETURNED to the country they tried to flee. now you blacks who have slipped through the crack of oppurtunity my hats off to you . cept you house niigs and uncle toms and sell-outs satan awaits you cause you sold your soul and for what. are you happy ? the shit is like this, [ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVES] EITHER YOU HAVE OR HAVE NOT. you have intelligence,education and you’re well versed in language and in learned skills or you are not . common-sense just ain’t cuttin it in this day and age. you must have “I-N-T-E-L-L-E-C-T” TO GET BY . [ CODE THAT THE WHITE MAN USES ] you must be able to ARTICULATE, YES YOU HAVE BLACK millionaires that can spell cat. that don’t know what to do but get in trouble you see why tiger woods distances his self from blacks. ya blacks ain’t crazy, ya REAL CRAZY. GOOD LUCK YOU COLOREDS CAUSE YOUR OWN YOUR OWN. TAVIS and all the other people who think they know it all chew on this. “IF THERE’S A HELL BELOW YA ALL GONNA GO”
@ 36
Check your facts. Tavis gave 1 million to a school in Texas BECAUSE THEY NAMED A BUILDING AFTER HIM. He also takes donations for his foundation. Did you know that he charges folks to sit in on conversations between him and Cornel West? Yes, that’s right he charges like $20 per person.
@ 37
Thank you, I’m so sick of people bringing up money. You can give anybody or any good cause millions, but if the person or people in charge don’t have the KNOWLEDGE to know what to do with it, it’s useless. Look at all these stars that make millions and go broke a few years later.
Again, what are you doing for our community, besides tearing down another black person? It’s fine to question these “leaders”, but why must we spear their names?
1. thank you so much for bringing awareness with this blog
2. i love tavis smiley and what he does for our people
3. i am confused by romney’s actions? what’s his real game plan? I don’t get it.. please explain someone. thanks. anywho… GO OBAMA!
I think that we all agree that the time of talking and marching has come to an end.It’s time to start doing something meaningful with our money.The Japanese got two atomic bombs dropped on them,on top of the U.S. occupation.How are they able to have the world’s second largest economy today?They have economic unity,they may hate each other but they can see the greater good of putting their personal beefs aside long enough to make that paper,and we have to do the same.
@39
Thank you. These black people do the same thing in regards to money worship if you say anything about their goddess Oprah. They throw some number out there of some amount of dollars that she allegedly spent or invested somewhere as if that is supposed to satisfy or appease a thinking man or woman.
@40
Spear who’s name? Is Tavis Smiley above reproach? No disrespect to you sis, but what I find from many of our people is this strange post civil rights mentality where they want to rally behind “black leaders” that they think will bring them closer to the white man or some type of affluence in America. Alot of black people are coons and house negroes and don’t even understand that they are. This is why when someone comes against their vain doctrine, they can’t defend it, they just call you “ignorant”, lol. Everything is predicated off of splitting the black woman from the black man and the few black males that attempt to take any authoritative position over our people must be watered down. In my opinion our people don’t know real leaders when they see one and they don’t know the truth when they hear it. Notice that our people love negroes in suits that talk fast and say nothing, i.e. Tavis Smiley, Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson (Isaiah 30:9,10). It’s a comedy of errors because when you say something about these affluent black people, the drones say “don’t hate on them, it starts with you”, but when you assert that we have to start things from the community outward they say, “we have to rally behind our black leadership!”. Whatever. Like # 38 said, these famous black people have sold their souls and it’s extremely apparent because they have dual loyalties. They know where their bread is buttered and they will not speak up against this system, so what’s the point of celebrating these negroes on the “Forbes list”? As far as what I do, I teach my people.
classic!!!!!!
Big ups to CL staff and readers on helping the Haitans!
We gon holla at you Romney… Peace!
I’m lovin #44′s tag…. I SO AGREE!
I didn’t know that people in Haiti were that poor, I’m glad CL is doing something to help!!
Man we need more post like this it get people talking about ish that matters Tavis never endorsed Obama or Hillary he had both of them on his show though. I agree with judah, those brothers have to wear the white mask so long that it becomes a part of them. They speak on black issues but its limited and censored just enough so that it doesn’t ruffle the wrong white feathers. I watch tavis show all the time though.
Tavis Smiley believes in making Black America better. Take a look at his work http://www.youthtoleaders.org/home.asp. After you take a look, post your comment.
The State of the Black Union…it’s that time of year (again)? *Yawn* The only excitement will be seeing all these talking heads pontificating about this brother (Obama) who came out of nowhere to make a very successful run at the presidency. So glad Barack skipped past all the race-baiting and empty sermons these folks preach to each other year after year.
As for as the State of the Black Union……..less talk more action.
Concreteloop is getting better and better…thank for posting the info about the State of the black union…I will be definitely checking this out!
I attended the State of The Black Union last year….because it was on my campus, Hampton University.
I thought it was pretty good until CSPAN had to break away from the coverage of the event to cover Barack Obama’s candidacy announcement. As soon as the coverage switched, Tavis Smiley and Cornell West decided to attack Barack for not making his announcement at their event. Smiley pointed out that he personally invited Sen. Obama, but the Senator chose not to attend. The only problem that I had with that was we were in a room full of impressionable black voters, most of whom at the time, new little or nothing about Sen. Obama besides the fact that he was Black. Mr. West even went as far as to ask if Sen. Obama was really black enough to be considered a “black president” if he was not at an event geared towards the black community.
Personally, I don’t think it would have helped the Senator’s campaign to announce his presidency at an event with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. That would not have set him apart from them, and more people would have compared him to them. Sen. Obama is a different type of politician than those two, so I think he made the right choice!