Everybody talkin' 'bout Tavis ...

... about how he's a punk and his loyalties lie with the wrong candidate and how he needs to grow up. OK, some of it I'll agree to, but some of it is just wrong and I'll tell you why.
For those of you who don't know, Smiley, a 12-year political commentator for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, has decided to leave the job at the end of June saying that he simply has too much on his plate. If he were anyone else, I might agree, but Smiley has been wearing an 'S' on his chest since "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley." So I don't buy the whole, "I've got too much stuff on my plate," nonsense.
While I don't agree with his political choice and I feel like his leaving the TJMS is a cop out, but that brotha has been responsible for jump starting the dialogue on a lot of issues that we need to address.
Over the years I have the good fortune of having seen Smiley speak on two or three occasions and he talks a great game. He has a way of presenting some of these issues that speaks across generational lines.
Of course there's a draw back to this. The jacked up part is in all this dialogue, the brotha offers no solution whatsoever of how to do better. Maybe it's just me but I feel like he shouldn't be talking about it unless he has a solution to do better. Hell, he can even get help.
What he needs to do is form some sort of task force in major metro areas to assess what needs to be done to better those communities and let it spread throughout the region. I'm sure there are several people in every community who are willing to put forth the work if they have someone willing to help.
Honestly, I think he's done a lot of good and he shouldn't be ridiculed the way he has been. Granted some of his past actions border on the juvenile and dare I say, petty, but you have to give credit where it is due. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
In this morning's commentary he said that he's working on three different documentaries and publishing books by several visionaries like the great Cornel West and the inspirational Iyanla Vanzant and he needs time to pursue those "passion projects."
I understand that, but what's wrong with taking a leave of absence? He could very well have taken a leave of absence from the show and they could have let Jesse Jackson Jr., or even Kevin Powell take over for a while.
The thing that surprises me is he is leaving so soon. I know the end of June is a long way off but I kind of hoped he'd stick around at least until the 2008 Election wasn't such a hot button issue.
Regardless of his reasons or excuses for leaving, I wish him the best and I hope the TJMS crew finds a replacement worthy of filling his shoes.