Shortly after syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner announced that commentator Tavis Smiley left his longtime post as contributor to the nationally-heard morning show on April 11, Smiley fired back with an official statement of his own.Quotes are below:
"There is no way to put into words the love and respect that Tom Joyner and I have for each other, or the love affair that I've had with TJMS listeners for almost 12 years now.
"Due to the overwhelming amount of phone calls and emails I have received from listeners and other media, I wanted to briefly clarify a few issues that I will address more fully in my regular TJMS commentary on Tuesday morning, April 15, at 8:20 a.m. ET.
"I did not "quit" the Tom Joyner Morning Show effective immediately. In July I will celebrate my 12th anniversary with the show, and as I discussed with Tom, it is my intention to take on the issues of the day in my commentary twice every week with the same energy, passion and commitment until the end of June.
"Contrary to what has been suggested, I have decided to clear some things off my plate so that I can devote my time and attention to some exciting and empowering projects that The Smiley Group, Inc. and other divisions of my company have underway this summer, this fall and beyond.
"I look forward to continuing the dialogue on Tuesday and in the coming months."
Comments: (27)
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By: Felicia S. on 4/13/2008 12:11AM
Hang in there, keep making us think for ourselves and for one another. God's got your back!
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By: Diane E on 4/12/2008 9:03AM
Im sorry Tavis decided to leave the show, I really enjoyed his commentary. He is bright brother. I heard some of the calls that were received after his commentarys, many I felt were way overboard. This overwhelming love for Obama is not shared by every black person in the world, and to be deemed a hater because you dont is childish. Tavis has a right to his opinion, you dont have to like it, but being respectful and listening with an open mind goes a long way. Honestly there are times listening to TJMS when I find the show to be downright tacky and in need of some class.
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By: derrel on 4/12/2008 11:21AM
What a maroon...
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By: yocat1@aol.com on 4/16/2008 1:26PM
Please black people stick together! Please let go back to the days of not airing our lundry infront of others.
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By: Reggie Schell on 4/12/2008 1:10PM
Ust when did Tavis commit he shelf to Hillary Clinton
it seems that action took hold a good while ago,And he didn`t include his mates about it.which is his right to do so. But when you are part of something that`s designed to educate a community there is no room for secret dealings to witt; the BPP
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By: BASIMAH675 on 4/12/2008 4:58PM
tavis smiley one of the most thought provoking and well intended men of our time may god continue to bless you and your family, our "family" as a whole needs alot of prayer and deep soul searching. GOOD LUCK BROTHER
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By: kevin on 4/13/2008 7:44AM
This all come from when Obama decided that he would not attend the State Of The Black Union conference. Tavis thought of it as a smack in the face of black america. I feel this way. Obama is in a fight! Every moment he spends TRYING to make every "black organization" happy he is not securing a vote that could help him. Tavis could have simply asked his wife to come in his place. She is a very smart woman and everyone knows she and her husband talk straigh about the issuse amd what was discussed at the conference would have made it back to Obama word for word. Tavis, brotha, I am sad you are leaving the TJMS. I am sad for the way things happened. I am not sad that Black America did not agree with you on this issuse. You talk being united but you are tearing us apart. Let's get it together people!!!
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By: Prettygirl84 on 4/13/2008 3:25PM
A shame as I agree with Tavis. He is one of the most articulate person I've ever met. I don't know what's wrong with us people of color. I understand that everyone is not for Obama and that's fine. I can remember when Jesse Jackson was running and most blacks hoped he would win but, he didn't and we all know why it sure as hell wasn't because blacks were not voting. Many of us are still hoping that some white president will help us. I hate to disappoing you all but, we have to help ourself. It can't get worse if Obama is elected that's for sure. I think it's bad that there has never been a black president and here we are still voting white. Just how ignorant can we be? Since the Obama campaigne has started the more I see how the whites see us as we give ourself this image. Really sad!
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By: Pat on 4/13/2008 6:30PM
We, as Black Americans, are at a place where we can finally get something out of the America that we built with our love, sweat and tears. Tavis forgot where he came from. He forgot who had lifted him up for years. He forgot to encourage and uplift his fellow man. I believe that the overriding issue for Tavis is that he was simply jealous of Obama. Obama came from nowhere to national prominence. He worked hard and he may be president. Isn't that what we teach our kids? He is one of us, a Black man! And he did it without the "Black Think Tank" (Tavis, Dyson, and West and the crew). Obama chose not to seek validation from the Black "windbags" (aka Black Think Tank) and chose to embrace all Americans, inclusive of Black people. Obama has included us every step of the way. Obama knows and respects the fact that he needs us to win. But I respect him for talking to me, the ordinary Black person, and asking me, without the permission of Smiley or West, to believe in him. And I do. I believe in him without the validation of anyone, especially not you Tavis. I chose Obama because he is the type of person who should lead America. So Tavis, if you leave Tom Joyner, so be it. You taught us Black hate by the way you dissed Obama. We are simply modeling your behavior by rejecting you. What ever happened to supporting our people. Look at whites, half of them hate McCain, but they will support him so he gets in the white house. Too bad we cannot do the same. If a former alcoholic, military dodging, C- student, who has no command of proper english, but lied well enough to send our kids to slaughter can be president, why can't we embrace an intelligent unifier who wants to stop the sensless war, bring down gas prices and make America life good again. Tavis forgot where he came from, and we reminded him.
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By: CARRIE on 4/13/2008 8:01PM
TO THE PERSON ABOVE #9 WE MUST SUPPORT OUR COLOR SHOW ME AY WHERE IT SAYS WE SHOULD SUPPORT A PERSON BECAUSE OF RACE,COLOR.YOU GO TAVIS I AM 100% IN YOUR CORNER I WILL NOT A HAS NOT VOTED FOR OBAMA. TELL ME WHAT HE IS SAYING OH!I KNOW HE IS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS. WHAT CAN HE CHANGE? NOTHING. KEEP BELEIVING THE HYPE, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. TAVIS IS A REALIST, HE IS NO PUMPED UP PHONY WHO HAS TO DO WHAT EVERY ONE ELSE DOES.STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF TAVIS AND KNOW THAT GOD HAS YOUR BACK.
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