Dr. Boyce Video: What Do Tavis Smiley and Pat Buchanan Have in Common?

January 9, 2012 By Staff 40 Comments

In this video, Dr. Boyce Watkins and Yvette Carnell discuss the recent decision by a group in Peoria to boycott a Tavis Smiley speech, and MSNBC’s decision to suspend Pat Buchanan.

The video is below.

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Filed Under: black men, Dr. Boyce, Featured, Politics, Your Black World, Your Black World Video, yvette carnell Tagged With: black politics, black scholars, dr boyce watkins, pat buchanan, tavis smiley, yvette carnell

Learntoinvestnow

The issue- Tavis Smiley and Cornell should have been YELLING ALL ALONG! Why now? There is something very SHALLOW about their process.

Learntoinvestnow

cont…Why Now? Why Obama? There has been no President that Black Folks have truly benefited by. Why Obama,Tavis and Cornell?

DG

That’s easy. We are in the midst of the greatest recession since the depression. The President which we voted for in record numbers, under the premise of hope has offered us none, but instead has become “just another politician”.

I ask you when has there been a better time? If Obama wasn’t a brother would you be criticizing it? Does Obama’s being Black give him a pass on issues such as the prison industrial complex, the close to triple the national average of Black unemployment, the continue White House and politician corporatism, the ever increasing wealth gap.

Now is the perfect time. We should hold our own MORE accountable to our needs and not less.

Learntoinvestnow

The issue- We’ve never heard Tavis or Cornell talk about ACCOUNTABILITY during all of the Bush/Clinton years. I really don’t recall Tavis or Cornell making huge stances against Bush/Clinton’s lack of Black folks interest. I respect them both, however, I can’t help but wonder about their methods of public disagreement with President Obama, especially because, he did not start any of this. Tavis’s PBS show is not pertained to our Black issue. Shouldn’t he be criticized for this? Our Black children overall has not benefited by Dr. Cornell West’s academic rhetoric and professorship, for he does not teach at our Black Colleges. Shouldn’t he be criticized?

I believe we all are doing what we can to work toward a better ‘quality of life’ here in America.

Wait, here’s a thought- Maybe we need to look for additional avenues to represent equality other than this ‘political system’.
In the name of Tavis Smiley’s first book- JUST A THOUGHT, I am an Investment Educator!

guest

Cornel West has been writing and speaking about these things for years, Tavis came out with a book in the last decade as well.

Vern

It is not that simple as you put it. Obama by himself cannot make AA lifes better. As Obama stated over and over agin in his campaign..things will not get fixed in a year or in 4 years and it takes everyones cooperation…the last time I checked I didn’t see any cooperation form the GOP and AA’s haven’t done anything to call out these GOP.

Joia777

Yvette,

How many hundred years do you have to hear arrogant and privileged beneficiaries of chattel slavery spew hatred towards you to know what they think? The real power of psychological slavery is lost on us. The problem isn’t just that we don’t own media outlets either, as we do. And even when we do, we perpetuate white supremacy and the preference of featuring fair skinned blacks as well as mullatto types are preferred moreso by blacks as the standard of excellence within the race, as much as whites prefer extolling the preferred features and values of whites versus blacks of any hue.

Psychological slavery is much more potent than the enslavement of the body; and sadly one of the most potent adverse effects of slavery has been to instill a masochistic sense of being a glutton for punishment among African-Americans that runs deep. Especially, our instilled hatred of our hair. That’s why we squander billions of dollars a year on super profit margined stupid hair weaves and wigs and acryllic nails, skin lighteners, and other pseudo-transformational “beauty” products.

Black people need to get a handle on the psychological scars and damage, aka known as “post traumatic stress syndrome” we’re walking around with, as well as the present traumatic stress syndrome we deeply suffer from as well — even when we think we’re “enlightened.” Liking to hear someone like Pat Buchannan demean, belittle and degrade you. while getting paid millions a year, is not healthy by virtue of any attempts to rationalize it. Its called masochism.

DG

“How many hundred years do you have to hear arrogant and privileged
beneficiaries of chattel slavery spew hatred towards you to know what
they think?” – Love it Joia777
Taseti1942

Beautiful Joia777!!
EvitaG

Joia777 sounds like I need to have you come on my R2EALTalk Empowerment Radio program… well said.
Anonymous

Joia:

You are a great writer and it’s self-evident that you have mastered the subject matter in your beautiful prose. I complained to several female family members about the substance in your second paragraph; and for reasons that escape me they fail to understand the economic and psychological harm that is manifest to the users.

Your second paragraph is so good it deserves a replay: “ Psychological slavery is much more potent than the enslavement of the body; and sadly one of the most potent adverse effects of slavery has been to instill a masochistic sense of being a glutton for punishment among African-Americans that runs deep. Especially, our instilled hatred of our hair. That’s why we squander billions of dollars a year on super profit margined stupid hair weaves and wigs and acryllic nails, skin lighteners, and other pseudo-transformational “beauty” products.”

The “pseudo-transformational [beauty] products” line is deep. lol!

Anonymous

There is no such thing as Freedom of Speech where Black Americans are concerned. We must toe the line and be a monolith and to say anything contrary is heresy. Controversy is good for Black America — as we define our individual values. Instead, we sit in the kitchen, tsking and tsking. Lesson: Black People– keep your opinions to yourself. Tavis Smiley is entitled to his beliefs and he has a pulpit–and he angered some people who don’t approve of Free Speech. I’m not sure this online discussion solves anything, but there we are….
Anonymous

So Tavis can disagree with the president but we cannot disagree with Tavis. We can spend our money any way we want.
dee

I really appreciate so many of you black intellectuals educating me, but Boyce I have to tell you I feel some resentment and jealousy towards Tavis speaking fee and Melissa new job on MSNBC. I feel you are very talented and your time will come. I was blown away by some of the caucasian counterparts speaking fees and I am so proud to have a black women represent on TV.

Boyce Like Tacos

you see it…boyce is jealous and his head gets physically bigger everytime a black obama supporter is hired on tv or invited to a white house event.

i guess no one ever told boyce you can win more flies with honey than you can with vinegar!

will someone with some connections to obama please invite boyce to the party…he like tacos!

Makar72

We want to appear fair and balanced in a society that sees us in the most unbalanced an biased way. We want to appear fair and balanced in a society that values the life of every white child over that of any black child (i.e. follow the media concern of the last missing black child)!

So we intellectualize and wax eloquently about our need to hold this president to a very high standard… using the most articulate and impressive language available to us.

Here is the “forest” folks… This president was only going to make very incremental change! That is a fact!! Are we really expecting him to turn our world around… even patch up all of the wholes in this economic sinking ship? Did we not expect for it to get worse before it got better? I have a friend who from his own mouth was kept off the streets by the extension of the unemployment benefits. He is now back to work with an apartment and a decent mode of transportation. Who gets any credit for it…the republican congress?? Pulleeeaasse!!

I have no problem with voicing disapproval with choices and decisions made on a case by case basis. The problem I have is that there are people (like Smiley) who are already looking for the next white alternative..! Be careful what you wish for!!

Taseti1942

Beautifully said, Makar72!
Nice

well said..
EvitaG

Makar72 sound critical thinking…

Anonymous

Dr. Boyce and Yvette Carnell are just as bad as Newt Gingrich, they too use generalizations. Yet Carnell in this exchange refused to use generalization of white people and Dr. Boyce can feel sorry and find excuses for Pat Buchannan viewpoints while putting down African Americans who support President Obama. No one speaks for me and if African Americans do not want to listen to Smiley, West, or anyone else then that is their choice.

Boyce Sweet On Yvette!

amen…no one should have to pay $36,000 to a man that they don’t agree with! is it just me..but i think boyce is sweet on yvette…lol

Mai

Thank You, Yvette and Boyce, Finally “tell the truth and shame the damn devil” Some really get this black (yes I said “Black”) females, Some of them want to cut your throats if you speak against the POTUS. Trust and believe if Obama start treating Michelle wrong he will not, let me say it again he will not be checking for any of them, especially that chick(s) on MSNBC, Karen Hunter, (does she even like men? Hmm!, just a thought). Dr. Watkins I think it’s that Black males missing in their lives. i wonder if they lose their jobs do think the POTUS is going to pay their bills?!
Countess Faye

Dr Boyce……Obama skin color in itself has not helped anybody……..i think he could have done more to benefit the black community……..but how many white presidents have really pushed to benefit blacks……..Johnson signed the civil rights bill but how much blood was shed before white america had to do something to take the heat off of this country……so hold him to the same standard you held the 43 other guys to……this man has been disrespected more than any other president……so yes i am protective and he only has to sit in the oval office ….now black children since 2008 know that it is possible
Moplus

How unfortunate that we as a people cannot see that we are in bad shape economically do to a lack of an aggressive job program by this Chicago politics president, sic,. The opportunity to make a dent in the unemployment situation doing his first two years with the majority in both houses he fail to mention jobs. Now, one year from and election one hear the word jobs flowing from his mouth. Had there been and aggressive jobs effort doing those first two years we would have some confident in his politics.
Maxinejunesnow

I agree with Yvette’s comments and also yours, and we must remember that the way white folks think is, they dont care what good work Pres. Obama does for this country, as far as they are concerned, he is still a black man that is President and that is supposed to be a white man’s position. How dare he think he can be reelected! BAM!
Dan6816

To Yvette and Dr. Watikns,

I think the term “psychological lavery” beause it seems to apply to you and Boyce as well as Tavis Smiley, Maxine Waters,Shelia Jackson-Lee, Herman Cain, Clarence Thomas and other African-Americans who have let their “jealously” of Barack Obama guide their thinking!! Tavis has gone after Obama with a vengence ever since he beat Hillary Clinton. We all know that Tavis had his head stuck up Hillary’s behind because he thought she was a shoo-in to win the presidency. Whether he and the others were promised something, I don’t know. But is it necessary to villify Barack Obame BECAUSE he won and didn’t suck up to Tavis? Remember, he is the President of ALL Americans, whether you and others want to recognize that or not!!

SHAME ON THE TWO OF YOU!! TAVIS GOT WHAT HE DESERVED IN PEORIA!!

DLL

Hathor38

JAN 9

I recieved a phone call from “someone” asking me to nominate Hillary Clinton for president! I said “No”. It’s their right to ask. They’re coming out of the walls to get Pres. Obama out of office. We must remember that he sworn to be President to All America! Of course when it comes to Blacks like all who call themselves Black Americans you have to back down some and go easy to get some things we are entitled to! If Obama is re-elected I’m waiting for him to speak on and ask Americans to discuss this race problem concerning Blacks.

Mz

This is really getting old. “…all who call themselves Black Americans…” We all are individuals and are not narrowed to one faith, opinion or vote. Who do you people think you are? We don’t all think alike no more than we all look alike! I am black whether I support The President or not support him. The biggest problem with our race is that we can’t agree to disagree! There is no national spokesperson for black people. On the one hand you say he is the President of all people but on the other hand you want all black people to agree with everything he says. Which one is it??? What Tavis says is Tavis’ opinion-he’s entitled to express it and we’re entitled to hear it. It doesn’t make us less black only black people with a difference of opinion. Give it a rest.

RUSerious

You say….What Tavis says is Tavis’ opinion-he’s entitled to express it and we’re entitled to hear it.

entitled to hear it? what the hell are you talking about…no one is entitled to hear anything…especially when there is a fee associated with it.

Gdsnse

Boyce, I think you and your partenr are short-sighted on the topic. Disagreeing with the president is not the main issue, I believe. I think he (Tavis) promoted Hillary during the primary election, using his high profile radio show, speaking to millions of blacks weekly to promote a white woman over a black man. People felt betrayed by that and the way he treated Mr. and Mrs. Obama over his yearly event. You can’t claim to be an enemy and then ask to be paid for that. I can’t bash Republicans and then go speak for them and recieve thirty seven thousand dollars.
Kamauyakini

You speak true Mr.Watkins. There is a difference between what is factual and true and what is a matter of opinion. Saying that whites only built this country is false. It is not just a matter opinion.
Iwitnessmcj

I love the different opinions of Black People. And truly believe that each of us have a right to our opinions and the right to support whoever we choose. I did take issue with Smiley, doing the 2008 election, when the President couldn’t appear on his show. Anybody that knows anything about campaigning know that a candidates schedule may have to change on a dime. I thought the President did well when he canceled with Smiley. Telling him, I can’t be there but I’m sending u the best I have, my wife, Michelle. And Smiley had a problem with that and started whinning like a little B-I. That’s when I got through with Smiley. Someone sends u the best they have and then u try to destroy them. Had it been one of the white boys or girls, I truly don’t believe he would have said a word or attacked them like he did the President. So I agree why give ur money to someone who will try to destroy u when they can’t have their way.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Olin-Ross/546574576 Olin Ross

What piss me off about Tavis is why didn’t he didn’t go after the people who have brought more harm to black folks…..We have been getting the short end of the stick ever since we were freed from slavery….Obama didn’t create this dilemma …….Why didn’t he go after Boehner, Cantor, McDonnel and those tea baggers and all the robber baron companies who have discriminated against Blacks which have cause the huge disparity in salary between Black men and White men……..Obama is not Jesus Christ but if we all got behind him he could do something good for all Americans…..
JanetL

Buchannan has been spewing his hatred yet MSNBC kept him on. He had on-going Web Site Blogs and wrote many editorials about his Racist views the entire time he was on MSNBC many were printed in local papers or you could just GOOGLE his editorials to get a full dose of RACISM from Pat

Tavis, Tavis, Tavis, many of us thought he really did a good job on the State of Black America for many years, but that’s because we had no idea of who this man was underneath that persona he presented.

It became very obvious that the State Of Black America was just a annual love fest for folk to get together, but no follow up and no follow through.

Until those following the conference for years were asked via the State of the Black America website to contribute ideas and feedback in an effort to craft and sell a book that by our understanding the proceeds would be put back into the Black community.

Never Happened. Two books were published and no accounting was given relative to the proceeds being given to the Black Community. To Date still no response

Both books, especially the first was a big seller, we all rushed out to buy the books thinking we were helping the community

Then came treatement of President Obama’s wife. Tavis waited too late to ask then Sen. Obama to attend the State Of the Black Union as he had already book prior commitments but asked if Michelle could take his place.

Tavis refused to accept her. Totall Baffling

Followed by the continued bashing of the community and saying they didn’t know their own minds and should not be supporting the Senator.

Just my take

Then came The Wells Fargo Bank fiasco…………………………..just google it. Tavis was hired by them to conduct seminars in many black venues and my understanding Black Churches advertising Sub-Prime Mortgage Loans

Anyone with a brain knows that anything but a 30Year Mortgage is just to risky

However, that’s what was pushed on the community

There are many articles on the issue, just google it and it was just wrong. When Tavis heard the word Sub-Prime or Adjustble Mortgage Loans he should have said simply NO

next the Fiasco with Texas Souther University and promising to give them $1 Million Dollars. I remember reading it in Jet or Ebony and he was praised for doing so. As a result the School Named a Building in his name.

The Money never came, so the University took his name off the building

Tavis blamed the University and said they did not want his money, the University even told him per an article they would accept payments, Tavis never paid.

Talking about the community is one thing actions are another. Unfortunately Tavis actions have not been honorable, and unless and until the community begins researching these so called leaders we will continue to experience this type of heartache.
Rjames9

The 2 Black Americans speaking in the videos above should be in direct communications with President Obama. Mr West and Mr Smiley should be in direct communication with President Obama. Same level of intelligence and education. What they would have discovered is what they want for Black Americans is the same as the Presidents. But Black Americans choose to use a lessor means of communications. This is more harmful than they really know. Stevie Wondor can see the difficulty that our President has experienced for the past 3 years and they have never witnessed this in there life time yey they make statements about his performance as though they did not see it happening,. No human being could have done any better under these same circumstances. I understand why whites speak ill of him,but no way can I understand why any Black interlectual would. Please explain this to me,anybody.
Albertak

I just got through listening to the conversation between Yvette and Dr. Boyce – all this conversation has done for me to solidify or substantiate what I was already feeing about this sister. I can assure you this will be some of our last visual encounter. Don’t quite understand this woman’s rhetoric. Some of us are just too dangerous for primetime. Is this sister suppose to be intelligent? Some of her views are way out there and this sister really has some real deep seeded issues about the Obamas. Dr. Boyce you could do better than this and this comment has nothing to do with our President who I will be the first to tell you – he is not perfect, but the brother has done some things that will go down in history as being bold and forward thinking and eventually good for the country. Some of the work the President is doing warrants our support… at some point you’d find something positive to say about him, she is no different than Tavis or West.
JEWELLINGS

I as well as many others are in total agreement with the comments of albectak, rjames9, and gynn688. This is nothing but true hostility. Envious is quite evident.

Travis Smiley is only getting what he sowed. REMEMBER, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. Why is it that some of these people cannot see that the President is trying to clean up the devasting mess that those incompetent immature moron Republicans did to this country. Those idiotic jerks have knocked everything that he has put forth to move this country in the right direction. Given with all the ignorant racial remarks, hate and jealousy constantly thrown at the President by white and people of color, he is still standing tall. People should praise success of a person who is worthy of something, not critisize it. It shows nothing but jealously. That is just what is wrong with people of color today, and namely educators. Some of them act like cut throats. I did not see Smiley going against Cain the Pain, who is a total disgrace to his family as well as people of color. YES, the president has done more than any other president in such a short period of time. It is quite obvious that you do not want to admit this. It is not about about anything else, this president have done a good job with the help of people who trust him and not those who are interested in themselves and have a need to be in the lime light. So, the two-faces of those bias individuals need to stop manifesting deep destructive thinking of hate like those whites, and pitch in to bring this country back. We do not want any of those no-nothing immature moron Republicans or Tea Pig Swines to win. We would be driven back into those same Cheyney/Bush years of devastation.

Also Smiley and Buchanan, What do they have in common? NOTHING BUT ENVY AND HATE. I agree with you, I also do not like Buchanan. He is just like that old demented goat from the horror movie, Ron Paul. Buchanan is just an angry old fart that could not even win at nothing. GOOD is was fired. Perhaps those goons at FOX may call for him to work there..
Rickygirl

Tavis’s stance against President Obama has never appeared to be about anything real. It started when Obama didn’t come to an event Tavis put on — and, initially, probably was fueled by some back room deal with the Hilary campaign. A great many so called Black leaders did the same — they went with Hilary. Tavis’ extreme views then smacked of the personal and often still do.

The same appears true of Cornell West — he was insulted by Pres. Obama too — when he didn’t get a personal invitation to the inauguration. Both these men have made really personal statements — not political ones. The president can take care of himself with these two men. However, when it comes to paying to see them, I wouldn’t either — because I don’t spend money on people seem petty to me.

That doesn’t mean I think the president walks on water — I think the president has made some serious mistakes. I just know the nonsense Tavis and Cornell are saying is way out of context with the mess the president inherited, the hostility of the republican congress, the reticience of the democratic congress to let Obama lead, and the fact that he has accomplished quite a bit of what he wanted to do — in spite of all these obstacles! I don’t respect what Tavis and Cornell are saying and I don’t see them nor their actions as evidence of men who care about Black folks in the first place!

Considering all this, I don’t see Tavis nor Cornell West as men of integrity; I don’t pay to see such people. And I reserve the right to spend my money where I want .

As to Yvette’s remarks about those who chose to boycott Tavis, nonsense! It’s totally inappropriate to characterize people as zealots or as offending democracy because they chose to boycott Tavis — they had as much right to do so as Tavis had to say what he has been saying — that’s democracy!

If enough people liked Tavis, those who chose not to attend wouldn’t have been able to cause his removal. Did it ever occur to you that we all see Tavis as he really is — a man without moral compass — who goes wherever the wind blows or wherever his ego blows? Unfortunately now he’s not on the side the wind is blowing.
Willie C.

I think that a lot of people, myself included, resent the fact that Tavis and Dr. West did no nationwide tour when Bush was running this country into the ground and putting us into the dire straights that Obama inherited, and has been trying to address with no help from the GOP obstructionists. While I’m disappointed with some things Obama hasn’t fought harder for, especially when he had a Dem majority in both houses of Congress, a part of me does understand his reticence knowing a second term would be even more difficult than it already will be. If he gets the second term and becomes a lame duck president with no need to be concerned about getting re-election, I to will demand, and expect that he demonstrate more backbone than he has. If not, I might join the Obama bashers. Of course the difference being that I was as vocal when Reagan was in office, and through both of the Bush presidencies, father & son. I did not wait, as a Black man, for a Black president to bash. Even Malcolm warned against airing dirty laundry in public.
Maxwell123

I don’t care that Tavis Smiley criticizes the President, the problem is the way he did it.
Also, Yvette you and Dr. Boyce need to wake-up, did you really think the President was going to be able to do all he wanted without any fight from the right and some democratics. Blacks in this country need to wake-up. the President needed to have the Congress behind him to do all the thinks he promised and that did not happen. Wake-up folks. Former President Bush’s policies brought the country to the brink of failure and as a result President Obama had to rethink his plans as a result of what he was faced with when he took office.I also think you need to take a closer look at what the President has been able to accomplish without any support from Congress.