Tavis Smiley: Official Statement On Leaving Tom Joyner Morning Show

1. 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.

Diane E at 9:03AM on Apr 12th 2008

2. What a maroon...

derrel at 11:21AM on Apr 12th 2008

3. 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

Reggie Schell at 1:10PM on Apr 12th 2008

4. 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

BASIMAH675 at 4:58PM on Apr 12th 2008

5. Hang in there, keep making us think for ourselves and for one another. God's got your back!

Felicia S. at 12:11AM on Apr 13th 2008

6. 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!!!

kevin at 7:44AM on Apr 13th 2008

7. 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!

Prettygirl84 at 3:25PM on Apr 13th 2008

8. 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.

Pat at 6:30PM on Apr 13th 2008

9. 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.

CARRIE at 8:01PM on Apr 13th 2008

10. I find this situation to be intriguing. I have always enjoyed Tavis' commentary and admired his intellectual prowess - whether I agreed or not. However, something just doesn't pass the "smell test". On Friday, Tom came on at the top of the hour and announced Tavis' resignation. He stated that he had asked him to reconsider. I inferred from the statement, as I am sure many of you did, that Tom was hurt, he didn't see this coming and that he was hoping Tavis would change his mind. Tom also stated that he didn't think the reason given was the real reason that Tavis decided resign.

Looking back a few years ago, Tom rallied behind Tavis when he was fired from BET. Later, as Tavis was thanking everyone, he stated that Tom would be the one he would want on his side anytime he went to war, i.e. they are boys, much love, much respect, etc. Over the years, they have both engaged in many campaigns to expose injustice toward Blacks and to enlighten us all. I ask, what's 'really' going on? And, how do you pull something like this on a "Friend"?

Larry B. at 11:07PM on Apr 13th 2008

11. you tavis smiley are a bum and that quitting has never been an option. don't wait until june leave now. later

james k. phillips at 3:26AM on Apr 14th 2008

12. Mr. Smiley I pray that you prayed over your decision and listened to GOD's answer. I know it is your life but you have been such a positive part of so many black people lives through the TJMS I hate to see you leave, can't you take a 3-6 month leave, how can you just leave the TJMS & viewers after 12 years? I don't want to miss you I want to listen to you and I pray that you are following GOD's voice.

Mrs. Anderson at 9:35AM on Apr 14th 2008

13. WHEN I HEARD THAT TAVIS WAS LEAVING I SHOUTED THANK GOD!!! I WAS ABOUT TO STOP LISTENING TO THE TOM JOYNER MORNING SHOW BECAUSE I WAS SICK OF THIS SO CALLED "BROTHER'S" ATTITUDE AND HATE THAT HE HAS BEEN DISPLAYING TO MR. OBAMA. IT'S SAD THAT WHEN IT COMES TO WHITES AND HISPANICS THEY STICK TOGETHER NO MATTER WHAT!! BUT NOT SO WHEN IT COMES TO BLACKS. TAVIS NEVER HAD ANYTHING TO SAY NEGATIVE REGARDING HILLARY CLINTON BUT THE HOUSE BOY ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY ABOUT THE BLACK MAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. PEOPLE LIKE HIM SHOULD WORRY LESS ABOUT "LOOKING RIGHT TO THE MASTA AND BEING RIGHT".
I'M GLAD HE'S GONE, HOPE HE LEAVES SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!!

denise at 10:25AM on Apr 14th 2008

14. I REALLY HOPE TAVIS LISTENED TO GOD IN THIS MOVE I WAS HURT HOW BET LET HIM GO, AND NOW HE IS DOING THE SAME THING TO TOM, OBAMA CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONE TIME AND HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, NOT OF THE BLACK PEOPLE,OF WHITE,OR HISPANIC OR WHATEVER NATIONALITY BUT OF THE UNITED STATES WHICH INCLUDE ALL PEOPLE. JUST BECAUSE HE DID NOT ATTEND HIS FORUM THAT IS NOT REASON TO BASH HIM AND ALSO KEEP YOUR COMMENT TO YOURSELF I LOVE TAVIS I ALWAYS HAVE BUT TO ME I THINK HIS EGO GOT HURT BUT WE AS AMERICAN SHOULD VOTE FOR THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB NOT BECAUSE WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. GOD BLESS U TAVIS IN ALL YOUR ENDEAVORS AND WE ARE ALL STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER.

DEMETRIS at 12:35PM on Apr 14th 2008

15. I'm glad his "pro black" self left the show. I am an advid listener of TJMS, however, I will be honest and say the on Tuesday's and Thursday's I listened to another radio station, solely because of Mr. Smiley's commentaries. He, unfortunately, still blames the "white" man for the black man's ignorance. Yes, our people suffered at the hands of the white race, and racism does still exist, but, dang...give it a break. God loves all of us, despite our creed or color.

truthfulheart at 5:01PM on Apr 14th 2008