Tavis Smiley's NPR show is gone

From what I've heard, this is not out of character for Mr. Smiley, who when hired for a speaking engagement in Chicago made all sorts of unreasonable demands of the public radio affiliate here, including a limo at the airport, luxury hotel suite, etc.

first one to go through that list and calculate the number and percentage of npr personalities who are minorities is, uh, a douchebag.

"I do not do my best work in chains and shackles."

HAHAHAHA

no, "distinctive" as in "didn't speak in the NPR announce voice, as most of the other hosts do"

xpost i do my best work in a jumpsuit with a fur hat.

Tavis is for the children.

I don't think the "black" thing is the issue. There are plenty of radio voices that sound "classically black" and still come through clearly.

I also thought the show was sort of out of place on NPR with so much focus on things like personal finance (but maybe that was the point).

that was/is certainly one of his objectives, though I think it would be more accurately described in terms of an attempt to better serve a perceived audience than give voice to issues

http://washingtonindependent.com/59633/suit-alleges-trusted-black-figures-drew-minorities-to-high-rate-loans

“According to a former Wells Fargo Home Mortgage employee, one of these ‘Wealth Building’ seminars held in Maryland was planned for an audience that would be virtually all African American,” the suit said. “The plan for the seminar was for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage employees to talk about subprime mortgages, although they were directed by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to use the term ‘alternative lending’ when marketing these products.”

The former employee, who is white, was scheduled to speak at the seminar, but was told by a manager that she was “too white,” and that only black employees could make presentations, the suit said.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss51/tr_fudge/13_52_106.jpg

People who follow Tavis will follow him off a cliff

people who...follow...tavis. hm. i expect this much from him and i hope it becomes a shitstorm tbh

Yeah, I was kind of surprised to see Magic schilling for Rent-a-Center. Guess he needs to pay the bills.

that's the thing, i don't know how he's doing after the economy shitbinning but he's a businessman with pretty vast holdings so he should/does know better and has more marketability than to have to go groveling for any old endorsement. btw add jackson hewitt to his list of business relationships. next stop nix check cashing! The only thing i could think of is some sort of warped loyalty that tavis alluded to with regard to wells fargo, "well, they're the only ones engaging our community, etc." but there's waay less gray area with these endorsements than even tavis' shit, although tavis should have also known better if he calls himself versed in financial issues and 'empowerment'.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss51/tr_fudge/west-smiley_medium_image.jpg

smiley and west! tavis sets em up cornel knocks em down pretty much, at least for the first show. and it works!