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| Black journalists must lead on presidential issues |
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| by Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent | |
| Tuesday, 03 July 2007 | |
 Tavis Smiley “That’s the story of our contribution to America. … Our role has always been – as Black people and as Black journalists – to attempt to create an America that’s as good as its promise,” says Smiley. “And our job has been throughout history to force the conversation, to press certain issues, and here we are again trying to insist that the issues that matter to us get raised.” Following two presidential debates, which focused largely on issues surrounding the war in Iraq and immigration, Smiley has convinced the Public Broadcasting Service to air two live, primetime, 90-minute debates, featuring Black journalists and predominately Black audiences. He is calling them the “All American Presidential Forums.” All eight Democratic candidates have confirmed to appear June 28 on PBS to be questioned by DeWayne Whitcomb of USA Today; Michele Martin, formerly of ABC, now of NPR; and nationally syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. The Democratic forum will be at Howard. A Republican form will be on Sept. 27 at Morgan State. Both are set for 9-10:30 p.m. EST and will be moderated by Smiley. Smiley says the issues will be pulled from his best-selling books, “Convenant With Black America” and “The Covenant in Action.” “The truth of the matter is that heretofore the issues that matter to us have not been raised. They have not been raised, primarily because, all due respect to the candidates, they can only answer what they’re being asked,” Smiley says. “They discuss immigration, but not the Haitian-Cuban policy; they discuss health care, but not about HIV/AIDS in Black America.” In the book, he recounts, the issues covered are issues like health care, education and criminal justice. “Issues of racism in America, that will come up. Issues of HIV-AIDS, that’s going to come up. All of these issues affect people of color.” Ironically, most of the Democratic candidates who have served in public office have received outstanding grades on the NAACP legislative report cards; yet none seem to be forcing an urban agenda that relates specifically to African Americans. Smiley says people that he has spoken with are particularly interested in the views of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the only African American candidate. “They’re really curious to see whether or not he’s going to step up on issues that matter to us when he’s in front of us at Howard, being questioned by us. How is he going to respond? I want to see how everybody responds, but certainly there’s going to be a particular spotlight on him,” Smiley says. Smiley says that even the atmosphere will be different from the traditional red, white and blue flag background. “Ours will be a cut-out of the country. And rather than states, you will have faces. “So, the map is filled with faces of everyday Black people.” The forums will not only spotlight the candidates, but the role of Black journalists in general. “I believe that Black journalists are more necessary and more relevant now than ever before. And the reason for that is there are certain questions that don’t get asked if we don’t ask them. There are certain issues that don’t get raised if we don’t raise them. And certain people don’t get profiled for the good that they are doing if we don’t profile them. Black journalists can lead the way.” |
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