Tavis Smiley vs. Al Sharpton: 'Is there a need for a black agenda?'

Tavis Smiley vs. Al Sharpton: 'Is there a need for a black agenda?'

From "Black Voices":http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/02/23/tavis-smiley-obama-black-agenda-sharpton-black-leaders/: In his persistent effort to keep the Obama administration "accountable," Tavis Smiley announced this morning that he would convene a panel of black leaders to take on the question: Is there a need for a Black Agenda? Calling this symposium, "We Count! The Black Agenda is America's Agenda," Smiley is determined to push back on those black leaders, like Al Sharpton, who emerged from a recent meeting with the president declaring that the president did not need a special "black agenda" and expects them to explain exactly what they mean. The event, scheduled to be broadcast nationally, will take place in Chicago on Saturday, March 20th. Tavis Smiley confronted the question "Is there a need for a Black Agenda?" and announced the symposium on the Tom Joyner morning show. Al Sharpton called in and took issue with Smiley's perspective. It got heated. Afterward, Tavis Smiley took time to discuss his agenda and issues of accountability and the Obama administration with several bloggers, including yours truly. I asked Tavis Smiley about what he saw as the benefit of having yet another conversation about the particular issues facing black people in America. He reminded me that three New York Times bestselling books had originated from the State of the Black Union forums and cited numerous groups around the country that got organized and are doing important work in their communities as a direct result from information they found in "The Covenant with Black America". Click "here":http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/02/23/tavis-smiley-obama-black-agenda-sharpton-black-leaders/ to read the rest of this story.