Tavis Smiley Tells BV About His New Film, 'Stand'

Tavis Smiley talked to Black Voices about his new documentary, 'Stand.' Set in the summer of 2008 at a historic crossroads -- 40 years since Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and Barack Obama was running to become the first black president of the United States -- 'Stand' is essentially a road movie with an intellectually stellar cast, including professors Cornel West and Michael Eric Dyson, comedian Dick Gregory and other buddies of Smiley. It includes what may be the last interview ever given by singer Isaac Hayes.

Check out the video above to hear what Smiley said, and then follow the link to Part 3 for Smiley's answer to a question from a BV member.

>> Watch Part III: Tavis Answers You

Tavis Talks To BV

Talk show host Tavis Smiley visited Black Voices to talk about his book, 'Accountable: Making America as Good as Its Promise,' as well as his documentary 'Stand.'

Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL

'Accountable' lists 242 campaign promises that President Barack Obama made. To those who suggest it is a critique of Obama, Smiley says, 'For those persons who thought for some reasons I was hating on Obama...I remind people that [my] trilogy of books started before he was ever heard of on the national scene.'

Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL

Smiley says the president has made substantial progress on the economy, but 'for all of the talk about the economy, the president has focused on Wall Street, he's focused a little bit on Main Street; but no real talk about the side street.'

Elizabeth Bruneau, AOL

For the documentary 'Stand,' Smiley gathered together several of his male friends on a trip through the South in the summer of 2008. Show from left (back): Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, Dick Gregory, David Porter, Isaac Hayes, Raymond Ross, Tavis Smiley, Wren Brown, Eddie Glaude, BeBe Winans, Cliff West
From left (front): Daron Boyce, Robert Smith

Raymond Ross

As America approached the historic presidential election, against the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s slaying, the national dialogue and debate intensified about race relations, politics and the legacy of the civil rights movement.

SIVAT Productions

While visiting places like the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King died, and iconic soul label Stax Records, Smiley and friends explored the diversity and complexity of the Black male experience in America.

SIVAT Productions

Their journey included a visit to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, on the site of Dr. King's slaying: Left to right: Tavis Smiley, Cornel West, Dick Gregory, BeBe Winans, Michael Eric Dyson, Eddie Glaude, Daron Boyce, Wren Brown, Robert Smith.

SIVAT Productions