When we asked our BV members if you had any questions for Tavis Smiley, you answered loud and clear by e-mail and Twitter, "Yes!"
Because our time was limited with the talk show host and author, we chose one question, from Kirk J. of Dover, Del. Kirk described himself as a black conservative and wanted to know if Smiley could sympathize with the plight of brother with an unpopular point of view about politics and our president.
Check out the video above for Smiley's answer. If you missed Parts 1 and 2 of his interview with Black Voices, follow the link below.
Tavis Smiley Images
Television personality Tavis Smiley (L) and Dr. Cornel West arrive for the Time 100 Gala in New York May 5, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)
Reuters
Talk show host Tavis Smiley, left, and Dr. Cornel West attend the Time 100 Gala, a celebration of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
AP
NEW YORK - MAY 05: Authors Tavis Smiley (L) and Dr. Cornell West attend Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World Gala at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
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WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) David Frum, columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON - MARCH 15: (AFP OUT) Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, speaks during a live taping of 'Meet the Press' at NBC studios March 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dr. Christina Romer, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Republican Whip, David Frum, Columnist and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Katty Kay, Washington Correspondent for BBC World News America, Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter at CNBC, Tavis Smiley, host of PBS's Tavis Smiley and PRI's The Tavis Smiley Show, appeared on the show to speak about politics and the US economy. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet the Press)
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 04: Talk show host/political commentator Tavis Smiley attends the premiere of "Against the Tide" at the Directors Guild of America on February 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 18: (AFP OUT) Political commentator Tavis Smiley of "The Tavis Smiley Show," speaks during a pre-taping of "Meet the Press" at NBC studios January 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. Smiley took part in a roundtable discussion about previous Presidential inaugurations, the celebration of Martin Luther King Day, this week's inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, his whistle-stop train trip and his forthcoming administration. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet The Press)
Getty Images
Keith Olbermann and Tavis Smiley attend the 2009 New York Times Art and Leisure weekend at TheTimesCenter on January 10, 2009 in New York City..2009 New York Times Art and Leisure Weekend - Keith Olbermann and Tavis Smiley.TheTimesCenter.New York, NY United States.January 10, 2009.Photo by Joe Kohen/WireImage.com..To license this image (56463623), contact WireImage.com
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Comments: (3)
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By: Debra on 5/08/2009 6:20PM
Tavis Smiley you need to quit it. President Obama has claimed accountability from day one including for things that occured before he took office.And rather then writing a book critiqueing the President, why not use all your resources to help his term in office. He has said from the beginning that he wants to hear from everybody. And with the slew of big brains that you have at your command some of them the greatest in their field(not including Micheal Eric Dyson)I know that you all could be of major help to him. But thats what he needs is more help and understanding not more criticizism. He is getting that from around the world. I'm sure you know that.Come on Tavis,let it go and get on board. We do need you. America needs you.
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By: autirose on 5/16/2009 4:36PM
Pres. Obama should be held accountable for the issues that were apart of his campaign. I appreciate Travis's checklist. We all should have one and/or form grassroot coalitions, keeping our needs before both our legislators and the President, holding them accountable for addressing the Black community's needs. My concern is Pres. Obama will use being unbais to address universal issues, only, and that would be a failure. Various groups have their unique issues. Sure he has addressed universal issues such as Healthcare, Economy, Wars, and Education. African-Americans issues have not been addressed. We need a grassroot coalition backing Travis. How are our leadership organizations bringing our issues before him. Those fighting for changes in immigration laws are always in his presence. His having lived so much of his formative years abroad, I think he has more immigrant sensitives than those of an African-American heritage or American. Am I the only one who sees it this way? I didn't vote for him because I thought he shared in the African-American heritage because I was clear he didnot--as he has said in his speeches but I voted because I felt he had the character and moral fortitude to fight for what's right and the misused, abused, and oppressed citizens of America. After all, he is the AMERICAN president, 90% Blacks and 80% Jews were the two largest groups voting for him. To ignore us because of his idiosycracies would be heartbreaking. Black men who had no faith on this system stood in rain and freezing tempertures for up to 11 hours. What about their HOPE. OBAMA DON'T LET US DOWN. SERVE ALL AMERICANS.
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By: Eddie on 5/17/2009 4:04PM
Tavis asked me and some other bloggers to come to his house to screen the movie on 5/16. Check out what happens at http://www.leimertparkbeat.com.
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