The Profiteers

The Covenant with Black America.

The Tavis Smiley/Cornel West 'War on Poverty'

Poverty Tour 2.0.

The Black State of the Union.

All of the aforementioned ideas seem to be great ones on the surface; Who wouldn't want to change the current cycle of disenfranchisement that's going on in many of our urban communities nationwide? It seems that we (as black folk) gather yearly to discuss these problems because we sincerely want to see an end to the myriad of issues associated with poverty and income inequality. While noble in concept and theory, these 'gatherings' have been ineffective at best; A platform for rampant egoism, personal vendettas, and extreme division at their worst.

The election of a black POTUS has brought these flaws to the surface in a way that the black community hasn't seen in a long time. The black 'agenda' has been at the forefront of many a conversation among pundits within the black community since President Obama won the White House. Some have chosen to use the opportunity to openly criticize the president's lack of action concerning an 'afrocentric' agenda. At the head of that charge have been broadcast colleagues Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West. For better or worse, these two have taken it upon themselves to hold the POTUS 'accountable' for what he has (or hasn't) done for black communities across the country.

While this POTUS ( or any POTUS, for that matter) isn't above serious criticism for his job performance, it's an issue when folks that are seen as leaders in the black community resort to personal and petty finger-pointing for issues that have been present in our communities for DECADES. Instead of using the substantial platform they have to inspire the best and brightest of our own to give back, they use that power to divide a community that hardly needs MORE division to solve it's ills. Where was this critical dialogue for the Congressional Black Caucus? The Black Church? Black Leadership on the community, City, and/or State level? Where's the righteous indignation when alderman's and mayors fail their constituents by reneging on the promises made to get them into office?

A couple of days ago, a SCJOTUS had this to say about the landmark voting rights act of 1965:

There's actually SERIOUS talk of undoing over 40 years of Civil Rights progress. It's something that should infuriate ANYBODY (black or otherwise) that understands the importance of the legislation and the protection that it grants for ALL people. I find it humorous and ironic that both Cornel West and Tavis Smiley, who both see themselves as children of Dr. Martin Luther King's 'prophetic' vision for peace and equality in this society, were church mouse quiet as this foolishness was playing out. There's true outrage from both Liberal and Conservative voices on this issue, but Smiley and West are mysteriously quiet on the issue. Conversely, let there be a Drone strike in the news, or some negative news on income inequality (which, again, is something that's been in place for DECADES) come to light, and you'll see these two front and center, opening up the wise 'prophetic' book of self-righteous rhetoric. In the meantime, you HAVE engineers, college grads, civil engineers, Information Technology professionals, Culinary professionals, social scientists, etc., that are ready to pass their mentorship and knowledge back to the folks in our communities that NEED it for survival.

Here's a novel idea; Instead of using your pulpit to wage war on a POTUS that actually needs the cooperation of congress to implement anything, how about using it to inspire a new call to service in OUR communities? We need folks that will actually motivate the best of us to provide SOLUTIONS to change the status quo. How about a call to black business owners to train and employ more of our own? How about calling on our skilled professionals to pass on what they've learned to folks so that they can change their socioeconomic circumstances? There ARE ways that we can reverse the trends that have taken root in our communities. Once we actually DO that, then we can be MORE efficient in organizing our political power to work FOR us.

One thing is for sure; Another lucrative book-signing tour, or seeing West rake in a couple of g's on the speaking circuit ISN'T the solution. It's high time that Tavis and Cornel actually contribute something other than rhetoric toward a solution.