The Covenant With Black America.* The Covenant With Black America Introduction by Tavis Smiley Tavis Smiley (born September 13, 1964) is an author, journalist, political commentator, and talk show host. Early years One of ten children, Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi. Third World Press, February 2006 $12, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-883-78277-4 Tavis Smiley, black America's Larry King Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an award-winning American writer, journalist and broadcaster. He currently hosts a nightly interview program on CNN called Larry King Live, one of the longest running talk shows on American air. , says in this book's Introduction that it's not about "us" versus "them" as much as it is about "We, the People." It's a great line, but historically, blacks have had direct and unambiguous opposition to their collective progress. So it's been hard to write an agenda for black America without having to both name its enemies and call for direct confrontation with The Powers That Be, thereby putting them in the metaphorical (if not literal) line of fire. If this book's breadth and tone is any indication, the modern solution to this historic problem is to do neither task--to engage instead in a kind of "activist-lite" that allows all black people to advance without the black middle class forfeiting its hard-earned jobs and SUVs. Smiley means well and does well. This New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times best-selling book is an outgrowth of a public call he made for an agenda at last year's "Tavis Smiley Presents: State of the Black Union" annual forum, a recent fixture of C-SPAN's Black History Month coverage. The popular broadcaster displays black solidarity by signing over the book's proceeds to black-owned Third World Press, its publisher. The Covenant fists facts and charts very familiar to those who regularly read the National Urban League's State of Black America annual reports. The essays, by some of black America's most prominent minds on their topic of expertise (Clinton-era Surgeon General The U.S. Surgeon General is charged with the protection and advancement of health in the United States. Since the 1960s the surgeon general has become a highly visible federal public health official, speaking out against known health risks such as tobacco use, and promoting disease David Satcher on health, civil rights leader Wade Henderson on democracy), are married to literal what-to-do checklists for elected officials and individuals. Too many of the recommendations, unfortunately, call for black statehouse state·house also state house n. A building in which a state legislature holds sessions; a state capitol. statehouse Noun NZ a rented house built by the government Noun 1. and black old money power that do not yet exist. The best parts of this book are the local success stories--the ones that show community progress is indeed possible. This work is an excellent primer for issues facing black America in 2006. For a book that uses Frederick Douglass' famous quote about power yielding only to demand, however, The Covenant shows far too little of either. --Reviewed by Todd Steven Burroughs, Ph.D. Todd Steven Burroughs, an occasional BIBR BIBR Bay Islands Beach Resort (Roatan, Honduras) BIBR Backward Indicator Bit Received contributor, is a journalist/historian based in Hyattsville, Maryland. |
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