April 2008   
SMTWTFS
 31

In the first of a week-long series of shows from Memphis in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Al Sharpton says that America is good at accepting a moment, but not a movement. National Civil Rights Museum president Beverly Robertson tells the story of the museum and the Lorraine Motel.

1

From Memphis, Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, pastor of Monumental Baptist Church, reflects on how witnessing Dr. King's assassination has impacted his life. Also, former Memphis sanitation worker Taylor Rogers describes what Dr. King's support and presence meant to the workers' strike.

2

From the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, actor-activist Harry Belafonte describes how he first met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who would become one of his closest friends.

3

Former SCLC Education Director Dorothy Cotton explains the role sexism played in the organizations of the civil rights movement. Dr. King's former attorney-speechwriter and author of What Would Martin Say, Clarence B. Jones, shares what he believes Dr. King would say about the man who killed him.

4

Ending a week of shows in Memphis and in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Georgetown University professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West discuss Dr. King's lasting legacy.

5
67

Best-selling author Anne Rice discusses how she addressed Jesus' loneliness in the second of her fictional bios, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. Law professor Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw addresses the Democratic presidential candidates' support of affirmative action programs.

8

Former under secretary of defense Douglas Feith defines the Bush doctrine of war and addresses whether it is an appropriate policy. Actor Thomas Haden Church talks about his new movie, Smart People.

9

Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean discusses the challenges of the Clinton-Obama race for the party's nomination. Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak weighs in on today's testimony by Gen. Petraeus before the House Armed Services Committee.

10

Harvard University's Noah Feldman discusses the impact of the rise of the Islamic state on U.S. foreign policy. Radio talk show host Joe Madison explains how the Darfur crisis began in Sudan and describes what it's like to witness the ongoing civil war.

11

Former State Department negotiator Aaron David Miller, author of The Much Too Promised Land, says Palestine has been promised too many times to too many people. Boston Legal's John Larroquette shares why he is comfortable publicly stating that Sen. Barack Obama is the president the U.S. needs.

12
1314

Political commentator Bill Press says, for now, the conservative movement as we knew it is dead. Benjamin McKenzie talks about the challenges in his career and tells what it was like working with legendary actor Al Pacino in the new film, 88 Minutes.

15

Former WorldCom VP, Cynthia Cooper, describes the personal toll of being a whistle-blower and what it's like to face your boss in a courtroom. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges explains the title of his recent book, I Don't Believe in Atheists.

16

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter weighs in on next week's Democratic primary in his state. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, author of The Soloist, discusses how a homeless violinist helped him find his passion.

17

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" Mary J. Blige talk about evolving in their careers and their current U.S. Heart of the City concert tour.

18

The Bin Ladens author Steve Coll explains why the U.S. has not yet caught the wanted leader of Al Qaeda. TV writer Jessica Queller, author of Pretty is What Changes, explains why she decided to have a double mastectomy at age 35.

19
2021

Philadelphia Daily News' senior writer, Dave Davies, discusses the mudslinging in the run-up to tomorrow's Democratic presidential primary in Pennsylvania. Musician and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart explains why his business card says that he's a change agent.

22

Former Alabama governor Don Siegelman, who was recently released from prison, argues that the Justice Department is being used as a political tool. Journalist and author of A Crime So Monstrous, E. Benjamin Skinner, says there are more slaves in the world today than at any point in human history.

23

Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter analyzes Sen. Clinton's victory in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary. Tony- and Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench, star of the Masterpiece Classic miniseries Cranford, discusses what Shakespeare's work means to her career.

24

Pioneering talk show host and Body of War exec producer Phil Donahue, explains how the politics of fear led the U.S. into the Iraq war and keeps Americans complicit. He also talks about the personal pain of the war we don't see.

25

Behavioral economist Richard Thaler, co-author of Nudge, explains decision research and why it's valuable to study how people make decisions. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay star John Cho discusses Asian American stereotypes in Hollywood.

26
2728

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh explains his disappointment that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld his state's voter ID law and previews next week's Democratic primary. Richard Price explains why his new novel, Lush Life, is not a crime novel but a novel with a crime in it.

29

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer-director David Mamet explains how he used his jujitsu training in his new film, Redbelt. Andrew Bridge, author of Hope's Boy, shares the emotional story of his mother's battle with schizophrenia and his experience in foster care.

30

Journalist and best-selling author Cokie Roberts talks about the Democratic primary season and explains why she likes to write about women in history. Actor Richard Jenkins tells how filming The Visitor was made difficult by the simultaneous filming of Will Smith's I Am Legend in New York City.

1

Democracy Now! host and author of Standing Up to the Madness, Amy Goodman, explains how the Patriot Act has impacted Americans' civil liberties. WSJ bureau chief and author of Slavery by Another Name, Douglas Blackmon, defines what he calls the "re-enslavement" of African Americans and tells how it occurred.

2

Acclaimed writer Tobias Wolff explains the meaning behind the title of his latest book, Our Story Begins, and how listening to stories has become a lost art. Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, chair of Dartmouth's English department, shares the backstory of her nonfiction book, Mr. and Mrs. Prince.

Archives April 2008

Looking for a past show? You'll find Tavis' previous guests and special features below, with links to transcripts and complete audio versions of each program.

Looking for other months or guests? Use the Archive Index to search for shows by month or guest name.


image from Tuesday, April 1

Tuesday, April 1

From Memphis, Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, pastor of Monumental Baptist Church, reflects on how witnessing Dr. King's assassination has impacted his life. Also, former Memphis sanitation worker Taylor Rogers describes what Dr. King's support and presence meant to the workers' strike.


image from Wednesday, April 2

Wednesday, April 2

From the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, actor-activist Harry Belafonte describes how he first met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who would become one of his closest friends.


image from Thursday, April 3

Thursday, April 3

Former SCLC Education Director Dorothy Cotton explains the role sexism played in the organizations of the civil rights movement. Dr. King's former attorney-speechwriter and author of What Would Martin Say, Clarence B. Jones, shares what he believes Dr. King would say about the man who killed him.


image from Friday, April 4

Friday, April 4

Ending a week of shows in Memphis and in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Georgetown University professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West discuss Dr. King's lasting legacy.


image from Monday, April 7

Monday, April 7

Best-selling author Anne Rice discusses how she addressed Jesus' loneliness in the second of her fictional bios, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. Law professor Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw addresses the Democratic presidential candidates' support of affirmative action programs.


image from Tuesday, April 8

Tuesday, April 8

Former under secretary of defense Douglas Feith defines the Bush doctrine of war and addresses whether it is an appropriate policy. Actor Thomas Haden Church talks about his new movie, Smart People.


image from Wednesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 9

Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean discusses the challenges of the Clinton-Obama race for the party's nomination. Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak weighs in on today's testimony by Gen. Petraeus before the House Armed Services Committee.


image from Thursday, April 10

Thursday, April 10

Harvard University's Noah Feldman discusses the impact of the rise of the Islamic state on U.S. foreign policy. Radio talk show host Joe Madison explains how the Darfur crisis began in Sudan and describes what it's like to witness the ongoing civil war.


image from Friday, April 11

Friday, April 11

Former State Department negotiator Aaron David Miller, author of The Much Too Promised Land, says Palestine has been promised too many times to too many people. Boston Legal's John Larroquette shares why he is comfortable publicly stating that Sen. Barack Obama is the president the U.S. needs.


image from Monday, April 14

Monday, April 14

Political commentator Bill Press says, for now, the conservative movement as we knew it is dead. Benjamin McKenzie talks about the challenges in his career and tells what it was like working with legendary actor Al Pacino in the new film, 88 Minutes.


image from Tuesday, April 15

Tuesday, April 15

Former WorldCom VP, Cynthia Cooper, describes the personal toll of being a whistle-blower and what it's like to face your boss in a courtroom. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges explains the title of his recent book, I Don't Believe in Atheists.


image from Wednesday, April 16

Wednesday, April 16

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter weighs in on next week's Democratic primary in his state. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, author of The Soloist, discusses how a homeless violinist helped him find his passion.


image from Thursday, April 17

Thursday, April 17

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" Mary J. Blige talk about evolving in their careers and their current U.S. Heart of the City concert tour.


image from Friday, April 18

Friday, April 18

The Bin Ladens author Steve Coll explains why the U.S. has not yet caught the wanted leader of Al Qaeda. TV writer Jessica Queller, author of Pretty is What Changes, explains why she decided to have a double mastectomy at age 35.


image from Monday, April 21

Monday, April 21

Philadelphia Daily News' senior writer, Dave Davies, discusses the mudslinging in the run-up to tomorrow's Democratic presidential primary in Pennsylvania. Musician and Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart explains why his business card says that he's a change agent.


image from Tuesday, April 22

Tuesday, April 22

Former Alabama governor Don Siegelman, who was recently released from prison, argues that the Justice Department is being used as a political tool. Journalist and author of A Crime So Monstrous, E. Benjamin Skinner, says there are more slaves in the world today than at any point in human history.


image from Wednesday, April 23

Wednesday, April 23

Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter analyzes Sen. Clinton's victory in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary. Tony- and Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench, star of the Masterpiece Classic miniseries Cranford, discusses what Shakespeare's work means to her career.


image from Thursday, April 24

Thursday, April 24

Pioneering talk show host and Body of War exec producer Phil Donahue, explains how the politics of fear led the U.S. into the Iraq war and keeps Americans complicit. He also talks about the personal pain of the war we don't see.


image from Friday, April 25

Friday, April 25

Behavioral economist Richard Thaler, co-author of Nudge, explains decision research and why it's valuable to study how people make decisions. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay star John Cho discusses Asian American stereotypes in Hollywood.


image from Monday, April 28

Monday, April 28

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh explains his disappointment that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld his state's voter ID law and previews next week's Democratic primary. Richard Price explains why his new novel, Lush Life, is not a crime novel but a novel with a crime in it.


image from Tuesday, April 29

Tuesday, April 29

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer-director David Mamet explains how he used his jujitsu training in his new film, Redbelt. Andrew Bridge, author of Hope's Boy, shares the emotional story of his mother's battle with schizophrenia and his experience in foster care.


image from Wednesday, April 30

Wednesday, April 30

Journalist and best-selling author Cokie Roberts talks about the Democratic primary season and explains why she likes to write about women in history. Actor Richard Jenkins tells how filming The Visitor was made difficult by the simultaneous filming of Will Smith's I Am Legend in New York City.