Visit Your Local PBS Station PBS Home PBS Home Programs A-Z TV Schedules Watch Video Support PBS Shop PBS Search PBS

About Staff Blog

The Tavis Smiley Web team discusses topics that are--or should be--in the news.

Subscribe

button RSS Feed

Our Bloggers

RECENT COMMENTS

“The war in Afghanistan is a waste of our valuable resources. The country has no real strategic, economic or political value. The enemy is no longer in Afghanistan and the...”
Adalbert

“Traci, Thanks for sharing the story with us. I spoke with a women just yesterday who said many bad things about her own hair, and it stuck with me all...”
Brooke

“"Obama's election has been touted as the final nail in the coffin of Jim Crow, the bookend placed on the history of racial caste in America." I don't believe this...”
Proud Haitian Democrate or Ph.D

“Tavis, I am not sure if you will get this. I hope you do. I have not seen all your debates over a "Black Agenda" but I wanted to give...”
William

“Attention of Mr. Jeremy Freed. Good morning, Thank you for your article about North Korea. You mentioned about two series of photo's of this country, I am interested in. One...”
William

“I don't see how he's running away from the issue of race. It's in his face every day. He gets hate mail and death threats regularly. There are people waiting...”
Phina

“Interesting stuff, I guess. What we need is more voice for Michael's innocence. Enough with the materialistic stuff. People yearn for truth ; real truth amidst all the medialoidism....”
elizabeth- cawobeth

“I would want, Pres.Obama, to please address the MANY CHANGES that you have accomplished for the the country that was on the brink of a full scale 'TITANIC EFFECT'!!! President...”
delorisw123

“An American Icon bites the dust....”
N K Cole

“What nonsence, President Obama was given a terrible list of problems to deal with as he started his presidency. He started out trying to deal with all the probmes and...”
Ray Nolan

ARCHIVES

Recent Posts by Staff

 

Do You Have a Problem With "The Blind Side?"
Posted by Staff, March 19, 2010 10:10 PM

Sandra Bullock accepts the Best Actress award during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in March.

Sandra Bullock accepts the Best Actress award during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in March.

The Blind Side is based on a true story about a homeless teen who finds a home with a "well-to-do" family in Memphis. The film was directed by John Lee Hancock, based on a book by Michael Lewis and brought Sandra Bullock the Best Actress Academy Award.

Does it matter that the homeless teen was Black and the family who adopted him was White?

Actress Vanessa Williams -- who is not affiliated with the film -- thinks the ethnicity of the characters does matter. While guest-hosting on ABC's The View, Williams took umbrage at the ...


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L.) greets Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (R.) during a March 8 press conference.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L.) greets Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (R.) during a March 8 press conference.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Afghanistan Monday on an unannounced visit and warned of hard days ahead as the U.S. implements a surge of 30,000 troops through the summer.

The U.S. military has been in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion and there are no plans to leave anytime soon, even as the U.S. scales back in Iraq.

The driving force behind and justification for staying in the fight in Afghanistan is that the Afghanistan war, from the beginning, was a war of necessity.

The conventional wisdom goes like this: The United States was ...


READ MORE >>

2 comments


 

Dr. King's Forgotten Agenda
Posted by Staff, March 8, 2010 12:15 PM

When you think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., you probably think of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. But what do you think about his "Beyond Vietnam" speech?

What's that? You've never heard of Dr. King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech?

Well, you're not alone.

On Wednesday, March 31, the second installment of Tavis Smiley Reports explores the forgotten agenda of Dr. King by examining the "Beyond Vietnam" speech that he delivered at New York's Riverside Church in 1967 and the subsequent loss of his popularity in the last year of his life.

The speech ...


READ MORE >>

2 comments


 

Is President Obama Too Tepid on Race?
Posted by Staff, February 10, 2010 11:10 AM

There has been discussion recently among black leaders and scholars about how President Obama, this nation's first African American president, is handling race.

What do you think? Has President Obama done "enough" for African Americans? And what is "enough?" Has the president been too tepid on race?

Please share your thoughts and opinions below, and they may be included in an upcoming video blog.


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

Is Black History Month Still Relevant?
Posted by Staff, February 3, 2010 8:15 AM

Coretta Scott King leads a march in Memphis, TN five days after her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., was killed.

Coretta Scott King leads a march in Memphis, TN five days after her husband, Martin Luther King Jr., was killed.

Now that we are a few days into Black History Month, there has been some discussion (see here and here) about the relevance or irrelevance of the month-long celebration.

What do you think?

Is it still necessary to designate an entire month to celebrate Black History? Does the election of Barack Obama as president somehow mean that Americans have learned the lessons about African American contributions to this country?

And is Black History Month still relevant? Why or why not?

Please share your thoughts and opinions below, and they may ...


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

Ahead of Wednesday's State of the Union Address at 9 p.m. EST, we want to hear from you.

What is the one issue that you hope President Obama addresses Wednesday night?

Share your thoughts with us here, and come back after the speech to let us know what you thought of the address.

And if you still have more to say, YouTube has come up with a way to submit follow-up questions to the president at http://www.youtube.com/citizentube.


READ MORE >>

1 comment

How You Can Help Quake Survivors in Haiti
Posted by Staff, January 13, 2010 2:22 PM

If you have seen the images of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the city Tuesday, then you have probably been wondering what you can do to help.

Here is a brief round-up of ways you can assist.

1) The White House: If you would like to support the urgent humanitarian effort in Haiti, visit www.whitehouse.gov/haitiearthquake, where you can learn more about how to contribute. Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 1-888-407-4747.

2) American Red Cross: To help, you can make an unrestricted donation ...


READ MORE >>

no comments

World AIDS Day 2009
Posted by Staff, December 1, 2009 11:57 AM

Since 1988, December 1st has been World AIDS Day -- the day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. The theme this year -- HIV: Reality -- focuses on real accounts of life with HIV and AIDS.

And at a White House event on the eve of World AIDS Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the 2012 International AIDS Conference will be held in Washington, DC.

That announcement is significant, as the United States only recently lifted the entry ban for HIV-positive travelers. The ban will be ...


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

To Tweet or Not to Tweet ...
Posted by Staff, November 30, 2009 11:49 AM

Phoenix Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire during the Nov. 25th game that led to his fine.

Phoenix Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire during the Nov. 25th game that led to his fine.

Social Media Rule #18,526: Don't tweet while playing in an NBA game.

If you do tweet while playing in an NBA game, Amar'e Stoudemire (@amareisreal) and Tyson Chandler (@tysonchandler), the NBA will fine you $7,500 each.


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

While You Were Shopping ...
Posted by Staff, November 27, 2009 5:41 PM

Black Friday shoppers carrying bags up Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Black Friday shoppers carrying bags up Fifth Avenue in New York City.

If you were among the throngs of Americans out shopping and buying a bunch of items marked down from their original marked-up prices, then you might have missed these news items that are (arguably) interesting but have little-to-no impact on your life.

1) The FAA released the recordings from Northwest Flight 188. If you recall, the pilots of that flight were out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for more than an hour and flew 150 miles past their destination, all because of "cockpit distraction."

2) Some schools are encouraging students to use their ...


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

UNAIDS: World's H.I.V.-Positive Population Still Rising
Posted by Staff, November 24, 2009 8:15 PM

UNAIDS Exec. Dir. Michael Sidibé shows the annual report during a November press conference.

UNAIDS Exec. Dir. Michael Sidibé shows the annual report during a November press conference.

Check out these stats released Tuesday in Shanghai by UNAIDS and the World Health Organization:
- Globally 33.4 million people are living with H.I.V.

- In 2008, 2.7 million people were newly infected with the virus and 2 million people died from AIDS-related deaths.

- The total number of people living with H.I.V. in 2008 was 20% higher than the 2000 number.

The report -- "AIDS Epidemic Update 2009" -- attributes the continued rise in the H.I.V.-positive population to high rates of new infections and to the "beneficial impact of anti-retroviral therapy."

The ...


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

Is the Recession a Racial Equalizer?
Posted by Staff, November 18, 2009 9:26 AM

Job seekers at an employment fair in Southern Florida.

Job seekers at an employment fair in Southern Florida.

There have been Op-Eds in The New York Times saying that "blacks are the ones who are taking the brunt of the recession, with disproportionately high levels of foreclosures and unemployment."

But a recent article in the paper asserts that the recession is helping bridge the racial divide in a suburb of Atlanta. The article quotes an African American woman, Keasha Taylor, who is seeking help at the Division of Family and Children Services:

"Right now, a lot of white people are in this situation," Ms. ...


READ MORE >>

7 comments


 

USDA: 14 Percent of U.S. Households Face Hunger
Posted by Staff, November 16, 2009 4:43 PM

As the three-day World Summit on Food Security in Rome began addressing the more than one billion people worldwide who are going hungry Monday, an annual report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that 17 million American households (14.6%) had "difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year" in 2008.

Looking for a way to help? Donate or volunteer at one of Feeding America's more than 200 food banks.


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

As the House managed to pass a healthcare reform bill over the weekend, the recession continued to impact the ability of American families to maintain healthcare coverage. In October alone, the unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent.

So we want to hear from you.

Have you lost healthcare coverage because of the recession? Please share your story and it may be included in an upcoming video blog.

And for more on this issue, visit our site for the "PBS Special Report on Healthcare Reform." 


READ MORE >>

6 comments


 

Does Sammy Sosa's Skin Rejuvenation Matter?
Posted by Staff, November 9, 2009 3:08 PM

SammySosa1_1-RS.jpgSammySosa2-RS.jpg

Questions abound. People want to know why former Chicago Cubs player Sammy Sosa appeared several shades lighter at the Latin Grammy Awards last week (pictured right) than he did several months ago at a People En Espanol event in May 2009 (pictured left).

What the heck happened?

His friend and former Cubs employee, Rebecca Polihronis, told the Chicago Tribune that it was a ...


READ MORE >>

9 comments


 

No matter people's thoughts on President Barack Obama winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, many were surprised. Including Obama himself.

Two other U.S. presidents won the prize while in office--Woodrow Wilson in 1919 and Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. And former President Jimmy Carter won after leaving office.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its statement:

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for ...


READ MORE >>

57 comments


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Alaina Ronewicz
Posted by Staff, October 1, 2009 2:13 PM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 23

City of residence: Allen Park, MI

How long have you been uninsured? 2 years

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

Originally, my father had to take me off of the health insurance that he got through his work because it was becoming too expensive. However, now that I am a college graduate, living on my own, and ...


READ MORE >>

5 comments


 

More Faces of the Uninsured
Posted by Staff, September 24, 2009 12:17 PM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

 

faces-karengadbois.jpg

Name: Karen Gadbois

Age: 54

City of residence: New Orleans

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

The cost of health insurance would be half my salary.

 

faces-marysias.jpg

Name: Mary Sias

Age: ...


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

Faces of the Uninsured
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 12:00 PM

46 million Americans do not have health insurance. They have jobs, pay taxes, send their children to daycare, keep a roof over their heads and live in fear that a medical disaster is just around the corner.

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.



faces_maderaglenn.jpg

Madera Glenn, 60

"I feel ...


READ MORE >>

10 comments


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Christa Vasquez
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 11:16 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 31

City of residence: Anaheim, CA

How long have you been uninsured? Since January 1, 2009

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

As of January 1st 2009, our company stopped paying 60% of our health insurance and we became responsible for 100% of our premiums. My cost went from $150.00 per month to $400.00 and I could no ...


READ MORE >>

1 comment


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Carl Albert
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 11:11 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 32

City of residence: Chicago, Illinois

How long have you been uninsured?

I've been uninsured all my life. That's how I grew up. No one had insurance where I grew up.

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

I never needed insurance.

How has not having health insurance impacted your life?

Not having health insurance hasn't impacted my life ...


READ MORE >>

3 comments


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Summer Pendle
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 11:03 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 32

City of residence: San Francisco

How long have you been uninsured? 6 months

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

I am uninsured because I am a part-time worker. My weekly hours fall just below the 40-hour mark, so I don't qualify for insurance.

How has not having health insurance impacted your life?

Without insurance, ...


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Lindsey "Bing" Perrine
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 10:53 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 26

City of residence: Billings, MT

How long have you been uninsured? 2 years

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

Pre-existing condition, and unemployed

How has not having health insurance impacted your life?

When you have a congenital heart defect like mine it isn't a matter of if things are going to take a turn for the worse, ...


READ MORE >>

3 comments


 

Faces of the Uninsured - Courtney J. Hixon
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 10:40 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 26

City of residence: New Orleans, Louisiana

How long have you been uninsured? Five months.

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

I am starting a new ... business ... in New Orleans and only working part-time at another establishment. Part-time status doesn't allow any benefits, or healthcare, but in order to focus more on my new venture, this ...


READ MORE >>

no comments

Faces of the Uninsured - Madera Glenn
Posted by Staff, September 20, 2009 10:23 AM

These are the faces of the uninsured. Look at their photos. Read their stories, told in their own words. And if you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us.

Age: 60

City of residence: Hayward, CA

How long have you been uninsured? 16 months

What is the reason that you are uninsured?

I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 2.5 years ago and required to undergo 7 months of chemotherapy. During that time, I was too sick to work. I had a senior level position with a Fortune 500 company. They informed ...


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

Be Part of the "Faces of the Uninsured" Project
Posted by Staff, September 18, 2009 3:57 PM

If you are one of the 46 million Americans without health insurance, share your story with us. To be part of our "Faces of the Uninsured" project, please e-mail the following to facesofuninsured@gmail.com:

  1. A photo of yourself.*
  2. Name
  3. Age
  4. City of residence
  5. Reason that you are uninsured.

*By submitting your photo you are granting us permission to use it on PBS.org and saying that you have the rights to do so. We can give photo credit if you supply us with the name of the person who took it. Please send as large a file as possible.

For more on healthcare reform, tune ...


READ MORE >>

no comments


 

What Do You Think of Obama's Healthcare Address?
Posted by Staff, September 9, 2009 5:16 PM

President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress Wednesday night in an attempt to create movement on the healthcare overhaul.

He laid out the details of his plan for healthcare and did not back down on the public option.

Rep. Charles Boustany, Jr. delivered the Republican rebuttal.

And what do you have to say? Share your thoughts with us.

Also see full text of the speech here and a video excerpt below.

And, for more on healthcare reform, tune in to PBS on Thursday, September 24th at 9pm ET ...


READ MORE >>

15 comments


 

The Associated Press released a photo Friday of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, moments after he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on Aug. 14, in Afghanistan. Bernard later died from his wounds.

Some newspapers published the photo with the accompanying AP story, but the Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, The New York Times and The Washington Post did not include the photo with the story.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called the AP's decision "appalling."

But the AP defends its decision, saying that "journalists document world events every day. Afghanistan ...


READ MORE >>

18 comments


 

Ted Kennedy Dies
Posted by Staff, August 26, 2009 3:54 AM

Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy lost his battle with brain cancer Tuesday. His Senate career spanned nearly 50 years, and he is credited with continuing a legacy begun by his brothers John and Robert.

The outpouring of messages from both Republicans and Democrats speaks to Kennedy's negotiating skills and knack for bipartisan coalition-building—expertise that Republican Sen. John McCain said are missing on the current healthcare overhaul.

Watch Vice President Joe Biden's heartfelt words about his friend and colleague, and share your thoughts on Kennedy's life ...


READ MORE >>

9 comments


 

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck Florida and the Gulf Coast, breached New Orleans' levees in multiple locations and flooded 80% of the city. More than 1,800 people lost their lives in the hurricane and floods, and damage estimates hover around $80 billion, making it one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

Four years later rebuilding continues.

1) On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the federal government's latest pledge of $32 million to replace four buildings at New Orleans' Southern University. The pledge is part of ...


READ MORE >>

5 comments