Too Important to Fail
A: A teacher. A preacher. A mentor. Someone who encouraged me. Someone who cared.
In a series of candid and emotional encounters, Tavis goes behind the statistics to get to the heart of the matter: the struggle so many African American teenage males face when trying to stay in school and succeed.
Young people speak frankly about their lives: growing up in challenging communities and, too often, single-parent homes, relegated to underserved schools and coping with peer group pressure that often doesn’t support the need for education.
MoreOriginal air date: September 13, 2011
Episodes
EPISODE 5
Tavis Smiley Reports examines one of the most disturbing aspects of the education crisis facing America today—the increased dropout rate among Black teenage males.Original air date: September 13, 2011 | More
EPISODE 4
The fourth installment of Tavis Smiley Reports offers a candid look into the world of Los Angeles Philharmonic's star conductor Gustavo Dudamel and examines the resurgence of music programs across the U.S.Original air date: December 29, 2010 | More
EPISODE 3
As the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, Tavis Smiley Reports teams with Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme to revisit New Orleans. Original air date: July 31, 2010 | More
EPISODE 2
The second episode of Tavis Smiley Reports examines Martin Luther King, Jr.'s stand against the Vietnam War and the influence of his legacy today. Tavis speaks with scholars and friends of King, including Cornel West, Vincent Harding and Susannah Heschel.Original air date: March 31, 2010 | More
EPISODE 1
The first Tavis Smiley Reports focuses on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, giving a candid and incisive view of the inner workings of U.S. diplomacy and international relations.
Original air date: January 27, 2010 | More
