Tavis Smiley

How to Make Black America Better: Leading African Americans Speak out Tavis Smiley

Jacket Description/Flap: Issuing a powerful call for constructive social action, the popular radio and television commentator Tavis Smiley has assembled the voices of leading African American artists, intellectuals, and politicians from Chuck D to Cornel West to Maxine Waters. How to Make Black America Better takes a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach that includes Smiley's own ten challenges to the African American community. Smiley and his contributors stress the family tie, the power of community networks, the promise of education, and the leverage of black economic and political strength in shaping a new vision of America. Encouraging African Americans to realize the potential of their own leadership and to work collectively from the bottom up, the selections offer new ideas for addressing vital issues facing black communities. Featuring original essays by some of our most important thinkers, How to Make Black America Better is an essential book for anyone concerned with the status of African Americans today. Review Quotes: "A must read."-"Black Issues Book Review" "Carries on the tradition of Frederick Douglass...and W. E. B. DuBois."-"St. Petersburg Times""Full of spirited, erudite discussion by big names in the black community."-"Metro Times" (Detroit) "Smiley and Co. offer deft advice that encourages us to take positive action to make things right." --"Essence ""Smiley's book carries on the tradition of Frederick Douglass' "An Address to the Colored People of the United States "and W. E. B. DuBois' "Declaration of the Principles of the Niagara Movement,"" --"St. Petersburg Times" "Full of spirited, erudite discussion by big names in the black community." --Detroit's "Metro Times"Biographical Note: Tavis Smiley is the author of Doing What's Right, Hard Left, and On Air. He is a regular political commentator on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" and won a 1999 NAACP Image Award for his own television talk show BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley. He lives in Los Angeles. Review Quotes: "A must read."-"Black Issues Book Review""Carries on the tradition of Frederick Douglass...and W. E. B. DuBois."-"St. Petersburg Times""Full of spirited, erudite discussion by big names in the black community."-"Metro Times" (Detroit)"Smiley and Co. offer deft advice that encourages us to take positive action to make things right." --"Essence""Smiley's book carries on the tradition of Frederick Douglass' "An Address to the Colored People of the United States "and W. E. B. DuBois' "Declaration of the Principles of the Niagara Movement"." --"St. Petersburg Times""Full of spirited, erudite discussion by big names in the black community." --Detroit's "Metro Times"Marc Notes: Originally published: New York: Doubleday, 2001. Review Citations:

Booklist 12/15/2000 pg. 800 (EAN 9780385502146, Hardcover)

Booklist 02/01/2001 pg. 1025 (EAN 9780385502146, Hardcover)

Library Journal 11/01/2000 pg. 104 (EAN 9780385502146, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 01/08/2001 pg. 63 (EAN 9780385502146, Hardcover)

Black Issues Book Review 03/01/2001 pg. 63 (EAN 9780385502146, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Smiley, Tavis Tavis Smiley is a nationally known intellectual, activist, political commentator, entrepreneur, and radio and television personality. He founded the ground-breaking and historic State of the Black Union series. Mr. Smiley has authored several best-selling books, including "The Covenant" and "The Covenant in Action".