Talk show host and political commentator Tavis Smiley emphasized introspection, leadership and commitment as a means to counter racism at his sold-out lecture Friday at UB's Center for the Arts.
The speech commemorated the 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. event and was part of the Distinguished Speaker Series.
"I came here tonight to unsettle you," Smiley said.
Smiley defined racism as the most intractable issue in America and said it's not just a problem of the 20th century, but the 21st century.
"We never had leaders in black America that didn't come out of the struggle," he said, referring to slavery and segregation. "No one's talking about what it means to have a new generation of black leadership come on line."
His unique brand of humor and camaraderie brought continuous interruptions of laughter and applause. At times, the audience responded together in unison as if on cue, like when he outlined what he called the "It" theory.
"It is what it is," the audience resounded together.
"He's very honest, very direct. He tells it like it is," said Gwen McKinnon, who attended the event.
Smiley reached back into antiquity drawing on the words of Socrates who said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."
"If you are trying to make the most out of the time and talent God has given you, (but) you're not willing to be introspective, you're not living your best life," he said. "If you don't get anything else tonight, remember Socrates' challenge."
This was also a speech about working hard and being the best you can be, regardless of race. Smiley stressed finding one's purpose and passion in life, as well as finding a way to make a valuable contribution in the lives of others.
"Write your obituary now, and then go and live what you wrote," he said. "The eyes of the future are looking back at us."
Smiley poignantly demonstrated the importance of overcoming life setbacks.
"If I come bust you upside your head for nothin', that's me. But if I come back here to UB, some time down the road, and you still layin' on the floor, that's you," he said, pointing his finger at the audience.
"Nobody is more gifted, more skilled, more talented, more beautiful, than you. We have to start telling our youth that they can," Smiley continued. "The Bible says where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them. You don't need a lot of people around you, but you need some."
Smiley criticized the government response to the predominantly African American city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, saying there was racial profiling in the comments and actions of government officials and that it also extended to the media.
A news wire service that was unnamed printed a photo of African Americans in the water hoisting food. The caption said they were "looting." The same wire service later took a photo of a white family hoisting food and the caption said the food was "found."
This demonstrates two fundamentally different Americas, Smiley said. He pointed to statistics showing 66 percent of African Americans said the response would have been quicker if hurricane victims were white. Seventy-seven percent of white Americans disagreed, he said.
Smiley characterized the media as being out of touch with issues facing the African American community in general, pointing to a recent Newsweek cover story that touted now as the best time to be black in America.
"Are we better off today then yesterday? That's not the question," he said. "Are we better off than whites today? That's the question."
"Not now versus then, now versus now," the audience chanted with Smiley in unison. He listed unequal wages and other racial profiling of African Americans in shopping malls and police traffic stops.
"Each and every one of us is an advocate for those things we believe in. Half these things aren't about black and white, it's about wrong and right," he said.
Audience members said the speech had a positive impact.
"It's very refreshing to have such a young, vibrant person who's successful," said Keri-Anne Marshall, a Student Association club coordinator for the People of Color Clubs council. "As a student leader, commitment is important to me. He spoke to me personally."
"It inspired me to be committed to a good education, a good faith, don't let too many things discourage you," said Terron E. Brown, a Buffalo resident who attended the speech. "We don't have enough as African Americans to encourage us. Your struggle and your sacrifice now will help someone in the future."
Retired chemistry professor Peter Lansbury said he planned to start watching Smiley's talk show more, even though it airs so late at night on WNED.
"He hit the nail on the head and gave a lot of thoughtful opinions for us to mull over."
Lorie Perrin, a UB law school graduate, said Smiley was insightful about Hurricane Katrina, and agreed that racial discrimination is still a real issue.
"African Americans believe it's true," she said. "You do see the difference in treatment with study groups at UB, and you have to ask, why?"
Perrin said Smiley succeeded in his purpose "to unsettle us all, according to what we believe, what we see and what we practice in our lives."
