I caught part of the Tavis Smiley Panel Remaking America last night. Unfortunately the exact start time was unclear so I didn’t catch it from the exact beginning. The broadcast was in a panel format and there were several notable individuals present including: Michael Moore, Suze Orman, Michael Moore, Majora Carter, Jeffrey Sachs, and of course his current sidekick Cornell West.

With this illustrious bunch – it goes without saying the show generated lots of real helpful sound bytes and there was very productive and insightful discussion on the subject of poverty and unemployment.  However as with most of these “panels” this is the sum total of it’s existence.  I think the discussion of poverty and jobs has been done completely and totally to death. The discussion of it in the black community has been going on since the Civil Rights Movement. What is NEEDED is action and viable solutions being put into action NOW.   Engaging in these talk fests about how bad things are and will get even regardless to the personas invited to participate still do not address the actual problems. Especially as this country, as evidenced by recent sound bytes and comments by political leaders, and in particular GOP party and Teaparty members seem to espouse policies that would lead to the disenfranchisement of those already suffering through poverty and or unemployment. One wonders at the efficacy of these “meetings” aside from driving ratings and or allowing opportunities for self-promotion.

As one who is neither an industry insider, nor has no product to promote let me suggest the following:

The panels are great but they need to be more than just televised events  – there need to be workshops and or events that take place in conjunction with these events where people can attend – the ones who are directly affected as well as industry leaders.  Opportunities for interaction between the two groups should be promoted and encouraged.

This needs to be done on a NATIONAL level not just in one or two niche places.  Preaching to people doesn’t seem to yield the best results.  Multiple decades spent on talking about the “problems” should be sufficient enough for solutions to be enacted on a major level. The legacy of the Civil Rights movement is in part, the fact that we do now have opportunities to make events like this happen in a much more effective way and we do as a community have the ability to reach out a lot more than we seem to right now.

Sorry but those who are “selling” something say a book or self promoting need not get on board it is somewhat “disingenuous”  to put forth solutions that include plugs for items that the speaker or those involved with the panel are trying to “sell” .

Imagine a panel of experts who are not trying to plug books, items and or merchandise – I know sounds like a dream…..

Martin Luther King Jr.  had one – I think I will hold onto this one for a while….