TOM JOYNER WILL HOST MSNBC TOWNHALL ON RACE ON MLK DAY
From BlackAmericaWeb (By Tom Joyner)
As we get closer to Christmas, New Year’s and Kwanzaa and prepare for two weeks off for vacation, my plan was for this blog to reflect on some of the biggest stories of 2009. On my list was President Obama’s inauguration; Chris Brown and Rihanna; the death of Michael Jackson; the two black astronauts calling the TJMS from space and yes, Tiger Woods. Those are still important stories, but there’s a developing story that I want to share with you.
On the King Holiday Weekend 2010, I will co-host an MSNBC town hall special about race in America with Chris Matthews. This is also an important story because it will give me and you a rare opportunity to participate in a much needed discussion about whether racism is still a relevant topic now that President Obama has been elected. Of course, we know that it is. But now, we will get a chance to say why.
Having an audience of 8 million mostly African-American people is always a good thing, but it’s a crucial thing when mainstream America wants to know what’s on our minds. Together, we can give provide honest questions and answers about racism in this country.
In the days leading up to January 18th, I will be using this blog, BlackAmericaWeb.com, the Text Tom club, the morning show and all of its resources to garner your opinions about some of the specific topics that will be addressed on the program. Among the topics: Does Post-Racial America Exist? (Yep.) Is Affirmative Action Necessary? (duh!) and Generational Colorblindness. Isn’t it funny that usually the only people who claim they don’t see color always end up telling you they’re married to a black person?
As we get closer to Christmas, New Year’s and Kwanzaa and prepare for two weeks off for vacation, my plan was for this blog to reflect on some of the biggest stories of 2009. On my list was President Obama’s inauguration; Chris Brown and Rihanna; the death of Michael Jackson; the two black astronauts calling the TJMS from space and yes, Tiger Woods. Those are still important stories, but there’s a developing story that I want to share with you.
On the King Holiday Weekend 2010, I will co-host an MSNBC town hall special about race in America with Chris Matthews. This is also an important story because it will give me and you a rare opportunity to participate in a much needed discussion about whether racism is still a relevant topic now that President Obama has been elected. Of course, we know that it is. But now, we will get a chance to say why.
Having an audience of 8 million mostly African-American people is always a good thing, but it’s a crucial thing when mainstream America wants to know what’s on our minds. Together, we can give provide honest questions and answers about racism in this country.
In the days leading up to January 18th, I will be using this blog, BlackAmericaWeb.com, the Text Tom club, the morning show and all of its resources to garner your opinions about some of the specific topics that will be addressed on the program. Among the topics: Does Post-Racial America Exist? (Yep.) Is Affirmative Action Necessary? (duh!) and Generational Colorblindness. Isn’t it funny that usually the only people who claim they don’t see color always end up telling you they’re married to a black person?
I watched this two-hour show. It was as unproductive as most televised discussions about race but not because talking productively can’t be done. The panelists were mostly prominent academics and fellow talk show hosts, all bringing their pundit-baggage or teacher-baggage with them. By which I mean they were pre-loaded with their respective opinions. If you want interesting repartee on race, go ahead and bring professional, well-prepared talking heads like these folks. But if you wanted productive dialogue, this wasn't it.
It’s as if Chris Matthews had a bow and some arrows and a target 50 feet directly in front of him. The target was Better Interracial Understanding and each arrow in his quiver was one of the panels. Unfortunately every arrow was aimed either 45 degrees to the left, to the right, above or below the target. And thus he never came close to increasing interracial understanding in the two-hour effort.
Why not? Because the heart of the issue, in my opinion and experience, is not about bantering and debating, but getting at how regular individuals feel deep down toward each other. Do they feel trusting, comfortable and friendly? Or angry, wary and afraid. We need to get at what’s two and three levels beneath the surface, like fear, and fear of what. They didn’t aim their arrows anywhere near it. It was simply another superficial and unproductive media overview of race in America.
If you want progress, you need people of different skin colors to sit down together and have honest explicit dialogue (not debate) about their lives and experiences. It’s not something we normally know how to do, but the conversations can be had, respectfully and productively, busting stereotypes and building trust and new relationships. Yes, we need to exert power and demand justice but it’s easier if we build bridges and relationships to help us get there. Actually it’s not only easier, it’s necessary if we are to approach Dr. King’s Beloved Society.