Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Who are today's Black Leaders?

Who do you consider black leaders in the 21st century? Please dont just pull out Obama, Oprah, Jessie, A. Sharpton, and Soulja Boy Pull out Ebony Magazines Most Influential Black People Issue if you need to!

15 comments:

TravelinMan said...

I got a good one...he was on TV just last week representing for a group of people that have been ashamed for years...but now have a visible leader

The Biggest Boss

DFW Dad said...

Ross is tripping with the no shirt thing. What about Tavis? He got hated on after the Obama thing but he does try to make a difference.

SLA said...

Travelinman,

You need professional help for your problems...seriously! LOL

I'm gonna go with Felicia Rashad, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Debbie Allen, Katherine Dunham. I think these are 4 of the most underrated women EVER. The only reason they were looked over for so long is because they were too careful about not perpetuating stereotypes! They never played the role of the struggling living in the projects mother whose going to be on welfare forever because she has 20 kids, and they never played the "hoe" role! As for Katherine Dunham, you'll never get to see her choreography on mainstream TV, the world's not quite ready yet! LOL

DFW Dad said...

That's a good list.

Krazy Legs said...

Can't argue with that list SLA. I can't hate on Tavis either. Other than the whole Billary/Obama stuff that went on with the SOTBU, Tavis does his thing.

I think Roland Martin could be the next big time black media guy. He's certainly got the fourm to make an impact on CNN. And he makes some sense too. I also think Micheal Baisden is a pretty good one too in the radio industry. He really made a statement with the Jena 6 movement. Sure he can be a little over the edge sometimes, but for the most part he does well compared to say Steve Harvey. Not that I have a grudge towards Steve Harvey or even Tom Joyner. But I think Baisden seems to cross more age boundaries IMO.

DFW Dad said...

I forgot about Roland. He could be really big. He makes a lot of sense. I thought about saying Baisden. It seems like he is trying to step up as a leader in the community.

TravelinMan said...

Tavis probably feels that the community is out of touch with him at this point. His purpose as a whole was to get folks to think outside the box and not be caught up in cronyism within the political sector.

SLA said...

Yeah. Good One. Even though i listen to Baisden just about everyday i still managed to forget about him. I'd prefer him over Steve anyday. Nothing against Steve, it's just that when comedians hit radio and you hear them talk too often they aren't funny anymore, and start telling the same jokes (Ricky Smiley) and get real one-dimensional on us.

Krazy Legs said...

as much as we preach "think outside the box" everybody is scared of the repercussions of doing such.

Look at me for example. I want to do something different with my career, but have I stepped out to give it a shot? Norpe! Why? I don't have the balls to do it yet with the way the economy is at the moment.

DFW Dad said...

I can't stand to listen to Steve Harvey. He used to be okay but I can't take 5 minutes of him now.

Krazy Legs said...

I'm starting to agree with you SLA. I can only stand to listen to SH and RS for so long. I'll tune in to some of the comedy bits I don't mind hearing, but I can't listen to a whole show of SH or RS anymore.

DFW Dad said...

It's either sports radio or the iPod for me. And k104 is the worst. None of their stuff is funny.

Shae said...

Okay, I'm going to spit out a name that not many of you know. Sometimes it's the heroes in our community that we overlook. Take Charles Alexander III; Demea's uncle. He founded a male youth group, Fellowship Foundation, years ago and even after Katrina, he is back up and running. He has a passion to reach at least one young man. If you don't know what it's all about, just speak to him and he'll tell you all the history. But I have to give him his props, because he's determined to make this foundation work and he's making it happen!

DFW Dad said...

Those are the type of people that make a real difference. The people in the actual communities that step up.

The Kaptivator said...

I like what Tavis Always says..The Leader You are Looking for is YOU! Honestly I don't like the whole idea of a "Black Leader"...b/c none of us think alike and most of us aren't on the same page..so no matter who we can agree on, there will be the other half that is upside his..well until he dies, then he's Martyred. Even with MLK..half of the blks were not down with the whole anti-violence movement, a lot of them looked at MLK like a punk..well until he got assisinated then they started loving him and realized what he had done! So I think it's impossible to get one black man or woman to speak for all of us! Look how many were for Bill Cosby's (comments) and how many were against it. I think it will take our common enemy to rise up for most of us to whip into line a follow a common agenda, but who will lead that agenda is anybodies guess...It may in fact be a local unknown person who rises to the challenge! But we will only follow him if ALL OF US have something to lose!!!!