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Welcome Back, Tavis Smiley?
Black men, sexual misconduct, & the question of second chances
I had mad respect for Tavis Smiley back in the day. I can’t lie.
He wasn’t a radical muckraker or anything as a public intellectual but he was a solid, political voice in a sea of terrible voices. He wasn’t perfect either as a public affairs figure but he did provide a steady forum in his endeavors for political, cultural, and social discourse relevant to African Americans and all citizens. Smiley’s A Covenant With Black America book and the tour remains relevant today looking back on the conversation it pushed.
Yet, after Smiley built his brand and voice on radio, television, and print, and became relevant, it was discovered he had been allegedly up to no good on a personal level. He had been dating women who worked for him and according to their testimony, they felt pressured to date Smiley. That is textbook sexual harassment.
Smiley denied the charges but he lost that battle in the court of public opinion and in court, as well to a certain degree. His employer, PBS sued him for breach of contract (a morals clause) and Smiley lost that lawsuit. He continues to deny the allegations and he has, for the most part, moved on. He did say that he has learned from the experience.
