General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Cornel West on the President [View all]1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)it speaks directly to critics, everywhere ... and make clear the point, your criticism is whining when you are not engaged ... and being on the speaker's circuit, or posting daily dismissive on an anonymous, though politically named, internet message boards, are not being engaged.
But to your question ... I cannot speak to Tavis, as I know virtually nothing about him, other than his pulling together the Black State of the Union (with the help of Wells Fargo and then went out a pimped toxic WB mortgages in the Black community) and his couple self-congratulatory books.
But when Dr. West started out ... he did some great research and writing on policy impacts in the Black community, but that was wonky journal stuff, not fit for commercial publication (i.e., best selling books, because in academia (at the time), the conclusions must be drawn directly from the research and failing to do so, was quickly pointed out and consider much worse than NOT publishing).
I think he remains a brilliant, though much too wordy/using of fancy words/forcing of word usage, speaker; but, as with so many, important people ... he became aware of his importance and that became the mission.
That is the primary difference between Dr. West and President Obama, how they handle(d) the recognition of their own importance.