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Doing What's Right: How to Fight for What You Believe--And Make a Difference
A practical and motivating gameplan that shows us how to battle complacency and fight for the causes we support.
Tavis Smiley is the host of "Black Entertainment Television Tonight with Tavis Smiley," a one-hour nightly talk show that reaches fifty-five million households, and his political and social commentary is heard daily on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," a national radio program with a listenership of seven million. "The Smiley Report," his monthly newsletter, has a circulation of three to four million readers.
Smiley's career was inspired by his lifelong determination to make a difference. Through the media, he has helped to galvanize public opinion and initiate national grassroots campaigns on everything from corporate responsibility to voter turnout. In Doing What's Right, Smiley urges everyone to become involved.
Tavis Smiley is the host of "Black Entertainment Television Tonight with Tavis Smiley," a one-hour nightly talk show that reaches fifty-five million households, and his political and social commentary is heard daily on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," a national radio program with a listenership of seven million. "The Smiley Report," his monthly newsletter, has a circulation of three to four million readers.
Smiley's career was inspired by his lifelong determination to make a difference. Through the media, he has helped to galvanize public opinion and initiate national grassroots campaigns on everything from corporate responsibility to voter turnout. In Doing What's Right, Smiley urges everyone to become involved.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Tavis Smiley
54 books108 followersTavis Smiley is an American talk show host and author. Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and grew up in Bunker Hill, Indiana. After attending Indiana University, he worked during the late 1980s as an aide to Tom Bradley, the mayor of Los Angeles.
Smiley became a radio commentator in 1991 and, starting in 1996, he hosted the talk show BET Talk (later renamed BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley) on Black Entertainment Television (BET). After Smiley sold an exclusive interview of Sara Jane Olson to ABC News in 2001, BET declined to renew his contract that year. Smiley then began hosting The Tavis Smiley Show on National Public Radio (NPR) (2002–04) and hosted Tavis Smiley on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on weekdays and The Tavis Smiley Show on Public Radio International (PRI) from 2004 until 2017.
Smiley had an employment dispute with PBS in December 2017 which resulted in his suing PBS for wrongful termination. Smiley is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. headquartered in Los Angeles. Since June 2021 he has served as Chief Visionary Officer for his radio station, KBLA Talk 1580.
Smiley became a radio commentator in 1991 and, starting in 1996, he hosted the talk show BET Talk (later renamed BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley) on Black Entertainment Television (BET). After Smiley sold an exclusive interview of Sara Jane Olson to ABC News in 2001, BET declined to renew his contract that year. Smiley then began hosting The Tavis Smiley Show on National Public Radio (NPR) (2002–04) and hosted Tavis Smiley on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) on weekdays and The Tavis Smiley Show on Public Radio International (PRI) from 2004 until 2017.
Smiley had an employment dispute with PBS in December 2017 which resulted in his suing PBS for wrongful termination. Smiley is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SmileyAudioMedia, Inc. headquartered in Los Angeles. Since June 2021 he has served as Chief Visionary Officer for his radio station, KBLA Talk 1580.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 15, 2015
This book is as valuable today as it was when it was written, and when it was written adds to it's value.
Being "dated" is precisely what makes it so fascinating and important to look at. Published in February 2000, it's a snapshot at America right before EVERYTHING changed into what we now know-- before 9/11, the ensuing raging patriotism, never-ending war, financial crises and Great Recession, the Occupy and mass incarceration movements. Smiley saw many of the problems coming, below the surface of America, all along.
From the first chapter: "More Americans own their homes than ever before. Other factors that speak to quality of life—college enrollment, birthrates, salaries, consumer purchases—are also on the upswing. But beneath these good vibes and good times lies a dark underbelly of despair, for America’s problems are more serious than we want to believe. Our economy is booming, but a number of countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America have had serious problems which could eventually hit home with us. Jobs are abundant, but the majority of them either require advanced technical skills or are service-industry positions that barely pay a livable wage—hardly a choice for unskilled people who are leaving the welfare rolls to join the workforce. We are not certain that Social Security or Medicare will survive long enough to take care of the huge baby boom generation. Crime is down, but violent crime is up, especially among juveniles, and the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, basically rendering the jailed useless to the rest of society. Blacks and Hispanics remain less likely than whites to secure a home mortgage. And the Dow is hardly a barometer for measuring the heartbreak of those who are wondering where their next meal is coming from.
We can continue to ignore these unsolved problems, or pay short shrift to them, but if we do, they will remain with us well into the new millennium. They will worsen and foster an environment for new problems, creating a burden for our children and grandchildren. We had heady prosperity during the 1980s too. But we chose to live for the day…Then we crashed and burned. We ended the eighties in a recession. Now, ten years later, things are good again. But we may be setting ourselves up for another crash-and-burn."
So the backdrop is fascinatingly dated while written with a prophetic mind, and the overall message of the book itself is timeless. It's a book for folks who feel strongly about things needing to change, to be better, but not knowing where to start, or feeling like they're just too busy, disconnected, fearful of consequences, or like nothing they could do would have any impact. Or, the worst feeling, of fallen into a cynical "nothing could change anything anyway" flatline. This book walks you through what anyone can do, and how they can do it.
"Innately, none of us really knows how to fight for what we believe in. We find our way to making a difference through imperfect processes. Most advocates are out there feeling their way...I learned it was far more important not to procrastinate, rather than waiting for everything to be just so. We live in a culture in which goodness is equated with naivete, where we are trained to cut our losses before we ever learn the hows, whens, or whats. One of advocacy’s greatest joys is the process of discovering how it works. Fighting for what you believe can reveal miraculous inner sources of courage and heart."
"Our country has now arrived at a point where, for the first time, we have a generation of Americans—the so-called Generation X—coming into positions of leadership, responsibility, and authority without having lived through the civil rights struggle. That has consequences for everyone."
Being "dated" is precisely what makes it so fascinating and important to look at. Published in February 2000, it's a snapshot at America right before EVERYTHING changed into what we now know-- before 9/11, the ensuing raging patriotism, never-ending war, financial crises and Great Recession, the Occupy and mass incarceration movements. Smiley saw many of the problems coming, below the surface of America, all along.
From the first chapter: "More Americans own their homes than ever before. Other factors that speak to quality of life—college enrollment, birthrates, salaries, consumer purchases—are also on the upswing. But beneath these good vibes and good times lies a dark underbelly of despair, for America’s problems are more serious than we want to believe. Our economy is booming, but a number of countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America have had serious problems which could eventually hit home with us. Jobs are abundant, but the majority of them either require advanced technical skills or are service-industry positions that barely pay a livable wage—hardly a choice for unskilled people who are leaving the welfare rolls to join the workforce. We are not certain that Social Security or Medicare will survive long enough to take care of the huge baby boom generation. Crime is down, but violent crime is up, especially among juveniles, and the United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, basically rendering the jailed useless to the rest of society. Blacks and Hispanics remain less likely than whites to secure a home mortgage. And the Dow is hardly a barometer for measuring the heartbreak of those who are wondering where their next meal is coming from.
We can continue to ignore these unsolved problems, or pay short shrift to them, but if we do, they will remain with us well into the new millennium. They will worsen and foster an environment for new problems, creating a burden for our children and grandchildren. We had heady prosperity during the 1980s too. But we chose to live for the day…Then we crashed and burned. We ended the eighties in a recession. Now, ten years later, things are good again. But we may be setting ourselves up for another crash-and-burn."
So the backdrop is fascinatingly dated while written with a prophetic mind, and the overall message of the book itself is timeless. It's a book for folks who feel strongly about things needing to change, to be better, but not knowing where to start, or feeling like they're just too busy, disconnected, fearful of consequences, or like nothing they could do would have any impact. Or, the worst feeling, of fallen into a cynical "nothing could change anything anyway" flatline. This book walks you through what anyone can do, and how they can do it.
"Innately, none of us really knows how to fight for what we believe in. We find our way to making a difference through imperfect processes. Most advocates are out there feeling their way...I learned it was far more important not to procrastinate, rather than waiting for everything to be just so. We live in a culture in which goodness is equated with naivete, where we are trained to cut our losses before we ever learn the hows, whens, or whats. One of advocacy’s greatest joys is the process of discovering how it works. Fighting for what you believe can reveal miraculous inner sources of courage and heart."
"Our country has now arrived at a point where, for the first time, we have a generation of Americans—the so-called Generation X—coming into positions of leadership, responsibility, and authority without having lived through the civil rights struggle. That has consequences for everyone."
December 15, 2008
This book ought to be required reading for all 12th grade students.
Mr. Smiley is earnest, smart and committed to a better America.
Mr. Smiley is earnest, smart and committed to a better America.
April 8, 2021
This is a wonderful book! It tells you how to start from where you are, and do a social-justice project. It's easy to read, had loads of practical content, and gives you hope you can succeed!
September 4, 2015
The only self help book I would ever recommend. A must read for every student.
June 2, 2021
All I can say is this book was life changing for me. I first read it when I was a young teen wanting to but not knowing where to go with the rage I needed to use somehow to fight against racism in America’s legal system, especially the police.
I was barely 13 or 14 at the time, but it Tavis Smiley wrote and compiled this book so well years later it still remains a point of reference for my advocacy and a reminder that dreams are achievable if one takes the time to *make* time, remains dedicated and passionately remains active. SMH.
5/5 book tho- DEF should be a must read for anyone who aims to follow their dreams; dreams of non conformity and justice for all; or fighting to find it.
I was barely 13 or 14 at the time, but it Tavis Smiley wrote and compiled this book so well years later it still remains a point of reference for my advocacy and a reminder that dreams are achievable if one takes the time to *make* time, remains dedicated and passionately remains active. SMH.
5/5 book tho- DEF should be a must read for anyone who aims to follow their dreams; dreams of non conformity and justice for all; or fighting to find it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews