It’s been 10 years since the inception of Tavis Smiley’s brain child, the  State of the Black Union which has covered a range of issues over the past years from the economy, to the Black Church, the Black Family, Reclaiming Democracy and now this year “Making America as Good as its Promise.”

Granted that’s a rather general idea, from which a range of questions can come, but nonetheless, as Black Snob says, The (Usual) Popes of Blackness are found seated on the panel this year such a Michael Eric Dyson (who shut it DOWNE in the first half) Cornel West who’s on the second half, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.  However this is not to underestimate the other powerhouses who just don’t get as much airtime as those first four.  

The panelists set to include are Danny Glover, Na’im Akbar, Lani Guinier, Danny Bakewell, Sr., Jawanza Kunjufu, Les Brown, Charles Ogletree, Randall Robinson, Iyanla Vanzant, Julianne Malveaux, Maxine Waters, Magic Johnson, Erica Williams, Emilie Townes and Marc Morial

 If I left someone off, my apologies.

To those that feel that this is a bunch of “intellectual masturbation” I would encourage you to listen with an open ear to see if maybe you can learn from what was said.  I would also encourage you to check out Tavis Speaks and see what the man is really talking about.  Also, check out CSPAN to see it live and catch the replays

Fact of the matter is that these panelists are sitting around talking about personal responsibility and promoting a public policy that cares about “the least of these.”  That’s it an all I have to say.

For other live blogging check out Michael Fauntroy and Carmen Dixon Rosenzweig.

I’m leaving this post open for those that have watched the State of the Black Union and would like to make a comment.  Or how do you feel about all of the panelists in the first place and do you think they stuck on topic and did you get something from it.

Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL