Tavis Smiley & Dr. West Poverty Tour - Read to see why there are marches in the streets!

[1776Forever]

With nearly 50 million Americans now living in poverty, “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience” will be the focus of five upcoming special episodes. Tune in October 10-14, when each night’s show will be devoted to video highlights from Tavis’ August 2011 poverty bus tour with his co-host on PRI’s Smiley & West radio show, Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West.

Here's the link to watch Monday's program: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/features/poverty-tour/

Last night the CEO of Feeding America, Vicki B. Escarra, told about a child who tried to sell their toys so their mother could have something to eat. She also said that a family of 4 who make $21,000 a year get $245.00 in Food Stamps a month, which is not enough to feed 4 people, and that the Food Banks in the Country are seeing a huge influx of "new" people every month. Con. John Conyers D-MI, said "We are in a class-war right now, they just didn't declare it yet".

Here is the Poverty Tour Website:

http://www.povertytour.smileyandwest.com/follow-the-tour/

New York Times article on the Tour:

October 9, 2011
‘Tavis Smiley’ on Poverty Tour
By BRIAN STELTER

Tavis Smiley has described it as “a call to conscience.”

An 11-state tour by Mr. Smiley and Cornel West, the Princeton professor, to raise awareness about poverty in America will be translated onto television starting on Monday. All five episodes this week of the PBS program “Tavis Smiley” will focus on the subject, which is one that antipoverty advocates say is all too often slighted by television news programs.

Tavis Smiley’s show on PBS will report on his 11-state tour to focus attention on poverty.Mr. Smiley said that many of the poor Americans he met on the tour feel the same way.

“They sense that they’re being rendered invisible,” he said in a telephone interview last week. “They sense that the focus has been on Wall Street, not Main Street, much less on the side street.”

....Summarizing his findings, he said, “The new poor are the former middle class.”

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/tavis-smiley-on-poverty-tour/

........

Every Congressperson and Senator should have to watch this! This is why there are marches in the streets! When a man said he and his wife had to live apart to exist after he had lost his home and job, isn't it time for our so called "leaders" to step up and start to do what is right for our Citizens! Makes one want to scream!

:argh:

[1776Forever]

1. Tavis Smiley and Dr. West truly care about this country!

They care about all people in need and I hope that everyone that can will watch this program! Thank you so much Tavis and Dr. West for being there for the poor -

:loveya:

[BrendaBrick]

10. kick

[1776Forever]

2. Please tell me why anyone would unrec this post? I want to know - n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Divine Discontent]

4. Someone may have what they deem as issues with one or both of these men over their past statements

challenging the current WH Admin.

Speaking out is what the President has asked us to do, and I think regardless of whatever is intoned in the present, we should stick to what was asked of us all in the past, because it's about the future of our country, not about any one person.



http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[1776Forever]

7. Unfortunately you are "right on". I learned the hard way as I thought more people would rec this

post in thanks to these men for their courage. They will get their reward in higher places. Jesus would be right there with them:)

[Ignis]

5. Because these two fine gentlemen didn't kiss the ring.

Unfortunately for their detractors, West and Smiley are on the right side here. More power to them.

[1776Forever]

8. Yes, how can anyone deny 50 Million people in poverty? It is a fact not a talking point. Thank you:)

They are courageous in their actions. Who else is out there talking about this?

[Ignis]

12. Sesame Street has a character suffering from food insecurity, yet...

Our (D)s are busy shipping jobs off to other countries via "free" trade agreements.

Yeah, I'd say the priorities got a little skewed somewhere along the way. :(

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Because West and Smiley have both

spoken out against the Obama Administration's Wall Street friendly policies which makes them "the enemy." It's just the Booster Club spreading their love for independent thought. ;-) I rec'd it.

[EFerrari]

6. KIck.

[Divine Discontent]

11. kick for those of us in poverty, and for those with children looking for work, and the homeless. :(

Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486eping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486