Tavis Smiley Talks African American Financial Empowerment

What is your name and what do you do?
My name is Tavis Smiley, and what I attempt to do is to enlighten, encourage, and empower people through a number of broadcast and internet outlets.

What are some of your thoughts on the importance of financial education in the black community?
Put simply, too many of us spend money we don't have, to buy stuff we don't need, to impress folk we don't even like. If we could ever arrest this development, we could get on down the road toward financial prosperity.

What personal philosophy do you follow on money?
The same advise my Grandfather gave me years ago: "Make all you can. Can all you can. Sit on your can." In other words, make it, invest it, and watch it grow.

How do you think the internet and social media has helped or hindered financial education?
The short answer is, there is so much financial information available via the internet that ignorance is no longer an acceptable excuse. I've tried through my internet outlets, namely through a program that we call Road to Wealth, to empower people with financial information that can help them live better lives and leave greater legacies.

Do you have any financial and professional advice for the black community?
Yes, save more and spend less. It's really that simple.

Is it necessary for President Obama to create more economic programs targeted towards the black community?
ABSOLUTELY! This notion promulgated by the White House that "a rising tide will lift all boats," is nonsense. All the boats didn't go down at the same time, and all the boats are not going to come up at the same time. Wall Street and Harlem are on the same island called Manhattan. Wall Street is coming up and Harlem is going down. And besides, if when the tide does comes up, and you're in a yacht and I'm in an inner tube, we've still got a problem! And we haven't even talked about the folk who are in the water! But I digress.

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The Black List Project

Al Sharpton
Reverend, Civil Rights Activist, 2004 Presidential Candidate
"You actually have some black kids being told that to be smart and eloquent is to act white. Well, who decided after two centuries of struggling for educational excellence that being a thug now is the definition of black manhood?"

Arnold Turner, WireImage

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Lou Gossett Jr.
Actor, Oscar Winner 1982
"One of the examples that I deeply object to is whenever there's a story where African-Americans have made history in the last thirty years, nine times out of ten, those characters have been played by Caucasian actors."

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Bill T. Jones
Dancer, Tony Award Winner, Director: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
"You can't be a successful artist anymore, you've got to be making it big-time. It's like you've got to be slaying the charts everywhere.."

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Vernon Jordan
Lawyer, Civil Rights Activist, President: National Urban League 1972-1981
"It's been my experience that at the darkest hour, it is important to see light at the end of the tunnel."

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Keenen Ivory Wayans
Writer, Director, Producer, Actor
"'In Living Color' wasn't about doing a black show. I wanted to do a show that was really about everybody."

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Toni Morrison
Novelist, Professor, Nobel Laureate
"Writing for me is the only free place. It's the only place where I'm not doing what somebody else wants or asks or needs."

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Colin Powell
U.S. Secretary of State: 2001-2004, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: 1989-1992
"A man who is a leading candidate for president of the United States now is on stage with the most famous celebrity in all of America. And they're both black. And when I talk to my children and my grandchildren, they just see this as normal."

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Chris Rock
Comedian, Producer, Director
"My dad used to say this. You can't beat white people at anything. Never. But you can knock them out."

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Russell Simmons
Mogul, Founder: Def Jam Records
"We saw the Beastie Boys were stars. LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Public Enemy. They weren't just records, you know. And so that's why Def jam was formed. They were artists and performers. They still are."

The Black List Project

Slash
Guitarist, Songwriter
"People, by and large-in this industry especially-still and I think always will have a hard time trying to put aside the stereotypes and just listen to things for what they are."

The Black List Project

What has been the scariest/funniest/best moment in your career?
All three of the above are yet to come. What I love most about the work that I do is that every day is uniquely different. On any given day I try to do something that scares me; I'm always looking for the funny; and while I don't believe in "best," I'm always striving to get better.

What surprised you the most about the financial side of your industry?
That I could work this hard and make so little. I'm working like a Jamaican!

How has Twitter helped you in building your brand and running business?
On Twitter, I try not to focus on the frivolous, although I ain't mad at others who do. What I attempt to do is to use Twitter to comment on the things that matter most to me. These are serious times, with serious issues that demand a serious discourse. I'm constantly amazed at the power of Twitter to do good. You should follow me, @TavisSmiley!

Do you have any financial and professional advice for aspiring public figures out there?
Sure. We live in the age of truth and transparency. Recognize it and you will prosper. Ignore it at your own peril.

What upcoming projects do you have in store for us?
They're all listed at tavistalks.com. That said, 2011 is my 20th year in broadcasting, and we have a number of events and projects that we're unfolding throughout the year to celebrate the occasion.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
Yes. I love you and there ain't nothing you can do about it!