Tavis Smiley and Cornel West

Tavis Smiley and Cornel West are two of the most prominent African American public intellectuals and media figures of the early 21st century.

Through their collaborative efforts, including the Poverty Tour and their radio program Smiley & West, they sought to highlight issues of economic injustice, racial inequality, and the plight of the poor in America. While their critical stance toward the Obama administration’s policies often sparked intense debate within the Black community, they remained steadfast in their commitment to what they termed “prophetic witness.”