Cornel West and Tavis Smiley do a disservice to African Americans | David Dennis

used to love these two prominent black intellectuals. But lately, the voice critics have targeted oil-bashing Obama

Dr. Cornel West and Tavis Smiley disappointed.

Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are certainly two of the most important figures of the black intelligentsia and political action in my life. West is probably the most important voice that helped shape African-American identity in recent years, and their careers that matters is one of the most needed in American history. As for Smiley, unwavering news coverage and calls for political action always measured and effective, especially in the light of other activists, celebrities candidates seeking their next book or a sponsorship contract.

That is why it pains me to say that Smiley and West have disappointed me. Of course, I'm not important to them person, but I represent a generation of African-American men who looked to the West and Smiley - to see damaged his legacy by participating in public barbecues embarrassing President Obama

I watched Smiley and West since he was a teenager, the collection of an assessment of race relations and my understanding of my place in this country. I always dreamed of having even a fraction of their impact on the American discourse. So I can not help but feel disappointed when I see these two men relegated to fighting, insults, throwing self-parody, especially when it comes to discussing the president.

Obama called West a "Rockefeller Republican in blackface" and support both the president recently criticized Al Sharpton as an example of this being "in Obama's plantation." These inflammatory comments that discredit criticism valid Smiley and West may have about how President Obama has led in the past five years. And that's a shame, because the two men were also much to offer the country as true intellectuals.

Smiley and West are supposed to be two thinkers who help eighth year of Obama to power in a broader context. They should be our moral barometers, men who advocate for change Obama promised in 2008. With the attention of an African-American president and the state of race relations in this country, it was natural that Smiley and West luster, becoming iconic leaders of his earlier work seemed to prepare. And is fixed for people like me who grew up in the example, the smiley and West show gross participate in Obama-bashing is more embarrassing than inspiration.

This does not mean that President Obama has been or will be perfect. Count me as one of the millions of disappointed with the reward of "change" rhetoric of the Obama campaign. He and his government have earned a lot of criticism as any other president before him. But he also had success, and this applies to the management of race relations, too.

• The truth about the effectiveness of President Obama as president is objectively in the middle of wide debate between verdicts total failure or defects changing world. Smiley and West, however, have chosen to focus solely on the negative aspects of the action of the President, reaching the lowest insults when they are questioned. There is certainly a space to criticize the president, but only neutral shot Smiley and West's ability to point the Obama faults effectively.
• last week, President Obama delivered a historic speech in response to the verdict of George Zimmerman. In his speech of 17 minutes, broke down the problems facing black men in this country and articulated many difficult questions as to why the verdict Zimmerman hit close to home for Americans like me. The speech was widely celebrated in the black community, and a personal appearance, this was one of those crucial moments that I will never forget.

Smiley and West do not see it. West responded by saying the air strikes are way Obama a "comprehensive George Zimmerman," while Smiley said the speech was "low pre-sweetened Kool-Aid" (whatever that means).

These comments are all the more disappointing because they seem to come from a place of personal contempt, rather than any desire to promote intelligent discussion. West has gone on record saying that his initial break with President Obama is that I could not get tickets for his family to go to the inauguration. Smiley threw a crisis in 2008 when President Obama could not make his State of the Black Union event (also say "no thank you" to the proposal that Michelle Obama is in place).

Find best price for : --Limited----Media----Guardian----Zimmerman----George----Obama----news----Smiley----Tavis----West----Cornel--