"ACCOUNTABLE: Making America as Good as its Promise" promotes the power of the private citizen. "ACCOUNTABLE" informs citizens how they can help politicians deliver on their promises and make democracy active. It tells ordinary people how they can track the performances of their elected leaders and civically engage with government in ways that improve their communities. "ACCOUNTABLE" is the logical and timely successor to two bestsellers: "The Covenant with Black America," which set forth 10 issues critical to our democracy - from health care to the economy - and challenged our public officials to address them; and "The Covenant in Action," which offered a tool kit to help everyday citizens affect change. If "The Covenant" is the “what," "The Covenant in Action" is the “how,” and "ACCOUNTABLE" is the “whether,” the yardstick for measuring whether elected officials and citizens have fulfilled or are satisfying their respective duties in our democracy.
"ACCOUNTABLE" builds upon the first two installments by acting as a timely report card to hold public officials accountable for what they have promised to date. It also endeavors to hold the entire American community accountable for its actions - an inaction - within this process. On the Net: CLICK HERE to buy the book!

MY Disclaimer: I am not a graduate of Tuskegee University nor am I speaking on the school's or faculty's behalf. I attended the convocation and I am speaking based on my personal opinion.

And he educated us in a positive way. But when President Obama won the democratic nomination, it seemed as if the green eyed monster reared its ugly head in Tavis. Why wasn't a book about accountability written by him in the past with some of the other past presidents' faces on it (BUSH?!?!) I won't be buying this book. I think Tavis has become a prime example of a man exhibiting "crab in the bucket" mentality at its finest. TSK TSK Tavis!

Tavis did make a valid point or two, but his main objective in his speech to Tuskegee's students and alumnae was to derail President Obama. And to say what he "shoulda, coulda" done. Tavis made it a point to say, during the election, that President Obama shouldn't get the black vote just because he was black. Well I'd like to say that Tavis shouldn't get the black readers just because he's black. In the past, Tavis' message was always about educating the black community on politics.

Tavis Smiley was the speaker, and instead of uplifting us with an encouraging message, he chose to use his platform as a way to deter us from supporting President Obama. I found him to be very disrespectful. Whether it's the manager of McDonalds or POTUS, I'm all for holding leaders accountable. However, I don't feel that Tavis' message is coming from a place of "accountability." Simply because he never made it his focus until President Obama became a promising candidate for President.

I first learned of Tavis Smiley's disdain for President Obama when he was running for the democratic nomination during the presidential campaign. and while Tavis was a commentator on the TJMS. Since the election is over, he is no longer on the TJMS, and I don't watch his show, I thought that his envy-like rants about POTUS had stopped. Boy was I wrong. I attended the Tuskegee University Homecoming '09 last weekend and truly enjoyed myself, until I decided to attend Sunday's convocation.