Our View: Tavis Smiley shouldn’t contribute to this waste of literature.
Smiley Books is the general trade book publisher that specializes in publishing what black motor-mouth Tavis Smiley deems “quality nonfiction,” set to appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, both within and outside the African-American community. We’re used to hearing Tavis Smiley’s opinions about politics, pop cultural phenomena and whatever other range of topics he chooses to address.
Most recently and notably, Smiley has been instrumental in the publication of multiple New York Times best sellers. Interestingly enough, with this level of success in publishing, Smiley is digging into a new project, which has fans all across the nation shaking their heads in a confused sort of disbelief.
This year, Smiley will be adding another book to his publishing repertoire. He is joining forces with R. Kelly. Yes, R. Kelly. He is doing so in an effort to get the controversial R&B crooner’s story out to the world, this time not through Court TV headlines, or comedic parodies on popular cartoons, but alternately, in book form.
Smiley is soliciting the help of famed author David Ritz, who has written biographies and autobiographies of individuals such as Ray Charles, Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye, and won the prestigious Ralph J. Gleason Award on multiple occasions for his work.
Why does Smiley feel the need to contract an award winning writer, you might ask? An interesting little known fact about the Grammy Award winner, is that he is overwhelmingly illiterate, and barely made it through grade school. But our issue, although touching, isn’t with R. Kelly’s illiteracy. The issue lies with Tavis Smiley backing the publication of a book that, will be a serious waste of literature.
Of course the book will sell. People love tell-all celebrity books. Think back to the popularity of the confessions of a certain “video vixen,” detailing her sexual experiences with an endless number of celebrity men. But regardless of whether or not the book will sell, it will serve to perpetuate stupidity.
According to press materials released by Smiley’s publication company, the book will detail the singer’s struggle with the death of his mother, the creative genius behind his endless hits, and last but not least, his “six-year legal ordeal that nearly ruined his life, but finally ended in vindication when he was found innocent of child pornography charges in 2008.”
This is so similar to OJ Simpson releasing his tell-all book, “If I Did It, Here’s How It Happened,” after being acquitted of the charges he faced.
According to Tavis Smiley, Robert Kelly has earned the right to tell his story, in whatever way he would like to. And according to R. Kelly, he’s tired of being misunderstood, and wants to “tell it like it is.”
We definitely love R. Kelly’s music. He’s clearly a musical genius. But what we don’t love is this opportunity he’s going to have to express the details of his sexual indiscretions with underage girls. At the hands of Tavis Smiley’s company, R. Kelly’s testimony is scheduled to be released in early 2011.
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