NAACP Approaches Tavis Smiley to be it's New Leader
Wednesday, March 9, 2005 at 11:03AM The NAACP has approached PBS chat-show host Tavis Smiley in its search
for a successor to Kweisi Mfume. While Smiley tells us he will meet
with the civil rights group's search committee — which is considering
more than 200 applicants for the top job — we also hear that he's
locked into contract commitments. "President and CEO of the NAACP
is perhaps the most prestigious position in all of black America," he
said in a statement yesterday. "It is flattering to be asked to
consider such a vaunted opportunity for leadership and I have agreed to
meet with them to hear more about their plans for the future."
Regarding the search, John White, the group's spokesman, told us: "I
have not heard any favorite mentioned at the NAACP. . . . And I haven't
heard Tavis Smiley say he wants to be president." [more]