Tavis Smiley’s recent criticisms of the Obama administration’s failure to directly address the concerns of the black community has caused an uproar among black leaders.

The Tavis haters are out in full force. It is so ironic because it seems that every time Tavis attempts to criticize and dialogue “out of love,” much of black America seems to come out and express the opposite.

Although Tavis and I are ideological opposites, our goals are the same: providing and promoting a set of goals that best enables black America to overcome the unique and daunting challenges facing us at a time of cultural crisis and national recession.

After a White House meeting between select leaders and President Obama earlier this month, some prominent black leaders seemed to indicate they understood why the president did not embrace a “black agenda.” Tavis’ controversial commentary about black leaders on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” on Tuesday morning (which led to the on-air dustup between him and Rev. Al Sharpton on Sharpton's radio show) was on point: A conversation needs to take place.

In the past, black leadership was often aggressive in bringing African-American challenges to the attention of the White House. To collectively back away from that responsibility now that President Obama is in office--even as black people face even larger challenges--suggests something is terribly amiss.