You are well within your right to question his motives. But, I have to respectfully disagree with you regarding him being self serving. Tariq has shared his resources to other melaninated people. He paid for Dr. Cress Welsings’s funeral. He has donated money to Afrocentric schools. He helped Tamir Rice’s family. He employs Blsck people, ADOS an non-ADOS Blsck people to do his films. He has done a lot for Black people, moreso than many people.
For people to expect him to do his work and not make a living is very unfair. I remember a long time ago when he was doing his lectures, he made a very valid point. He was saying that when he goes around the country to do his lectures, the HBCUs would try to low ball him on his fees, but would give up the bag to certain popular rappers at the time. To me, that was a good point. The PWIs broke bread, but the Black institutions wanted a hook up.
He is an entrepreneur, but also a philanthropist in his own right. He may not have the academic training as some of his friends within the conscious community, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t intelligent. Plus, who else goes after white supremacists as hard as him?
He don’t have to do what he is doing. He could have stayed with Macklessons and made a killing off of the relationship circuit, if he was truly self serving.
Like I said, I don’t agree with everything he says, but I do like his spirit. I seen him evolve from his younger days til now.
In all, you are right, he isn’t above reproach, but the same goes towards any of us or the people he challenges. If you can’t rock with him, then you can’t rock with him. There are people out there whose views and ideologies mirrors your own..
