Tavis Smiley is on a mission. He wants black Americans to think critically and become leaders. Smiley, host of NPR’s The Tavis Smiley Show spoke to over 300 HBCU students at NCCU’s Think Tank on Friday, Feb. 13.

“I hope that you are encouraged to think critically after I speak,” said Smiley. “My mission is to encourage, enlighten and empower,” said Smiley.

Smiley, who was dubbed one of the nation’s “captains of the airwaves” by Newsweek and named one of America’s most promising young leaders by Times magazine, spoke at NCCU’s Think Tank, a program designed to bring together students nationwide from HBCUs.

The Think Tank was sponsored by the SGA and the city of Durham. Students from more than 15 HBCUs attended the event to explore the changing roles of HBCU students.

“First and foremost,” said Smiley, “we must learn how to be leaders.” To be a leader he said you’ve got to show up on time and have a plan. “You’ve got to be prepared when your opportunity comes,” said Smiley. And leadership means “taking positions that are uncomfortable and inconvenient because your conscience says it’s right.”

According to Smiley many young blacks don’t fully appreciate the struggle that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement.

“The goal of the movement was to gain equal access and equal opportunity,” he said.

“We owe those black leaders who helped us achieve that. We cannot take advantage of our opportunities in the wrong way.” Smiley has hosted The Tavis Smiley Show since January 2002.

In 2001 he was fired by Robert Johnson from a similar talk show on BET because of a dispute over an exclusive interview he gave to Symbionese Liberation Army member Sara Jane Olsen. BET wanted the interview to run on the Smiley talk show, but Smiley argued the interview didn’t fit the format and sold it to ABC.

Smiley graduated from Indiana University where he studied public policy and law.

“Smiley encouraged me to do better in life and made me look at myself in a different light,” said NCCU senior, Thomas Boya.