Xernona Clayton appreciates the old school, especially when it comes to values, comportment and image. Seventeen years ago, as an executive at TBS, the former television personality and assistant to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. created the Trumpet Awards. These honor, primarily, African-American achievement in a variety of disciplines, not just entertainment and sports. The award ceremony will be held in Atlanta today. We talked to Clayton about what it takes to be judged outstanding.
Q: Most awards shows these days seem simply like a way to celebrate popularity rather than genuine achievement. So why are the Trumpet Awards relevant?
A: We pick people who are successful and achievers, but we don't pick them just because they are successful. ... If you're an entertainer you can make a record, make it gold or platinum and you become wealthy. But if you just take that and buy gold teeth or some more bling-bling, you're not doing anything except advancing your own tastes. So we don't pick people who decide to be selfish with their fame and their fortune. Of course they have the right to do it, but we pick the ones who take their fame and or their fortune and [use it as a] benefit to others.
Q: So what's your definition of excellence, then?
A: It's achieved by one's own journey to the top of the ladder regardless of the discipline. The problem is, we've been underexposed and left out of history books. So our achievements and successes are little-known.
Q: But don't you think there is much more exposure than there used to be of the achievements of African-Americans?
A: Of course. But we don't want to miss any opportunity to tell it again.
Q: So how do you pull in a younger generation, who may not be as familiar with or even care about such history, when your presentation is sort of old-fashioned?
A: Young people have so many outlets: MTV, BET, the list goes on. Our generation, who are just looking for the dignity of presentation, we don't have that [many outlets]. So our show is targeted to ... an older audience. We never have slang or profanity, because we believe that you can talk with clean English and make the clear point.
Q: Tell me, how in the world did you strike up a long friendship with the Georgia head of the Ku Klux Klan, [the late] Calvin Craig?
A: Mr. Craig was an attractive man; he looked like a Wall Street lawyer. So when he comes in the room you thought, "Here's an intelligent man, a nice man." But he started talking idiotic stuff. Now, I treat everybody the same. So I would make my point, then he would make his point. But then I found out he was a deacon in the Baptist church, so I said, "How can you stand before the congregation knowing that you're violating God's principles?" And that, I understand, piqued his guilt. He ended up changing his ways. I use that story as an example: We need to keep working at people who have negative attitudes because you never know when you can change them.
Q: I have to ask you, what's going on with the King children? They've had such a public struggle.
A: Their father said, so effectively, that almost any problem can be solved when you bring it to the table of reasoning. My unhappiness is that I haven't seen them come together. It's a difference of opinion on how to proceed with what their parents left. That's most unfortunate, and it's painful for those of us who love them.
Q: Since you knew Dr. King so well, did he actually believe we'd see a black president of the United States, ever?
A: No, he didn't. He laughed at Andrew Young when Andrew said, "Someday I might be the mayor." But he was so optimistic about the future.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
