'National Action Network Forum: Measuring the Movement with Al Sharpton' Will Air Live on TV One

What does this look like to you?

Grandstanding and showboating come to mind... but let's reserve judgement until the end of the day. Some questions need to be addressed.

Has Rev. Al upstaged Tavis? Does it even matter if both are trying to push their agendas in relative obscurity? Is the African American public aware or listening to this conversation? By the way whose "movement" are they talking about here anyway?

Looking at the guest list it seems that Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson will be the only person that will appear at this event and appeared at Tavis Smiley's Black Agenda confab last month in Chicago. It's interesting to note that Tom Joyner has made the committment to join with Sharpton and the rest of his Radio One syndicated co-hosts by hosting the event with Roland Martin.

Here's the info for today's event.

NEW YORK - TV One will offer live coverage Saturday, April 17 of the leadership forum sponsored by Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network designed to determine and commit to significant and measurable goals that will advance the standing of African Americans over the next 12 months in the areas of political power, economic power and social/cultural influence.

Moderated by TV One's Washington Watch host and CNN contributor Roland Martin and hosted by radio industry icon Tom Joyner, "National Action Network Forum: Measuring the Movement with Al Sharpton" will air live on TV One Saturday, April 17 from 11 AM - 1 PM ET, repeating on Sunday, April 18 from 11 AM - 1 PM ET.

A host of top African-American government, education, religious, and cultural leaders are expected to participate in the forum, including: Rev. Al Sharpton; House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC); National Urban League President Marc Morial; NAACP President Benjamin Jealous; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Harvard Law School professor Dr. Charles Ogletree; author, commentator and Georgetown University professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; noted rapper and activist Chuck D; syndicated radio talk show host Warren Ballentine; BET host Jeff Johnson; Judge Greg Mathis, of "The Judge Mathis Show"; Michael Blake, Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement & Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Danny Bakewell, President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association; LaKimba B. DeSadier, Executive Director, National Black Caucus of State Legislators; and Dr. Elsie Scott, President & CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF); and Lezli Baskerville, President & CEO, NAFEO (Natl. Assn. for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education).

The forum, which will close the National Action Network's four day annual convention in New York, will be held at the First Corinthian Baptist Church at 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (at 116th St.)