European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Montel Williams from marines to making to Waves. A. \. ,. A by Vernon Scott up Hollywood reporter a 1 Ock stars athlete to and movie stars Are the most visible Blacks because they re attractive financially successful and Darlings of the Media. Black religious leaders and politicians also enjoy High profiles in american society. But Michael Jackson Eddie Murphy Michael Jordan Spike Lee Jesse Jackson and a Hundred others tend to obscure the professional men and women who succeed unpublicized. The burgeoning Black Middle and upper class is All but invisible in this country according to talk show Host Montel Williams. There Are tens of thousands of scientists educators Ijo tors business executives lawyers and others who could be shining examples to Black american youth but ate not in the spotlight. Some certainly by Choice. A. Perhaps the most visible of these is Williams himself an under publicized Man of extraordinary accomplishments who should be a Beacon. Williams conducts a probing Well produced talk show that May just be the Best of the lot including Oprah Phil Geraldo and Sally Jessy. But because he Isnit flashy avoids self aggrandizement and does t concentrate on society a misfits and Dregs Williams Isnit viewers first tuning to his daily syndicated talk fest in the United states often wonder who Montel Williams is and How he came to Host a show. His Story is unique. A native of Baltimore Williams corps in 1974 after finishing High school. He was appointed to the . Naval Academy and graduated in 1980 As an Ensign. He studied mandarin chinese and specialized in cryptology and served As a special duty intelligence officer. He served aboard almost a dozen Navy vessels won awards and medals and in 1983 he obtained a degree in russian from the defense language Institute. Still a Young Man Williams already had achieved More than most men in a lifetime. When he began speaking at Community affairs programs at High schools while still in uniform Williams motivational talks electrified the audiences. He left the Navy As a lieutenant commander in 1989 to devote himself to speaking engagements. His special communications abilities led to Viacom a the Montel Williams show which made its debut in june 1991. A a. On camera Williams Demeanour is serious slightly formal and authoritative. He has an inquiring mind and treats his guests and audiences objectively and with respect. Williams does no to look for the Quick quip or cheap laughs. Quot the show began with Only two stations in new York and l. A.,�?T Williams said. A now we arc on More than 120 stations and cover about 91 percent of the country. Quot before beginning the show i had addressed about 3 million kids across the country in simulcasts in a variety of school districts. Quot As much As Black kids need to Sec a Black naval officer talking to them about avoiding negative trends White kids need to see him too in order to understand successful Blacks Are not Only athletes or music stars or ministers. Quot the impression is that those three careers were the Only avenues to Success for Black kids. White youngsters should understand there is a Black Middle class and a Black upper class that we never see anything of. Quot thais the reason Why my presentations to Montel Williams deals with a question on his talk show which is syndicated in the United states. Viacom schools caused so much attention its important that a military officer cared enough to go Back and talk to kids about their futures and the future of the Cotin try. Not just for Blacks but for everybody. Quot from 1988 to 1991 every time 1 addressed a school it became a Media event. I spoke to entire student bodies with no teachers when Williams came off Active duty demands for his presentations were so great he could accept Only a fraction of them. Had Williams not been such a rousing Success he would have remained a career naval officer. A student and Public reaction were overwhelming a he said. A i became the primary guest on local talk shows and Public affairs programs. I was then asked to guest Host and orchestrate formats in some cities. A was a result i Learned How to produce to shows and helped co produce a show for the Abc affiliate in Denver called the fourth a with kids rapping about racism. I won an emmy for that. That was the genesis of my. Viacom syndicated show. A i visited 20 cities a month and spoke to Community groups at the White House at the department of labor and the department of for the past year the Montel Williams show rated seventh among talk shows. In some markets it surpassed Donahue and Oprah. The show is growing. Unlike most of his competitors Williams Isnit a cheerleader for his studio audience bombarding bigoted dumbbells or misery Ridden sociopaths. He assiduously avoids taking sides and creating one edict for our show is we done to be labor what a person has done Quot he said. Quot we want to find out Why they do what they do and come up with some answers. Quot if a person at Home is plagued by the same problems maybe we can help. In a opposed to sensationalism and trivialization of human behaviour. A i have an advantage in not having been on to for eight or 10 years As a local reporter or to personality for 20 years. I Haven to had time in the hot seat to become jaded. When audiences tune in they get me. Not a fake me or a polished to the result is a Man without Donahue a cute twin Kly eyes Oprah a smooth condescension or Ger Aldo s bombast. Williams has a natural dignity and sometimes blunders uncomfortably. November 14, 1993 sunday Page 7
