Shows
Ken Scott Baron PodcastFirst Blog and Podcast from Ken at the NABWMTHello, this is Ken Barron.I'm with an NABWMT organization,and I've been writing and publishing podcasts over the last 10 years directly onthe NABWMT website.But I've moved to Substack to get a better audience,a wider audience,but the topics will still be the same.It will be basically fighting racism and homophobia.So the podcasts will also be accompanied by posts to Facebook and other platforms.So I'm looking forward to being on this new platform and getting...2025-07-2500 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe Supreme Court harsh rulesThe Supreme Court rules against people at the margins in three cases. These are harsh measures that deal blows to students and LGBT people. We live in two countries now: one in which basic civil and human rights are recognized and enshrined in law, and another in which ideological extremists can decide how everyone else […]2023-07-0805 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSupreme Court supports Black Voters’ PowerThe Supreme Court, surprised us deciding that Alabama had diluted the power of Black voters by drawing a congressional voting map with a single district in which they made up a majority. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion in the 5-to-4 ruling. He was joined by Kavanaugh and the court’s three liberal members, Sotomayor, […]2023-06-1404 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastGun ViolenceAmerica’s regular mass shootings leads to the hand-wringing that our politics is so polarized that there’s no way to move forward. AR-15-style rifles may be here to stay, so which have some bipartisan consensus. There is substantial progress, but now we need more. The F.B.I.’s Background Check System, stitches together three databases of state […]2023-05-2208 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastUgandans Harsh Anti-Gay LawUganda’s Parliament passed a sweeping anti-gay bill in late March that threatens punishment as severe as death for some perceived offenses, and calls for life in prison for anyone engaging in same-sex relations. The authorities kept saying, ‘We will hunt you. You gays should be killed. We will slaughter you,’” he said. “There was no […]2023-04-2607 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe Push to Restrict Abortion PillsWomen were instrumental in helping during the AIDS crisis, and so I am always an ally in the fight for women’s rights. Since a federal judge in Texas last week invalidated the Food and Drug Administration’s 23-year-old approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, states led by Democrats have been scrambling to adjust to a possible […]2023-04-1304 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastWisconsin and ChicagoTwo victories important to progressives occurred this week. Wisconsin Supreme Court, and Chicago Mayoral campaign. Wisconsin voters on Tuesday chose to upend the political direction of their state by electing a liberal candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz to the State Supreme Court, flipping majority control from conservatives. The result means that in the next year, the […]2023-04-0704 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastOscars 2023The nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards were announced early Tuesday morning. Best in class Netflix’s German war movie “All Quiet on the Western Front” and the Irish dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” with 9 and “Elvis” with 8 My husband and I always take time in each winner to see the potential nominees […]2023-03-0106 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastDe SantisAnti-Black redefined as pro-equality, anti-gay as pro-family and anti-immigrant as pro-American. In Tallahassee a march happened protesting DeSantis’s crusade against everything “woke,” a concept defined as “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.” DeSantis’s obsession has led him from attacking critical race theory to, now, restricting the […]2023-02-2104 minKen Scott Baron PodcastThe killing of Tyree NicholsThe killing of Tyree Nichols, a Black man in Memphis, at the hands of Black police should prompt outrage and condemnation from racial justice activists, police reform advocates and law enforcement officials. Problems of race and policing are a function of an entrenched police culture of aggression and dehumanization of Black people. It is the […]2023-02-0904 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastFix Rural RageIn my last blog I talked abut rural resentment which has become a central fact of American politics and supported for the rise of right-wing extremism. I attributed this rural resentment to perceptions that rural areas are ignored by policymakers, don’t get their fair share of resources and are disrespected by “city folks.” And then, […]2023-01-2805 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastA welfare state for white people?Republicans now control the House will soon try to slash Social Security and Medicare, threatening to create a financial crisis by refusing to raise the federal debt ceiling. This could erode the world’s faith that the United States will always pay its bills. Lifting the debt limit allows the government to pay the bills it […]2023-01-1505 min
Ken Scott Baron Podcast2023 Update from NABWMTAs we approach the end of 2022, the NABWMT Board of Directors continues to work diligently to carry out our responsibilities to our members. We are all working together to make our organization stronger. During the past three months, the Board of Directors has been focused on several initiatives for the upcoming year. First, the […]2023-01-0206 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastAnti LGBTQ HateAnti-LGBTQ hate thrives onlineIn the days after a gunman killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado last month, much of social media lighted up with the now familiar expressions of grief, mourning and disbelief. The hate isn’t limited to fringe sites. On Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, researchers and LGBTQ advocates have tracked an […]2022-12-2106 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastBook BansThe NABWMT fights homophobia and racism. and now needs to be aware that books by LGBTQ and Black are under attack. In my opinion, book banning is a violation of our First Amendment rights. When the government bans a book, it sends a clear message that certain ideas are not acceptable in society. Sounds familiar in […]2022-12-1708 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastNA Political Team’s Senate Prediction Comes TrueAt this years NABWMT’s Convention Speakers Mack and Ken Scott Baron predicted that the Democrats would win a majority of 51-49 Senate seats.This came true as Warnock beat Walker in Georgia, giving Democrats this 51st Senate seat. We thank the team for helping to point out candidates policies that align with the values of the […]2022-12-0906 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastVoter suppressionVoter suppression – a poll tax paid in time. Georgia voters have defied efforts to suppress them. On Tuesday afternoon, they waited over an hour and a half to vote in Atlanta in the Georgia Senate runoff between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker.2022-12-0304 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastBlack, gay and homelessnessUnhoused Black gay and bisexual men are disproportionately impacted by HIV and severe cases of (MPV) Monkeypox. In 2019, Black people accounted for 13% of the U.S. population but 40% (479,300) of people with HIV. According to the CDC, Black gay and bisexual men accounted for 82% of HIV acquisitions. Black gay and bisexual men also account for […]2022-11-2804 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastBlacks, Jews and JusticeUntil we see antisemitism as a toxic species of the white supremacy that threatens Black security and democracy’s future, none of us are truly safe.Martin Luther King in 1968 asked when will the Black community take against the vicious antisemitism. Nearly 55 years later, the actions of two Black figures will ask us that question […]2022-11-2208 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastCongrats to the NA for Supporting Democracy.Thank you all for the work you did on getting out the vote in the Midterms. We sent 43,400 texts20,000 Social Media Posts, 895 letters 200 postcards, worked on 10 Phone Banks, and canvassed in key districts. Your efforts allowed the Democrats to retain control of the Senate, and choke the so called “Red Wave” […]2022-11-1403 minKen Scott Baron PodcastThe Red Wave is just a trickleThe Red Wave is just a trickle In the latest results from the pivotal midterm elections, Democrats appeared to defy historical odds in critical midterm elections as an anticipated “red wave” did not materialize. The President’s party has averaged a loss of 28 House seats and four Senate seats. Turnout smashed all records. That might […]2022-11-0909 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastLet’s Say GayThe word “gay” is increasingly being substituted by queer or, more broadly, L.G.B.T.Q.,which are about gender as much as sexual orientation. The word “queer” is climbing in frequency and can be used interchangeably with gay, which itself not so long ago replaced the dour and faintly judgmental homosexual. Only 10 years ago, for example, queer […]2022-10-2506 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastIntra-Minority RacismI have blogged on white racism and colorism but one subject that is also of concern is a form of “lite” supremacy, in which fairer-skin people perpetuate a modified anti-Blackness rather than eliminating. Without doubt, America is experiencing a browning of America, white supremacy could simply be replaced by — or buffeted by — lite […]2022-10-1504 minKen Scott Baron PodcastLA, Racism and Redistricting.Here in Los Angeles there has always been a wide range of ethnic and racial diversity and politics. Over the weekend a secret audio recording in which the Los Angeles City Council president, two of her colleagues and the county’s top labor official discussed race and power in coarse and at times racist terms behind […]2022-10-1305 minKen Scott Baron PodcastSupreme Court and Mid TermsSCOTUS (the Supreme Court} starts again on Monday and will feature major disputes on affirmative action, voting, religion, free speech and gay rights.As we approach the midterms get ready for a lot of 6-3 right wing judgments. So, SCOTUS will be another reason to vote to protect your rights The last SCOTUS term ended with […]2022-10-0609 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastWhite Fear – A reviewThis book is really well worth reading, not just for white folks but for anyone that wants an accurate account of US racial history.The author, Roland Martin, doesn’t hold back on the truth of this country….from the past to the present. His Daily Digital Show, “Roland Martin Unfiltered”, does the same. “White Fear” explains and […]2022-09-3006 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastMidterms dehumanizing immigrantsAbout 40 days to go for the midterms and Texas Governor is using immigration as a wedge issue. Meanwhile, few months ago, the wind appeared to be at O’Rourke’s back, as he fought to make that happen, to become the first Democratic governor of the state since Ann Richards over a quarter century ago. He […]2022-09-2707 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSame-Sex Marriage is on the the lineWhy is it always on the Democrats to compromise? On Thursday, the bipartisan group of senators behind the Respect for Marriage Act, which would have enshrined federal protections for same-sex marriage, announced a delay on putting the measure to a vote, which had been expected to take place this week. The bill’s lead sponsor, Senator […]2022-09-2007 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastTaking on the Bullies of the GOPWhat do you do if you are an activist? A Los Angeles Times article is a great story to inspires folks to stand up against homophobia and misinformation. Olivia is a 19-year-old Texan is a “queer, plus-size, disabled Latina.” She’s the kind of person whom Trump thugs love to target and troll. But she can […]2022-09-1608 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe road to the MidtermsHappy Labor Day and after the celebration lets return to the fight! The unofficial Labor Day kickoff of the fall campaign season could push anxiety levels higher as the parties scramble to game out and shape where the electoral circus is headed. Here at the NABWMT we vote our values, freedom, inclusivity and support for […]2022-09-0605 minKen Scott Baron PodcastRelief for Black Student Student LoansRelief for Black Student Student Loans I was excited with the news that President Biden has announced Student Loan Relief for borrowers who need It Most Since 1980, the total cost of both four-year public and private college has nearly tripled, even after accounting for inflation. Federal support has not kept up: Pell Grants once […]2022-08-3004 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastAbortion Bans and the GOPThe NABWMT fights for people at the margins, and should do more to help women struggling after the overturning of Roe. And so, we find that Republicans have moved slowly and have struggled to speak with a unified voice on what comes next. We know what comes next, states should move aggressively to protect women. […]2022-08-0704 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastDemocrats should run on the truthDemocrats need to find a balance between a coherent strategy by talking about the state of the Republican field as a whole, rather than singling out a few bad apples and spending millions of dollars to boost them. Republicans have unfit candidates and Democrats cannot remain fully neutral during Republican primaries. The GOP has reorganized […]2022-07-2004 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRace for Congress TightensWith President Biden’s approval rating mired in the 30s and with nearly 80 percent of voters saying the country is heading in the wrong direction, all the ingredients seem to be in place for a Republican sweep in the November midterm elections. But Democrats and Republicans begin the campaign in a surprisingly close race for […]2022-07-1705 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRoe Overturned LGBTQ Rights in danger?Roe overturned, LGBTQ rights at risk The reversal of Roe vs. Wade is likely to be the first step in a campaign to rescind legal rights and protections that the Christian right in America finds objectionable. They want to turn constitutionally protected rights into political questions at the state level. Two decades of gains in […]2022-06-2706 minKen Scott Baron PodcastThe Racist Researcher and GunsIn 2020, there were more than 45,000 gun deaths in the United States. But there was no major push for gun safety legislation. Last year, there were nearly 700 mass shootings in America — and again, there was no major push for gun legislation. Is the disturbing truth of “psychic numbing” and the feeling of […]2022-06-1205 minKen Scott Baron PodcastLGBTQ rights are at riskThe reversal of Roe vs. Wade is likely to be the first step in a campaign to rescind legal rights and protections that the Christian right in America finds objectionable. They want to turn constitutionally protected rights into political questions at the state level. Two decades of gains in federal protections for LGBTQ Americans have […]2022-06-0606 min
Ken Scott Baron Podcastreat Replacement Theory is not NewIn Buffalo this past weekend — as in El Paso, Pittsburgh, Charleston and Christchurch, New Zealand, before it — the “great replacement” conspiracy theory appears to have inspired another mass shooting. The theory says that elites are using government policy to replace white people with nonwhite and non-Christian ones. This has prompted concerns about the […]2022-05-2407 minKen Scott Baron PodcastJustice Thomas ReviewThe Supreme Court has become politicized, and this is to say at the least, disappointing and perhaps dangerous. So, a lecture by Justice Clarence Thomas, of all people, bemoaning the horrors of extreme income inequality. Does he really not realize that by giving partisan political speeches in partisan political environments, he is precisely what is […]2022-05-1706 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastProtests and what works now in the fight for RoeAs a member of an organization that is mostly gay men, we forget the work women did in the AIDS crisis, so we should move to help the women who value reproductive rights. If you listen to my podcasts or read my blogs, you will know I report on activism that works, and what does […]2022-05-1010 minKen Scott Baron PodcastSupreme Court BombshellFirst, I want to acknowledge what a grave and scary moment this is. On Monday, a Supreme Court draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, was leaked to the press, suggesting that a majority of justices are prepared to overrule Roe vs Wade, the Reproductive Rights Act. If (and when) Roe vs Wade is overturned, […]2022-05-0405 min
Ken Scott Baron Podcast“White ‘splaining”I am always a little cautious when writing on racism. As a white man who’s formative years were molded in the UK, a notable, one time colonial power, there should be a check on my “white ‘splaining.” But surely human beings are capable of empathizing with those whose ethnicity or country of origin differ from […]2022-04-2706 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastStopped While BlackPolice pull over more than 50,000 drivers on a typical day, more than 20 million motorists every year. Yet the most common police interaction — the traffic stop — has not been tracked, at least not in any systematic way. The Open Policing Project has collected over 200 million records of traffic stop and search […]2022-04-2007 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastL.G.B.T. rights a culture war?We thought the battles over L.G.B.T. rights were to fading from the American political scene. The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, and most Americans supported the decision. But in more than a dozen states, Republicans have recently passed laws restricting those rights. In the Senate, Republicans used Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing to […]2022-04-1507 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSenate Confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme CourtIn a 53-47 vote Ketanji was elevated the first Black woman to the pinnacle of the judicial branch as senators erupted in cheers. Three Republicans joined Democrats in supporting President Biden’s nominee. But no Black woman had the opportunity to vote for the barrier-breaking nominee: None is currently a member of the 100-person chamber, which […]2022-04-0804 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastReparations for slaveryCalifornia’s Reparations Task Force prepares to answer the pivotal question of who should receive reparations for slavery. Questions underscore the complexity of California’s quest to become the first state in the nation to approve statewide reparations for slavery. State law directs the group to prioritize those who trace their lineage to African Americans enslaved in […]2022-03-3107 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastTesla and RacismSeveral racist slurs allegedly were directed at Black workers at Tesla’s California plant, according to a lawsuit filed against the company. A single mother was excited to land a job at Tesla. About three years in, she was fired, she said, after complaining that Black workers were frequently called the N-word on the assembly line. […]2022-03-2500 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastUkraine, Homophobia and RacisMIf we think that here in the US LGBT rights are under attack note that queer refugees fleeing Ukraine fight to find allies for housing, medical care. For example, Edward Reese, a queer activist who works with Kyiv Pride, decided to flee Ukraine on March 8, he knew it was going to be a long […]2022-03-1706 minKen Scott Baron PodcastUkraine, Homophobia and RacismIf we think that here in the US LGBT rights are under attack note that queer refugees fleeing Ukraine fight to find allies for housing, medical care. For example, Edward Reese, a queer activist who works with Kyiv Pride, decided to flee Ukraine on March 8, he knew it was going to be a long […]2022-03-1706 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRacism and the Supreme CourtKetanji Brown Jackson is an eminent Judge is President Biden’s pick to replace Justice Stephen G. Breyer. And so, the backlash from the right has emerged, some subtle and not. If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to be a part of the land’s highest court. Some history is appropriate here. President Kennedy […]2022-03-1005 minKen Scott Baron PodcastRacial wealth inequalityProgress toward racial equality in the United States is real based on changes in racial attitudes across time. However, a rigid belief that progress is automatic lends itself to the denial of the persistence of racial inequality in the funding gaps between public schools serving white students versus those serving children of color, the disproportionate […]2022-03-0406 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastCalifornia Latinos and WashingtonThe number of Latino-majority districts in California has grown to 16 from 10. Although the state lost a congressional seat, the independent redistricting commission’s maps approved last month give Latinos more power. The 16 majority-Latino districts make up nearly a third of the state’s now 52 congressional seats. Can Democrats take advantage of those new […]2022-02-2605 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRedistricting UpdateRepublicans are jockeying for advantage in next year’s elections and beyond, Democrats are trying to squeeze everything they can out of their limited leverage, marginalized groups are lobbying state officials to maximize their voting power and lawsuits are looming. Redistricting is happening in every state, even those with only one congressional district, because state legislative […]2022-02-1607 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastDr. Fauci and the Mid TermsDr. Fauci, President Biden’s top medical adviser for the coronavirus — is under attack in Pennsylvania, where Mehmet Oz, a television doctor who has entered the Republican Senate primary there, calls him a “petty tyrant.” In Nebraska, an ad shows Jim Pillen, a Republican running for governor, dressed in hunting gear and cocking his gun […]2022-02-1105 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastBiden and Justice BreyerSo now, it is fascinating to watch as people work themselves up about Joe Biden committing to choosing a Supreme Court nominee from a group that has long been overlooked: Black women. It is identity politics and affirmative action, they scream. The irony here is that Ronald Reagan, the Republicans’ patron saint before the rise […]2022-02-0307 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRight-Wing EducationFreedom of speech and thought — has long been a key element of the American idea. This is despite all the ways in which we have failed to live up to our self-image, above all the vast injustices that sprang from the original sin of slavery, Everyone knows about the Big Lie, the refusal by […]2022-01-2704 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastVoting and the Filibuster.Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema made it clear that they were not in favor of altering the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation. Activists have been fighting this battle for nearly a year without much support from the White House. Biden gave a big voting rights speech in Philadelphia calling the Republican assault on […]2022-01-1905 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSupreme Court blocks Covid plan.Supreme Court on Thursday blocked Biden’s Covid plan. Welcome all of you and especially those suffering and have suffered from COVID. You may be fortunate like myself, and have been fully vaccinated or survived the Covid infection. And so, you may be wish we all would be vaccinated. And you are irritated that many are […]2022-01-1405 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastBiden needs to changeBiden needs to change I am a big fan of President Biden, but his poll numbers keep sliding. Americans, including many of the people who voted for him, are not happy with him. They want him to someone different. I am activist and impatient for change in the US. Change in equality, in vouting and […]2021-12-2507 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastDemocrats CritiCismDemocrats seem to be always hungering for criticism of their fellow legislators. It seems that Kamela Harris’s media coverage, she’s not merely mismanaging an apparently restless, frustrated staff. She’s bursting into flames and incinerating everything in her midst, including Democrats’ hopes of holding on to the White House in 2024. And word of Joe Biden […]2021-12-1104 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastMississippi, Racism and AbortionMississippi with its distinction as the state where the tide of progress is blocked and pushed back, is in the news. It is in an abortion case before the Supreme Court. But first, some history. During Reconstruction, Mississippi became a Black power center in this country. There were not only more Black people than white […]2021-12-0705 minKen Scott Baron PodcastTwo Trials, Two Different VerdictsThe march of gun violence continues as Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges after testifying he acted in self-defense in the deadly Kenosha shootings that became a flashpoint in the debate over guns, vigilantism and racial injustice in the U.S. The verdict in the politically combustible case was met with anger and disappointment from […]2021-11-2605 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe Browning of AmericaCharles Blow at the New York Times intrigued me by talking about this subject. That is the shift of the country from mostly white to mostly nonwhite. Many hold hope for this effect in the fight against white supremacy and oppression. The most recent United States Census officially recognized five racial categories (White, Black or […]2021-11-2007 minKen Scott Baron PodcastDave Chapelle and LGBTQDave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, “The Closer” has caused an uproar on Social Media and the press. He defended he used the acronym TERF which means trans-exclusionary radical feminist, and in this special, Chappelle defended Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has been accused of being transphobic. He said: “Gender is a fact. Every human […]2021-10-1703 minKen Scott Baron PodcastTexas’s New Congressional MapRepublicans in the Texas Legislature proposed a new congressional map that would preserve the party’s advantage in the state’s delegation to Washington amid booming population growth spurred by communities of color. The new map was designed to protect Republicans hold on the 23 of the state’s 36 congressional seats. Texas was the only state in […]2021-09-3005 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastArizona Vote Check Fails.A review of the 2020 election in Arizona’s Maricopa County, financed by Republicans, has failed to show that former President Trump was cheated of victory. At the NABWMT we have been keeping an eagle eye on voting rights and suppression. The draft report from Cyber Ninjas tallied 99 additional votes for President Biden and 261 […]2021-09-2405 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastRedistrictingRedistricting influences our voting capabilities. Small changes in district lines can solidify a majority of voters for a particular party or split its opponents among multiple districts to dilute their influence. Republicans need to net just five seats to regain the U.S. House in the 2022 elections, which could determine the fate of President Biden’s […]2021-09-2007 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastCalifornia and Wisconsin recall fightsCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have one thing in common, they both fought recalls. Republican Walker is the only governor in American history to successfully beat back a recall. He did so in 2012 by pivoting from playing defense on his record, namely a highly polarizing measure to clamp down […]2021-09-0111 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastGay AgendaThe Anti Gay People Some straight men should stop obsessing about gay people. Why do they care about a thing that has nothing to do with them occupies so much of their time and energy? Maybe they should interrogate their own prurient interests in other people’s love, get at the root and figure out why […]2021-08-2610 minKen Scott Baron PodcastCalifornia and Trump VotersHere I am in a deep blue state California but the minority Republican voters can upset me by using the a provision of our state Constitution. Two very important things happened in the California recall election in recent weeks. First, the polls have moved closer to even, suggesting that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is suddenly […]2021-08-2207 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastYoung VotersIn 2020, young voters turned out in record numbers to help Democrats win the White House and other key races. In 2021, however, an onslaught of voter suppression measures being enacted in statehouses could have an outsized impact on those young people, according to voting rights advocates. The Brennan Center has reported that so far […]2021-08-2009 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSouth Carolina Voter Bill2021-08-1807 minKen Scott Baron PodcastVoting and AlliesKen from the National Association of Black and White Men talks about the NA’s effort on Voter Rights and Voter Suppression, He outlines how the Black community votes in huge numbers on these issues but other communities need to do the same.2021-08-1704 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastHow Can You Make Amends for your AncestorsIt is a question I get sometimes: I don’t have slaves but maybe my ancestors did, if that is the case, how to make amends? The the case of Stacie Marshall in Georgia. She was in line to inherit 300 acres, which would make her the first woman in her family to own a farm. […]2021-07-0508 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastCraziness of the Republican PartyWe are all relieved to have a sane President. And then we have the QAnon wackos, the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, the voter suppression hard-liners, the coup enthusiasts and the election deniers. They could take the House next year during the midterm elections, and possibly the Senate, as they continue to rewrite election rules in several […]2021-06-1107 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastTexas and Voter SupressionThe Democrats are fighting back on voter suppression. The battle among Texas lawmakers over a bill that would impose some of the strictest limits in the nation on voting access escalated Monday as Democrats and Republicans vowed that they would not back down over a highly charged issue that has galvanized both parties. Democrats killed […]2021-06-0307 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastGeorge Floyd after a year in Two CitiesOne year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, and the streets of American cities filled with protesters demanding an end to police killings, in the largest mass movement for civil rights in a generation. Thousands of people gathered in West Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles in June to demonstrate against […]2021-05-2507 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastMovie: The Underground Railroad Last week the BWMTSC group watched episode one of “The Underground Railroad,” Barry Jenkins’ TV adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. This is disturbing 10-hour saga of an enslaved woman on a journey to freedom across the antebellum South by way of a literal subterranean train with conductors and […]2021-05-1805 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastStench of Oppression , Smell of BigotrySo said Senator Schumer at the hearing of Senate “For the People Act”. The “Big Lie” continues, fueled by Republican claims that the 2020 election was rigged. This is despite the fact that many judges and election officials said otherwise. The Brennan Center reports that State lawmakers continue to introduce voting and elections bills at […]2021-05-1305 minKen Scott Baron PodcastThe Gay Panic DefenseRemember when Mathew Sheppard was murdered and the accused men’s legal teams attempted to advance the “gay panic” theory on their client’s behalf? They claimed that Shepard had made an advance on their client and triggered a violent response – one that drew on traumatic youthful homosexual experiences as well as the influence of drugs […]2021-05-0608 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSupreme Court sides and immigrantsThe Supreme Court on Thursday sided with an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant seeking to challenge his removal from the U.S. by immigration authorities.In a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court said the Justice Department was violating federal law by not providing immigrants it seeks to deport with a single, comprehensive “notice to appear” […]2021-04-2904 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastSports, Homophobia and RacismLGBTQ people have made many gains over the past few decades but homophobia and transphobia persist in sports. And in a recent survey by conversation.com they sought to determine the nature and extent of this. In recent years, more professional athletes, from U.S. women’s soccer team player Tierna Davidson to Olympic gymnast Danell Leyva, have […]2021-04-2107 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastHerd ImmunityLos Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said, based on numbers received from the federal government, that Los Angeles will reach 80% vaccine coverage in residents over 16 years old the next 12 weeks. That means by the end of June the county should have achieved the overall the 70-85% immunity — through vaccinations […]2021-04-1306 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe fight over GeorgiaGeorgia’s new voting law has inspired a heated national debate.This anti democratic law is part of an ongoing effort by the Republican Party to make voting more difficult, mostly because Republicans believe they win when turnout is low. Voter fraud is exceedingly rare. There seems to be a consensus, among both parties, that Democrats benefited […]2021-04-0806 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastColonialism Again.As an expat Brit, who believes that white supremacy gave way to colonialism and slavery, I was dismayed that the US and Britain combined to continue the practice of ignoring human rights in the South China Sea. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken castigated China for making extreme maritime claims in the South China […]2021-04-0307 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastViolence Against Asian AmericansWe are heartbroken and outraged by the horrific acts of hate in Atlanta and mourn the lives lost and grieve the lives that are forever changed. There has been a huge surge of documented hate violence towards Asian Americans over the past year, and Asian American women have overwhelmingly borne the brunt of it, […]2021-03-2405 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastHR1HR1: THE “FOR THE PEOPLE ACT” big money, increase oversight and accountability, secure and modernize our elections, and ensure politicians work for voters, not special interests. Yes, we won the 2020 election, but the fight is not over yet! The NABWMT will review and collaborate to end gerrymandering, modernize voter registration, enhance voting access, empower […]2021-03-1513 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastThe Black ChurchFaith and Black Americans The so called Back church has played a historic role in the lives of African Americans. A recent Pew Research report shows that the Black American religious life is diverse, with a wide range of religious affiliations, worship practices and beliefs. Based on a survey of 8,660 Black and […]2021-03-0909 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastHope on HIV ResearchHere in the US we have been fighting the Covid virus for a year with some progress over the last months. However our community was decimated by another scourge the HIV epidemic. Although we have perfected the so called “cocktail” medicines that force the HIV to sequester in the body rendering a death sentence to be a chronic […]2021-03-0404 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastLong Beach coronavirus vaccinationsGov. Gavin Newsom on Monday morning, Feb. 22, touted Long Beach as a model for the rest of California as he urged health officials across the state to prioritize vaccinating educators against the coronavirus so they can quicken when schools can reopen for in-person learning. The governor visited the Long Beach Convention Center to applaud […]2021-02-2309 min
Ken Scott Baron PodcastHow to Turn Your Red State BlueWe are basking in the sun of victory in the 2020 General Election, but there is still more to be done as a recent op-ed suggests. Stacey Abrams and Lauren Groh-Wargo met and became political partners a decade ago, uniting in a bid to stave off Democratic obsolescence and rebuild a party that would increase […]2021-02-1616 min
Ken Scott BaronWar on ImmigrationThe administration believes that there is a crisis at the border, despite the lack of proof. Indeed, the rate of influx at the border is down compared to previous years.2019-01-1106 min
Ken Scott BaronEpisode 10 Angela DavisMy birthday is on January 26th, the same day as Angela Davis.
When I was a student at University of California Berkeley, I remember Angela Davis as a prominent counterculture activist in the 1960s during the civil rights movement.
The famous “People’s Park” demonstration cemented her reputation as a firebrand activist. Later, she and others took over the Marin County courtroom during which four people were killed. She was prosecuted for three capital felonies, including conspiracy to murder, but was acquitted of the charges.
Now, Davis is a professor emerita at the Univers...2019-01-0905 minKen Scott BaronEpisode : Queers, Intimacy and MoviesKen Scott Baron Podcast"
Many years ago, I remember the movie "The Breakfast Club" and the antics of the teens as they shown their coming out stories. The characters rebelled against authority, as many of you have done. Though they did this they ultimately decided they need to get ready for adulthood.
The queer teen has seen a resurgence of movies, and the recent one, "Love Simon" shows homosexuality as no big deal for well off folks in affluent areas. But that is not as simple in less tolerant communities as depicted in "Boy Erased". And...2019-01-0412 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 9: The public interest A Podcast from Ken on Public Interest versus Free Enterprise:
While I am not against the free enterprise system, the primary goal of companies is to serve the shareholders. they may not to always serve the public interest.
I can remember how America had the largest and best public colleges and universities in the world and public schools, libraries and research.
The public works that I knew, starting in 1970, gave way to privatization of these for profit to gain efficiency and reduce taxes. However, this can often only boosts corporate bottom lines.
Whe...2019-01-0103 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 8: A podcast on ImmigrationA review of the facts and history of immigration in the United States2018-12-3012 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 5: Interview on the NA name changeA podcast interview with Doug Noble on the history of the name of NABWMT. Over the years, the NA and it's chapters have wrestled with their names. Typically the need for more inclusivity has driven this.2018-12-3012 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 4: Multicultural, MultiracialThe NABWMT and a immigration update on a scholarship linking our values. It talks of black views on immigrants and immigration policy. This depends on age and history. But as MLK said; Injustice for one is injustice for all.2018-12-3006 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 2 FriendshipAn archived podcast where Ken discusses friendship, in particular with folks of a different race.2018-12-1805 minKen Scott BaronEpisode 1This is an archived podcast with NAWMT Co Chair Gavin Morrow Hall about health and HIV2018-12-1509 min