Mother's Day has come and gone, it's a first for a Nnekay and shares with us what's it been like to be celebrated. James brings up the Constance Wu controversy with the Fresh off the Boat Renewal. This was recorded before the HORRIBLE Alabama Abortion Bill- but our thoughts and comments are still on target. James takes us through the 2020 candidates that are NOT white dudes. We look at their platforms and how we can best support and find out more!

We have returned to form because Nnekay has returned from her maternity leave. First we gotta thank all the wonderful guest hosts that helped James hold down the fort while Nnekay was away. What a gift! Next up, it's just some casual chit chat time with the wonder twins of podcasting, talking pop culture! Then Nnekay catches us up on what has been happening in her life! All the good and the grit, then we wrap things up with a quick splash of politics! It's a good one ya'll!

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We welcome back Ben Randle to the korner, as it’s technically his second time back, but due to some traveling and a technology mixup years ago, this is the first time you listeners are going to be entreated to his brilliance! It’s a Minority Korner Homecoming, for James and guest co-host Ben Randle as they sit in the very theater in San Francisco, at New Conservatory Theater Center where their friendship first started as they went on to work with each other, live with each other, and have super soul conversations together.  Ben is fresh off the heels of winning the prestigious Drama League Fellowship- next stop broadway. With Ben around, it's a politics gab sesh, as we dive into a deep dive into the current political landscape. Ben leads an eye opening conversation on how the very visible Democrats on twitter are not the same as the democrats in the electorate, which would account for why we are, and have in the past seen different polls and results than what we might see on our echoey twitter fees and media. James looks into the recent election of Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s first openly Lesbian Mayor, in this landmark election, it was the Black church that got her elected, but how does this hold up with some of their conservative values? How did this happen? Is this a change in the Black Church (which is not the Black Community as a whole)? Plus Ben says Robyn was the best concert he ever went to, all this and more!  Nnekay's back next week! 

LINKS: 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/08/upshot/democratic-electorate-twitter-real-life.html?fbclid=IwAR1ZqwZS0suzec2CLtwjSi7FoN03MF_sGUecT2CqPIpViXXyWG4KgDgmtGs

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/us/chicago-gay-woman-mayor-black-church/index.html?no-st=1555051017

https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2019/apr/06/lori-lightfoot-chicago-mayor-criticism-progressive-record

https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/4/02/lori-lightfoot-has-become-chicagos-first-lesbian-mayor

FOLLOW BEN RANDLE: 

TW:@BRandleTheatre

IG: BRandle Theatre

http://www.benrandle.com/

Twitter: @minoritykorner
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You, the Korner Kids, are driving the episode this week! Mail Call! Flying solo this week, James dips into the Minority Korner mail bag. James navigates learning how to run the show solo, and still manages to go into tangent city, and seems to spook himself talking about 'Us'. We get letters from around the world, and James attempts to answer questions like: what's the difference between Latino/Latina and Latinx? Who gets to tell who's stories? Naming your baby from a name that's not of your culture is that appropriation, digital blackface, and more! James manages to creep himself out throughout the episode. Then we jump over to Nnekay on Reading Glasses, as it's a Maximum Fun Crossover Event! It's like the Avengers but with books! Nnekay gives some amazing book recommendations, and how to give book recommendations to other people. 

Reading Glasses

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It’s the last week of the Maximum Fun Drive - ya’ll have been rocking it, and Nnekay is back to ring in all the Maximum Fun Drive fun! We also have a special Guest Cohost Bay Area Legend Steven LeMay, star of the SF drag stage production of of Sex & the City, he’s been on Project Runway and he shares so many great insights especially into the evolution of drag, history of drag, ageism in the gay, and performance community, his thoughts on current Drag Queens and the popularity of mainstream Ru Paul’s drag race, along with his journey into finding himself as a “female illusionist”. James is taking you to court with 5 cases across the country that are dismantling marriage equality, and could get pushed up to the Supreme Court... or is it 6? James and Steven will debate about that. Plus politics, the election, and lots of fun, and Nnekay will be back to chime in to tell you how you can get involved in this year’s Maximum Fun Drive! Let’s do it!

LINKS:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/these-five-court-cases-could-change-the-future-of-lgbt-rights?ref=scroll

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michigan-lgbtq-adoptions-deal_n_5c9565aae4b057f7330addab

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-high-school-at-the-center-of-pennsylvanias-trans-bathroom-showdown

Get involved with Maximum Fun Drive! Become a member or upgrade your membership: https://maximumfun.org/donate

Follow Steven LeMay:

IG: @chezlemay

Shop at Steven's Store Retrofit vintage clothing:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/retrofityourworld?ref=l2-shop-info-avatar&listing_id=664118158

http://www.retrofityourworld.com/

Twitter: @minoritykorner
Ask Minority Korner Anything: minoritykorner@gmail.com
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We are so chuffed for this weeks episode! It’s the Maximum Fun Drive and we have an action packed episode! Nnekay will be joining throughout the episode in our Maxim Fun Drive segments. We have returning to Minority Korner Jennifer Covington, self help guru, extraordinary and host of Shine on Sista Podcast. With all the hard hitting documentary series what makes a series like Leaving Neverland, Surviving R. Kelly, or My Strange Addiction, helpful and when is it just voyeuristic? What makes a cult a cult- how to know you’re in one, and why Jen and James might be susceptible to cults. Remember hit Netflix show “on My Block”? ... We kind of do. We remember enjoying it but can’t remember what it was about- but it’s BACK! Jen leads us through a great conversation about the 5 Levels of Interaction she learned at a seminar by the MANKind Project, and these tips will help you navigate this debate filled world, and how to use your power and privilege. With the college admissions scandal plaguing our psyche’s James focuses in on the real scandal: White Affirmative Action. It’s a thing! Plus gay prime minister Leo Varadkar, visits... Mike Pence? Whaaaaat?  All this and more on this special episode of Minority Korner: Maximum Fun Drive edition!

LINKS:

https://www.theroot.com/government-study-school-is-racist-1825014607

https://www.theroot.com/separate-and-unequal-the-real-education-scandal-is-ame-1833273732?fbclid=IwAR02-3q7Ag8AiBz7xfYMF5sUY6QRSV1Im81vTANRyer_wtHSc2js4mjLsD8

https://www.huffpost.com/?icid=hjx004 

https://phys.org/news/2015-03-african-americans-elite-college-degrees-advantage.html

http://www.newnownext.com/irish-prime-minister-leo-varadkar-presidential-visit-mike-pence/03/2019/?fbclid=IwAR02bNAKl1tkGn76t-uSyUhmTZ_m81tPHZY2z453CpIm7F4EEP8Devj6ewk

Twitter: @minoritykorner
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FOLLOW JEN:

Glory is back in the copilot seat, and James catches her up on what a Captain Marvel is, and his thoughts on this groundbreaking movie, and why these dude trolls be trollin- don't straight dudes like women? Kuddos to Rotten Tomatoes and other platforms who are changing their systems to combat Trollism. James just finished watching Finidng Neverland, thank God Oprah had a one hour special to help him unpack it, and Glory who hasn’t seen it yet, we'll just say things stop getting pretty funny and they get into an impassioned debate, which of course this is very triggering stuff that we’re bringing to light, and probably will be for a long time as we continue to have in depth conversations about abuse, and believing survivors, healing, and stopping the cycle of abuse. In honor of women’s history month James is celebrating the late activist Marielle Franco of Brazil, a Black, lesbian, single mother politician who was assassinated a year ago, and Glory is giving us the low down on Black lady self made billionaire Madame C J Walker who was helping Black folks with their hair before it was taken over by white folks. Stick around to the end because we get in a conversation about Will Smith’s latest controversial casting around colorism, and I’m not talking about his blue roll. Also in a first ever we have Glory’s special Astrology Korner just for you because Mercury is in retrograde- or as we like to say: reset.

LINKS:

https://afropunk.com/2018/08/politicians-are-involved-in-the-murder-of-brazilian-afro-feminist-activist-marielle-franco/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/18/marielle-franco-brazil-favelas-mourn-death-champion

https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/brazil-after-a-year-of-impunity-authorities-must-bring-marielle-francos-killers-to-justice/

Resources for those in need of help, counseling, or support from sexual assault:

RAINN: https://www.rainn.org/

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/ 

What Therapist are Telling Trauma Survivors after Finding Neverland: 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/leaving-neverland-sexual-abuse-survivors_l_5c87fe51e4b0450ddae4ec62

Follow Glory Mora on IG: @gloryisprettyfunny

Twitter: @minoritykorner
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It's about to get real emotional and philosophical up in here as these two water signs jump into it. In the guest cohost spot from the MASkulinity Podcast we have Samantha Nzessi. Remember that governor who you thought was racist well it turns out his wife just might have him beat with her own flavor of racism. We discuss what is truth these days, do we care about facts- which leads us into a conversation about Jussie Smulllet- what the fuck happened!? Finding Neverland documentary, yikes, is this the end to Michael Jackson? We canceled R. Kelly after the 'Surviving R. Kelly' doc, are we willing to do the same to the King of Pop? First Black Oscar winner Hattie McDonald was a controversial figure in her time and still to this day. James dives into the history of this controversial figure, her history, and who she really was. You think you know... but you don't know! Is Steve Harvey yucking Monique's yum. Samantha takes us on a tour in a conversation around her podcasts main premise of masculinity. What is masculinity in our culture? What does it mean to be a man? How did we get to Trump? Where do we go with dealing with the culture of masculinity? Plus James saw Green Book- and he has notes- Samantha did not see it- and still has notes... just who was this fantasy reconstructing of racism for? 

Links: 

https://ew.com/oscars/2018/02/22/hattie-mcdaniel-first-black-oscar-winner-legacy/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPhyaisW7CE

Samantha Nzessi: @samanthal_n

MASkulinity Podcast: http://maskulinitypodcast.libsyn.com/

@maskulinitypod

Twitter: @minoritykorner
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This week we are literally recording in a korner! We have actress Teresa Attridge stepping into the guest co host spot while Nnekay is still out on maternity leave, and as our first Asian American guest (sorry it took so long)  we have so much to talk about! Is it time to rethink Avenue Q? Is it dated? Is everyone REALLY a bit racist? Terasa weighs in on interracial relationships and how she's navigated it. Also, she breaks down the model minority myth, it’s history where it came from along with the desexualization of Asian men, and over sexualization of Asian women. She shares her theories on how those in power weaponize our differences against each other, why younger Asian Americans are drawn towards black/hip hop culture, the Black/Asian divide, and so much more! Plus we get her thoughts on Marie Kondo. But first I dive into the case for Reparations: It’s about fucking time ya’ll and we could be the generation to do it!  I break down it's history, precedents of it happening before inside the US and out, the continued growing wealth gap, what it might look like, and why it is so necessary if we are ever going to have true healing in America. 

LINKS: 

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2018/08/26/three-strikes-didn-t-work-it-s-time-to-pay-reparations

https://solidarity-us.org/atc/87/p1637/

https://qz.com/1012692/this-is-what-reparations-could-actually-look-like-in-america/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/reparations-african-americans-un

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/reparations-black-americans-slavery_us_56c4dfa9e4b08ffac1276bd7

Twitter: @minoritykorner
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We've got the fabulous Angélique Roché, a journalist, attorney, content creator, and communications professional focused on the intersections of activism, policy, politics, current events, and nerd and pop culture as seen on Marvel and SYFY Wire, and she makes herself right at home! We discuss JLO and the Grammy's (who thought it was ok for to give the Motown tribute). Angelique proposes we need to get a redux on Black History because it's been ruined between all the blackface, Liam Neeson, Kanye and more. James is assuming that if you're white you've probably done blackface at some point. And then these two blerds nerd out heavily on Charmed (old/new), and Buffy (old/potential reboot?). Who's more treacherous to cross- the Beyhive or the Babylon 5 hive? James walks us through the first ever on screen Black Kiss dating all the way back to 1895 and the importance and revolutionary act of Black love on the screen. Also in honor of our guest cohost we have new mics! Enjoy that new sound in your ear holes! 

SOMETHING GOOD - NEGRO KISS

https://www.theroot.com/tracing-black-love-in-film-unpack-that-1832530824

https://qz.com/quartzy/1496928/watch-the-first-ever-movie-kiss-with-an-african-american-couple/

Angélique Roché

IG: @a_gelique

https://www.angeliqueroche.com/

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This week on Minority Korner, for our first guest cohost filling in for our neighborhood librarian as she’s on maternity leave, we have the very hilarious New York based comedian Glory Mora and we have so much to talk about we dive into Cancel Culture, the right way to apologize for some past social media shit one shouldn’t have said, Glory catches me up on the drama on the Braxton family values, and why do we watch rich people fucking up their lives on TV? I watched Netflix’s Siempre Bruja which should be a win dealing with a witch in colonial slave time Columbia, but it is a misstep, and Glory is right at home as we go into tangent city. In the main events I am giving you the low down on 2 Black folks you probably haven’t heard about and that should become movies asap! One was a bad ass stagecoach driver, and the other an escaped pirate slave- and Glory will finish out the episode giving you the insight about the divine 9- the Black Fraternity and Sorority’s and some prominent members that hail from her very own sorority Zeta Phi Beta- and along the way Glory will be fact checking and letting us know everyone’s star sign! Also I give Glory some advice: don't ever let Baby Face manage your music career. 

Stage Coach Mary

https://www.history.com/news/meet-stagecoach-mary-the-daring-black-pioneer-who-protected-wild-west-stagecoaches

Escaped Pirate Slave Robert Smalls

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/which-slave-sailed-himself-to-freedom/

Follow Glory Mora on IG: @gloryisprettyfunny

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Get ready for some hot winter hot topics! First up the wonder twins react to the the live action remake of Aladdin. James has the inside scoop because he's in the "industry", and is upset, but not because of the reason you think. From there the twins easily go on a Robyn Williams tangent, which brings up the question of just why is Sally Field triggering for James? Will Nnekay entreat us with some live music? James gives his hand at ASMR, could this be a new career for him?  Which actor dominated the box office last year? The sailor gay kiss around the world has conservatives in a TWIST! Do blue characters on kids shows tend to connotate blackness? Did Marvel try to push Iceman back into the closet??? Nnekay has a spoiler free review of Aquaman- it's ridiculous. James watched John Cho's suspense thriller Searching- and it's so good, you've never seen anything like it! Then for the main event we breakdown Gabrielle Union's "Breaking In". We watched it, so you don't have to! The New year, new us continues!

LINKS: 

https://www.themarysue.com/iceman-was-almost-put-back-into-the-closet-by-marvel/

http://www.newnownext.com/us-navy-gay-sailors-homecoming-kiss-jacksonville-florida/12/2018/?xrs=share_copy_email

Twitter: @minoritykorner
Email: minoritykorner@gmail.com
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We start this episode off with a round up of all things 2018. Can you even believe it?!?!? Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians came out, the Olympics happened- this year has been a whirlwind! We got the wind knocked out of in 2017 and we persevered in 2018. We kicked our asses into gear and plan to continued to so in 2019. Nnekay and James share their hopes and dreams for the next year. With a little detour into why mud baths are annoying and James' trip to the Van Jones' Show. In the Korners- we have our two favorite from the past year: Nnekay's korner is from Episode 140 and is all about the epidemic plaguing our country: Black Maternal Mortality. James' Korner is from Episode 124 and is about Black Queens (four specifically)... remember Queen Candice!? Also a lot of questionable pronunciations. 

We have united in person for Kwanzaa, and James' Kwanzaa hormones are going! So, it's time to dust out our annual Kwanzaa special, because whether you're a new or longtime listener you may have forgotten how to celebrate! Plus we jump in between the segments to add in some new insights, retrospectives, tangents, and giggles. We'll be there to guide you through our Kwanzaa spectacular! But before we get into the gist of it James has a recommendation of a Black, Queer, Gospel, broadway musical "Choir Boy". The wonder twins also rehash the history of British pop group Cleopatra who were comin' atcha. So first how well do you know Kwanzaa? We'll take a quiz sponsored by PBS. Then we jump back into it and discuss Mowgli on Netflix, which Disney's live action Jungle Book she ain't, and James has impressions to show the difference. We also give tips on how to celebrate Kwanzaa if you're far away from your family. So then we jump back into the special and James talks about it's history, importance, meanings, and walks you through the days, and then Nnekay will walk you through how you can celebrate this beautiful holiday celebrating African American Awesomeness. 

Twitter: @minoritykorner
Email: minoritykorner@gmail.com
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Don't know remember Cleopatra: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZoJHCefY4

James is driving the ship this week, while Nnekay takes to being in that passenger side with ease! We got one korner, but man is it a korner! Back from the OutRight International Out Summit on global activism- James is MOTIVATED to talk about LBGTQ issue that are happening all over this beautiful glob we got. More specifically, he's going to focus on India's Article 377 and the the ripple effect of change it has had on many other countries. Lets decolonize and change legislation to be less homophobia and to provide liberty for truly all! We also get into chats about Kevin Hart's fuck up... yet again.  How Ryan Murphy is effecting change, Why some music videos really irked us... and why you gotta have us pay Vulture? You a BLOG!