Equal Time with Mary C. Curtis

In the middle of a contentious election season, it might be the perfect time to look back, to try to figure out how we got here. In “The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism,” best-selling author and Equal Time guest Joe Conason investigates how lofty rhetoric can sometimes hide money-making motives. Who benefits, who is left to pay the bill and how does anyone get away with it?

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There is a powerful tradition of giving back in African-American communities – a history highlighted in August, Black Philanthropy Month. And it’s about much more than writing a check. But just as giving circles celebrate efforts to invest in the culture, right-wing activists, with validation from some courts, have been pushing back, using policies originally enacted to even America’s unequal playing field. Valaida Fullwood is a founder of New Generation of African American Philanthropists, Charlotte, North Carolina’s only Black philanthropic collective, and a model for organizations across the country. Fullwood, a project consultant and “idea whisperer,” joins Equal Time to share her vision for the future of Black philanthropy, as NGAAP approaches its 20th anniversary.

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When it comes to the politics of LGBTQ+ rights in America, the narrative that one party is pro and the other con has taken hold. But the truth is more nuanced – and interesting. “Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right” takes readers from the 1950s to the present day, offering comprehensive and enlightening information; it introduces characters and organizations that stayed true to conservative values while championing same-sex marriage and helping to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” When the issue of gay rights is as relevant as ever, historian, commentator and Equal Time guest Neil J. Young offers insights into why so many gay conservatives continue to align with a party whose election-year rhetoric sees them as an enemy of American values.

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Congresswoman Alma Adams, a Democrat who represents the 12th District of North Carolina, wants to tell you and her constituents that, despite the dysfunction that makes the headlines, she and her colleagues have been attending to the people’s business. There are the issues close to her heart, such as affordable health care, closing the maternal health gap for minority moms and providing family care. There is her work supporting HBCUs, healthy nutrition programs, and more. So, what do we need to know?

Adams joins Equal Time to talk about bipartisan progress, election year politics and the state of her battleground state.

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“We Refuse to Be Silent: Women’s Voices on Justice for Black Men” is a just released collection of essays. Unfortunately, the need for such voices has been consistent and essential throughout America’s history. Thirty-five journalists, authors,, scholars, ministers, psychologists, counselors and others raise their voices – now, and until solutions are in place. Angela P. Dodson, the collection’s editor, is the author of “Remember the Ladies: Celebrating Those Who Fought for Freedom at the Ballot Box” is the guest on this episode of Equal Time; she is joined by New Orleans-based journalist Lottie Joiner, one of the book’s contributors.

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If it’s an election year, expect crime to be an issue. Candidates and parties draw conclusions with every headline, and exchange rhetoric that sheds more heat than light. But the history and reality of America’s criminal justice system is more complicated than a “tough on crime” slogan would indicate. The just published “Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration” offers essays by scholars, advocates, those who have experienced incarceration and former law enforcement who make the case that public safety, justice, and fairness are not only compatible as goals, but they can and must be achieved together. Lauren-Brooke Eisen, the book’s editor, is the senior director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program, where she leads the organization’s work to reduce America’s reliance on incarceration, is the author of Inside Private Prisons (Columbia, 2017) and a former prosecutor. She joins Equal Time to talk about why the book is especially timely in the present political climate.

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Despite record-low Black unemployment and a higher labor force participation rate than Whites, major barriers impede homeownership among African Americans, a fact that contributes to a yawning racial wealth gap. The gap is so expansive that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same amount of wealth as the 48 million Blacks living in the United States. Importantly, however, there are solutions.

Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose serves as President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the premier network of Black real estate professionals and one of the oldest minority trade associations in the country with more than 100 chapters nationwide. The organization is sponsoring a Black Wealth Tour in cities around the country, with Dr. Rose and NAREB representatives leading classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling to advise families on home buying, investing, and careers in real estate.

With her background – both personal and professional – in the field, Dr. Rose is prepared to tackle this challenge. And she is my guest on this episode of Equal Time.

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The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation" might have been published in 2007, but its message is as relevant as ever, especially as campaign 2024 ramps up. Author Drew Westen, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University, has for 20 years explored the role of emotions in how the brain processes information. That’s true in life – and in politics. And that explains why Westen has advised or worked as a political consultant for Democratic candidates, progressive and labor organizations and Fortune 500 companies for 20 years. Equal Time speaks to Westen on how a better understanding of the mind and brain translates into more compelling political messaging. Who is doing it right – and who could most use his help right now

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In a hectic time of preparation for the holidays, it’s important to remember those who may be struggling, a message elevated by United Way. Alice Archabal brings more than 20 years of experience driving results for mission- driven organizations to her work as executive vice president and chief development officer for United Way Worldwide. There, she provides leadership to drive the organization’s revenue strategy, including its collaborative outreach to local voices across the globe. She joins Equal Time to talk about the role of nonprofits in identifying solutions to today’s most pressing problems, such as food and housing insecurity, climate change, and economic mobility. And she shares her thoughts about how we all benefit when folks give back.

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