If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
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If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
“These stories still matter”: Bay Area Lesbian Archives starts a new chapter
East Bay Yesterday
1 hour 1 minute 10 seconds
1 year ago
“These stories still matter”: Bay Area Lesbian Archives starts a new chapter
Although Oakland has one of the highest concentrations of lesbians in the country, the history—and impact—of this community is relatively unknown. Lenn Keller tried to change that by creating the Bay Area Lesbian Archives, a wide-ranging collection of photographs, activist materials, meeting notes, videos and more. In this episode, Keller shares stories of why some of the world’s first lesbian of color groups formed, discusses the thriving network of collectives that existed here in the 1970s and 80s, and reminisces about some of her favorite lesbian bars of the era.
[Note: This interview with Lenn Keller originally aired in 2018. Although Lenn Keller passed away in 2020, the Bay Area Lesbian Archives is still going strong. The organization recently moved its vast and impressive collection of rare materials and books from a storage unit into a beautiful home in the East Bay hills, the former house of pioneering lesbian writer and activist Elana Dykewoman. Also, Bay Area Lesbian Archives has an exhibition and event series currently happening at Eastside Arts Alliance. Stay tuned after the segment with Lenn Keller to hear a new interview with BALA members Dr. Kerby Lynch and Sharon de la Pena Davenport, who discuss their upcoming events, the importance of intergenerational organizing, and gathering community materials for a time capsule.] To see photos and get links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/these-stories-still-matter/
Special thanks to the sponsor of this episode: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals are committed to supporting the health and development of all children. At UCSF’s Pediatric Heart Center, doctors are using cutting edge 3D modeling technology to provide lifesaving treatments for Bay Area children. Using state-of-the-art 3D heart imaging, the team at Children’s can diagnose previously unseen complications, unlock solutions, and empower life-saving surgical approaches. To learn more: https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2023/04/425186/how-3d-printer-heart-technology-changed-teens-life
East Bay Yesterday can’t survive without your donations. Please make a pledge to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday. Don’t forget to follow East Bay Yesterday’s Substack newsletter to stay updated on upcoming tours, events, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
East Bay Yesterday
If you were born after 1990, it might be easy to think that the world has always had wheelchair ramps, closed captions, and bathroom stalls for people with disabilities. But none of those things existed until a few decades ago - and they all had to be demanded. Until a group of confrontational activists emerged out of Berkeley in the 1960s, it was legal to discriminate against people with disabilities. All that changed thanks to the radical students who built one of the most successful movements of the 20th century.
Today’s episode features my interview with Scot Danforth, the author of “An Independent Man: Ed Roberts and the Fight for Disability Rights” (UC Press). Listen now to hear about how a man who couldn’t move his arms or legs changed laws, architecture, and society’s view on people with disabilities.
To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/he-wanted-people-to-take-risks/
Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday
Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday
