Ken Hamblin facts for kids

Ken Loronzo Hamblin II (born October 22, 1940) is a former radio host who called himself the Black Avenger. He was famous for his national radio program, the Ken Hamblin Show.

Hamblin's show was very popular in the 1990s. He suddenly stopped broadcasting in July 2003 because of a disagreement with the company that distributed his show. Hamblin, who lived in Denver, Colorado, also wrote two books: Pick a Better Country: An Unassuming Colored Guy Speaks His Mind about America and Plain Talk and Common Sense from the Black Avenger.

Early Life and Career

Ken Hamblin's parents moved to the United States from Barbados. His father was a police officer. As a young man, Hamblin served in the United States Army's famous 101st Airborne Division.

After the army, he became a photographer for the Detroit Free Press newspaper. In the late 1960s, he worked as a producer and cameraman for a public television station in Detroit. One famous event he filmed was the release of poet John Sinclair from prison.

A Change in Views

Hamblin started his radio career in the 1970s. At first, he supported groups with left-wing ideas, like the Black Panthers. He said he gave them positive coverage in his work.

Over time, his opinions changed. He began to feel that these groups were not making America a better place. He started to agree more with conservative ideas. This means he moved from one side of the political spectrum to the other.

Besides his work, Hamblin is also a licensed pilot and owns a motorcycle. He is a father and a grandfather.

The Ken Hamblin Show

For many years, Hamblin had a local talk show on KOA radio in Denver. This was a powerful station that could be heard in many western and central states. On June 18, 1984, another popular host at the station, Alan Berg, was tragically killed. Hamblin was working at the station that evening.

His show became known across the country in the early 1990s when it was broadcast on the C-SPAN television network. He was heard on several Denver radio stations and eventually on about 200 stations nationwide. In 1999, he was named one of Colorado's top 100 most influential media personalities.

What Made His Show Unique

Hamblin's show had several special features.

• He often started his show by playing different versions of "The Star-Spangled Banner".
• He would play the bugle call "Taps" to honor police officers who had died.
• He often called liberals "Egg-sucking dogs".
• He would challenge listeners to call in and "Name one major American city that improved morally, socially, and economically after the city elected a liberal black mayor."
• He was also a strong critic of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. He often told people who were unhappy with the U.S. to "pick a better country" and move there.

Life After Radio

As of 2010, Hamblin was reportedly living in Douglas County, Colorado. He now spends much of his time traveling with his wife, Sue.

See also

• Black conservatism in the United States