Happy Black History Month!
You might recognize the faces of the many African American actors pictured here who brought the fictional stories of Space (and Deep Space) travel to life in the long standing Star Trek franchise.
May you boldly explore the mulitlayered universe of the often groundbreaking accomplishments and history of Black Americans this month.
And may you, in the words of Lt. Spock, “live long and prosper!”
Each week, journalist Julia Barton whips out her fascinating online newsletter, Continuous Wave. It explores the forgotten history of broadcast and all electronic media, and she recently featured an excerpt from my biography of Radio Hall of Fame writer Richard Durham.
Please see Julia’s introduction to her post below, and then check out her newsletter excerpt on Durham by clicking on The Price I Pay to be Free link.
Happy Reading!
Note from Julia: I’ve said it before — US network radio in the 1920s and 1930s was an absolute embarrassment when it came to race. Not only did early radio deploy crude ethnic stereotypes — with popular shows like Amos’n’Andy built around the “racial ventriloquy” of white men depicting Black characters — but it was almost impossible for actual Black people to get on network air as themselves, or Black writers to get dramatic scripts past gatekeepers.
That started to change with the onset of US involvement in World War II, as the government, which needed enlistment and buy-in from Black communities, asked radio to open its doors to more voices and points of view. From this opening came a new generation of Black radio actors and writers. One of the best was Richard Durham, a journalist with the Chicago Defender who in 1948 started the history series Destination Freedom on Chicago’s NBC powerhouse affiliate WMAQ (ironically, the same station where Amos’n’Andy got its start).
Howard University professor Sonja D. Williams has written a fascinating biography of Richard Durham called Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio, and Freedom. Williams is also a Peabody-award-winning audio producer, and it was in the course of researching the Smithsonian’s documentary series Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was that she first encountered Durham’s work. “I was struck by this series’ lyricism, dramatic flair, and fiery rhetoric,” she writes.
Today, with Williams’ permission, we’re bringing you the story of Destination Freedom, an excerpt from Word Warrior. After this, I hope that if you haven’t already, you’ll go read the whole book. Here’s Sonja Williams:
“The Price I Pay to Be Free” Sonja D. Williams on the timeless radio of Richard Durham
In this year’s Pomegranate calendar edition, pioneering radio and TV dramatist, journalist and activist Richard Durham is being featured during the month of June. Check out this calendar entry, and here’s a sample (from my audiobook) of his creative radio drama magic. Enjoy!
Find some amazing books – on sale – from the University of Illinois Press during the next few weeks. And yes, my book, Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio, and Freedom is part of this sale.
Have fun checking out all of the possibilities!
On April 25, 2023, the world lost a gifted artist and committed activist – a man who was never shy about speaking (or singing) truth to power.
With his passing, Harlem born Harry Belafonte joined his long time friend and fellow artist Sidney Poitier among the ancestors. Both men will be sorely missed.
During the early 2000s in the Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film in Washington DC, we had the pleasure of honoring Belafonte with an award named for one of the men who inspired him – singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson.
After our awards ceremony, Belafonte conducted a master class in which he shared information about his life, his career and his commitment to civil and human rights.
To hear the radio program we produced based on this master class – a study in wisdom, courage and artistic integrity – click here.