"Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)

Series produced by PRX

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Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was is the story of radio’s role in the 20th century transformation of the African American community. First aired in 1996, the specials have been reformatted into six hours for 2021. Original host Lou Rawls guides us, with new narration from original producer Jacquie Gales Webb.

Through interviews, historical airchecks, comedy, drama, and music, the series reveals the remarkable correlation between milestones of Black radio programming and African American culture. Among other topics the series explores the role of radio during the great migration of Blacks from the South, trail-blazing Black DJs and stations, and Black radio during the Civil Rights movement.

The six newshole compatible specials are available free to all public radio stations starting Feb. 1, 2021. Generic promo available in January 2021. Episode-specific promos in Feb.

Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was, was hosted by Lou Rawls and produced for Radio Smithsonian in 1996, by Jacquie Gales Webb, with associate producers Sonja Williams and Lex Gillespie.


8 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Bonus Minis
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
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These are three shorter segments of different lengths that focus on early innovation in Black public media. These segments can be aired separately;...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, RadioStPete Florida, WORT, Morton College Radio, High Plains Public Radio and more


  • Added: Feb 02, 2021
  • Length: 15:37
  • Purchases: 27
Hour Six: "Music" and "More Music and Less Talk"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
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In the first half of the hour, we hear how African American musicians found more acceptance as major record companies recognized the crossover appe...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., WCQS and more


  • Added: Jan 25, 2021
  • Length: 51:56
  • Purchases: 69
Hour Five: "Civil Rights" and "Let's Have Church"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
Piece image
In the fifties and sixties, Black DJs did more than play music -- they were among the first messengers of the civil rights movement. In the second ...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KUHF, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Jan 25, 2021
  • Length: 51:59
  • Purchases: 72
Hour Four: "A Woman's Touch" and "In Control"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
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Women -- both on and off the air -- have had substantial roles in the development and power of Black radio, including African American station owne...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., WCQS and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2021
  • Length: 52:01
  • Purchases: 70
Hour Three: "Rappers & Rhymers" and "Sounding Black"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
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From the 1940s onward, legendary Black deejays created unique, ear-catching styles.

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WORT, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2021
  • Length: 51:58
  • Purchases: 71
Hour Two: "Jack Cooper & Al Beson" and "WDIA, The Goodwill Station"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
Piece image
Jack Cooper's popular program in Chicago debuted in 1929; he helped pioneer the DJ format and was the first to air news and sports coverage for Bla...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KUHF, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2021
  • Length: 52:00
  • Purchases: 73
Hour One: "In the Beginning" and "Pride & Enlightenment"
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
Piece image
The series opens by traveling to the 1920s to hear how Black Americans fought for space on radio airwaves. Then, we hear about programs in the 1940...

Bought by Room Tone Selects, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KUHF, KRSC, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif. and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2021
  • Length: 51:59
  • Purchases: 79
Generic Promo for Black Radio 25th Anniversary Edition
From: PRX
Series: "Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was" 25th Anniversary Edition (Six-Hour Series)
Piece image
Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was is the story of radio’s role in the 20th century transformation of the African American community. First aired ...

Bought by WCQS, Morton College Radio, High Plains Public Radio, WGTE Public Media, KCLU and more


  • Added: Jan 08, 2021
  • Length: :30
  • Purchases: 41

Playlists That Feature This Series: