During World War Two there were several efforts to stem the tide of rising racial violence, as African-Americans became more vocal about bias and discrimination at home while Black soldiers were fighting against fascism overseas. The federal government was concerned that white attacks against African-Americans would affect morale, and provide propaganda for Germany, Japan, and Italy. So they worked with the radio networks to create anti-stereotypical programs to boost the image of Blacks. One was an 8 part series called Freedom's People which aired on NBC in 1941. You'll hear the opening installment. Another show was An Open Letter on Race Hatred aired by CBS in 1943. It featured a personal appeal by Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie. Once the war was over, the networks basically returned to the usual stereotypical shows common during the latter years of the Jim Crow area.

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All-Star Tribute to Canada Lee, as aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1941. Canada Lee pioneered acting roles for African Americans, starring on radio, stage and screen. He's best known for the films Native Son, and Lifeboat. Lee was also a champion of civil rights in the 1930s and 1940s, and was the first African-American producer on Broadway. Honoring Canada Lee in this presentation are Paul Robeson, Duke Ellington, Hattie McDaniel, Eddie Anderson, and many others. Then we will hear Canada Lee performing on the program New World A Comin' in 1944, playing the role of Langston Hughes. Finally, there's a 1949 interview with Lee on the Barry Gray Show.

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Rare audio of a 1939 contest between the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Senators. The Major League Baseball teams battle in the last game of the season.

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This is a tribute to one of America's greatest inventors. From 1939 we have an episode from the radio reality show, Strange As It Seems. The installment highlights Dr. George Washington Carver, an amazing agricultural scientist who promoted alternative crops to cotton, and methods to prevent soil depletion, that saved the southern United States from economic ruin. He will explain it in his own words, plus you'll hear the story of Carver's life in a 1948 episode of Destination Freedom.

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From the 1930s, the very popular Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour. With the Harlem Roustabouts Jazz Group, Blues singer Martha Booker, and other amazing performers, with a salute to Mansfield, Ohio.

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From 1932, it's the very first Jack Benny radio show, which led to the popular comedian having a career spanning 4 decades, on not only radio, but film and television. Also included are episodes from 1946 and 1954. The show also launched the career of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, who became the wealthiest African-American of the era.

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This podcast features the radio show Pete Kelly's Blues, it was a tribute to age of dixieland jazz in the 1920s. It starred Jack Webb who would go on to become a big star on the crime drama Dragnet. However, "Blues" also featured blues singer Meredith Howard, one of the very few African-Americans to star in a non-stereotypical role during during the golden age of radio. Howard also had a recording career, and usually sang a solo playing the character of Maggie Jackson.

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The radio show Destination Freedom tells the story of Satchel Paige, one of the greatest baseball pitchers of all time. Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige played in Negro League Baseball and Major League Baseball. He Joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948 at the age of 42, signing a $40,000 contract for the three months remaining in the season, becoming the first black pitcher in the American League, and the seventh African-American major leaguer overall. Paige was the oldest man ever to debut in the National League or American League. That fall, he became the first African-American to pitch in the World Series, entering Game 5 of contest between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Braves. You will hear the event as it happened. Paige's career spanned five decades and culminated with his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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