Destination Freedom
Genre | Dramatic anthology |
---|---|
Running time | 30 minutes Sunday mornings |
Home station | United Negro College Fund |
Destination Freedom was a series of weekly radio programs which was produced by
The second series of shows ran from 1950 to 1951, and it was produced without Durham. This second series featured patriotic themed dramas which were largely based on
The show was the brainchild of African-American journalist and author Richard Durham.[7][8] In cooperation with The Chicago Defender, he began this series over NBC Chicago outlet WMAQ in June 1948, with scripts emphasizing the progress of African-Americans from the days of slavery to the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Airing in Sunday-morning public-service time, the series built a steady audience in the Midwest with inspirational stories of social progress, earning strong support from Civil Rights organizations, and offering employment to a wide range of African-American performers. Episodes began with a stanza from the spiritual "Oh, Freedom".[9]
Destination Freedom premiered on June 27, 1948, on Chicago radio WMAQ. Durham's vision was to reeducate the masses on the image of African American society, since he believed that it was tainted with inaccurate and derogatory stereotypes. Week after week, Durham would generate all-out attacks on these stereotypes by illustrating the lives of prominent African-Americans. For two years, Durham wrote script after script for Destination Freedom, receiving no financial compensation for his effort. In 1950, Durham's financial needs forced him to accept an offer by
were heard once more.Two early recordings, "A Garage in Gainesville" and "Execution Awaited", are listed in National Recording Registry.[16] In 1949 it received a first-place commendation from the Ohio State University Institute for Education by Radio.[17]
Richard Durham episodes
- 1948 episodes
- The Knock-Kneed Man – Crispus Attucks – June 27 and July 30, 1950[18][19]
- Railway to Freedom – Harriet Tubman – July 4[20][3]: 63–80
- Dark Explorers – Moors who helped explore New Spain – July 11[21][3]: 15–30
- The Denmark Vesey Story – community leader in Charleston, South Carolina (c. 1767–1822) – July 18[22][3]: 47–62
- The Making of a Man – Frederick Douglass: Part 1 – June 27[23]
- The Key to Freedom – Frederick Douglass: Part 2 – August 1[24]
- The Heart of George Cotton – doctors Daniel Hale Williams and Ulysses Grant Dailey – August 8 and October 31.[25][3]: ix, 117–129
- Truth Goes to Washington – Sojourner Truth – August 15[26]
- Arctic Autograph – Matthew Henson – August 22[27]
- The Story of 1875 – Charles Caldwell – August 29[28][3]: 101–116
- Poet in Pine Mill – James Weldon Johnson – September 5[29]
- The Father of the Blues – W. C. Handy – September 12[30]
- Boy with a Dream – J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. – September 19[31]
- Shakespeare of Harlem – Langston Hughes – September 26[32]
- Citizen – : 31–46
- Little David – Joe Louis – October 10[34]
- The Boy Who Was Traded for a Horse – George Washington Carver – October 17[35]
- Echoes of Harlem – Duke Ellington – November 7[36]
- One Out of Seventeen – Mary McLeod Bethune – November 14[37]
- The Rhyme of the Ancient Dodger – Jackie Robinson – November 21[38][3]: 231–246
- Investigator for Democracy – Walter Francis White – November 28 [39]
- Autobiography of a Hero – Doris ("Dorie") Miller – December 5[40]
- The Pied Piper Versus Paul Revere – Albert Merritt – founder of the Boys Club of Martinsville, Indiana[41] – December 12
- Choir Girl from Philadelphia – Marian Anderson – December 19[42]
- Mike Rex – author Willard Motley – December 26[43]
- 1949 episodes
- Maiden Speech – Oscar Stanton De Priest – January 2[44]
- The Boy Who Beat the Bus – Governor William H. Hastie – January 9[45]
- The Chopin Murder Case – Hazel Scott – January 16
- The World's Fastest Human – Jesse Owens – January 23
- Last Letter Home – 332nd Fighter Group (Tuskegee Airmen) – January 30 and August 13, 1950[46]
- Searcher for History W.E.B. Du Bois– February 6
- The Death of Aesop – February 13 and November 27[47]
- Peace Mediator – Dr. : 145–161
- The Houses That Paul Built – Paul R. Williams – February 27[49]
- Do Something! Be Somebody! – Canada Lee – March 6[50]
- Up From Slavery – Booker T. Washington – March 13[51]
- Black Boy – Richard Wright – March 20[52]
- Transfusion – Charles R. Drew and his work on blood transfusion – March 27[53]
- Pagan Poet – Countee Cullen – April 3[54]
- Woman with a Mission – Ida B. Wells – April 10[55]
- Before I Sleep – poet Paul Laurence Dunbar – April 17[56]
- Apostle of Freedom – Richard Allen – April 24
- Help the Blind – Josh White – May 1[57]
- The Ballad of Satchel Paige – May 15[58]
- The Secretary of Peace – Benjamin Banneker – May 22
- The Saga of Melody Jackson – Henry Armstrong – May 29[59]
- Anatomy of an Ordinance – Alderman Rev. Archibald Carey – June 5[60]
- Negro Cinderella – Lena Horne – June 12[61]
- Ghost Editor – Roscoe Dunjee – June 19[62]
- Harriet's Children (First anniversary program) – June 26[63]
- Norfolk Miracle – Dorothy Maynor – July 3 (rebroadcast February 2002 by KGNU)[64]
- Tales of
- The Legend of John Henry – a retelling of the folk hero story – July 24[66]
- The Trumpet Talks – Louis Armstrong – July 31[67][3]: 183–198
- The Long Road – Mary Church Terrell – August 7[68][3]: 215–229
- Black Hamlet, Part I – Henri Christophe (life as a slave) – August 14
- Black Hamlet, Part II – Henri Christophe (rise to power) – August 21[69]
- Segregation Incorporated – National Committee on Segregation in the Nation's Capital, 1947–51 – August 28; rebroadcast in January 2003 by KGNU[70][3]: 163–179 [71][72]
- The Saga of Senator Blanche K. Bruce – September 4[73]
- The Tiger Hunt – the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II – September 11[74]
- Poet in Bronzeville – Gwendolyn Brooks – September 18[75]
- A Garage in Gainesville – retelling of a lynching in a small southern town – September 25[76]
- Execution Awaited – a simulated court trial examining prejudice and racism – October 2[77][78]
- Father to Son – Adam Clayton Powell Sr. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. – October 9, rebroadcast in August 2002 by station KGNU[79]
- Of Blood and the Boogie – Albert Ammons – October 16[80]
- Diary of a Nurse – Jane Edna Hunter – October 23[81]
- Keeper of the Dream – Captain Hugh Mulzac, commander of the SS Booker T. Washington – October 30[82]
- The Man Who Owned Chicago – Jean Baptiste Point du Sable – November 6[83]
- Blind Alley Symphony – Dean Dixon – November 13
- The Tale of the Tobacco Auctioneer — Kenneth R. Williams – November 20
- The Death of Aesop – February 13 and November 27[3]: 183–198
- Joe Rainey vs. The Status Quo – Joseph Homer Rainey– December 4
- 1950 episodes
- The Birth of a League – the Great Northern Migration and formation of the Chicago Urban League – January 15[84]
- Lawyer of Liberty – William Henry Huff – January 22[85]
- Portrait of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson – January 29[86]
- Housing: Chicago – February 5
- Recorder of History – Dr. Negro History Week in Chicago – February 12[87]
- Brotherhood Week Begins at Home – February 19 – Tribute to Hugh C. McMannan[88]
- The Umfunddisi of Ndotsgeni – Todd Duncan – February 26
- The Atlanta Thesis – E. Franklin Frazier – March 5
- Premonition of the Panther – Sugar Ray Robinson – March 12[89][3]: 247–263
- The Making of a Balladeer – Lonnie Johnson – March 19
- The Liberators (Part I) – William Lloyd Garrison – March 26[90][3]: 81–97
- The Liberators (Part II) – Wendell Phillips – April 2[91]
- The Buddy Young Story – April 9[92]
- The Fifth District Crime Fighter (Captain Kinzie Bleuitt[93]) – a dramatization of law enforcement efforts in South Side, Chicago – April 16[94][95]
- The Dance Anthropologist – Katherine Dunham – April 23[96]
- The Case of Samuel Johnson – judge Jane Bolin – May 7[97]
- The Sorrow Songs – Peabody Award for this performance in this episode.[99]
- John Hope, Educator – May 21
- The Grave Diggers' Handicap – Isaac Murphy – June 4[100]
- The Shy Boy – Fats Waller – June 11[101]
- The Case of the Congressman's Train Ride – Richard Westbrooks, who represented Arthur Mitchell in a US Supreme Court case – June 18[102]
- The Angel of Federal Street – a tale about heaven and South Side, Chicago – nurse Ruth Blue Turnquist – June 25[103]
- Kansas City Phone Call – Nat King Cole – July 2[104]
- Mr. Jerico Adjusts a Claim – William Nickerson Jr. and the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company – July 9[105]
- Test by Fire – Charlotte Hawkins – July 16
- Sing a Song for Children – Pruth McFarlin – July 23, rebroadcast in September 2002 on KGNU[106]
Post-Durham episodes – Paul Revere "Patriotic Freedom" format
- Patriotic Format – opening show for 1950, a discussion of freedom amongst historic figures – October 15, 1950[107][108][1]
- United Nations – promoting the establishment of the organization – December 17, 1950[109][110]
- Magic Words – a recap of the basic rights of freedom – November 5, 1951[citation needed]
- The Golden Circle – beginnings of the Knights of the Golden Circle – November 12, 1950[111]
- Breakdown – an arrest (of Michael Shiftkoff) by the secret police in Communist Bulgaria – November 18, 1950[1]
- The Price (Mackton and Winston of Company 'D') – a retelling of an American infantry unit's deployment to the Korean War – November 26, 1950[1]
- Matthew Lyon – criticism of the Alien and Sedition Acts – December 10, 1950[1]
- Weapons for Peace (United Nations) – illustrates the danger of world-wide nuclear war – December 17, 1950[1]
- Peace on Earth (Frank Johnson Story) – a veteran's perspective on the end of a war – December 24, 1950[1]
- John, Alma, Johnny and Myra – drama about the Occupation of the Baltic states – December 31, 1950[112]
- The Capture – retells the story of Nathan Hale – January 7, 1951[113]
- Dwight David Eisenhower – retells the story of his life up to his presidential election – January 14, 1951[1]
- Freedom of Assembly (Jeff Maxwell Story) – review of the right – February 4, 1951[1]
- Forced Confession – promotes Due Process of Law – February 18, 1951[114]
- Anna Zenger – the first woman to publish a newspaper in America – February 25, 1951[1]
- Benjamin Drake Story – drama about local people opposing unruly, oppressive people – March 4, 1951[115][116]
- The Dick Draper Story – drama about employment rights in the United States – March 11, 1951[117][118]
- Thomas Wright, American Citizen – About private efforts, including coercion, to thwart housing segregation in the United States – March 18, 1951[119]
- Citizen Whitney – a dramatic criticism of Marxism and religion – March 25, 1951[120]
- The Jones Family – a dramatization about eminent domain – April 8, 1951[121][122]
- Fred Custer Story – a dramatization about attending college and medical school – April 15, 1951[123][124]
- Reverend Browns Half Acre – concerns property ownership – April 22, 1951[125][126]
- Korean Frontline – Stories about the Korean War and communism in China – April 29, 1951[1]
- Harper College Story (The Test) – Discusses education – May 6, 1951[1]
- Open for Business – the difficulties and rewards of owning a small retail business – May 13, 1951[1]
- Judge Farwell's Story – reflections of a US Federal Judge – May 19, 1951[1]
- Anna's Story – an immigrant from Sweden – January 21, 1951[127][128]
- Russell Thomas Story: Coal Miner to Pharmacist – Illustrates the opportunity for advancement available in America – June 2, 1951[129]
- Crisis in Avondale (The Avondale Story) – a drama about how free speech can be irresponsibly misused – June 9, 1951[1]
- Mike Yankovich, Minnesota Miner (Decision) – a drama about the costs and benefits of unionization in mining – June 16, 1951[1]
- Wanted, a Witness – a drama about the civic responsibility to assist in solving crimes – June 23, 1951[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Haendiges, Jerry. "Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs".
- ^ Longo-Better, Rossana (February 15, 2022). "Storytellers of Color: donnie l. betts on Reaching Destination Freedom by Radio". Boulder, CO: KGNU Radio. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ OCLC 425277414.)
- ^ ISBN 978-0195076783. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Studs Terkel Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ "Hugh Downs Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ "Richard Durham (1917–1984)". March 28, 2014.
- ^ "Richard Durham Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ Ashleigh Lawrence-Sanders, March 16, 2018, History, Memory, and the Power of Black Radio AAIHS.org
- ^ "Fred Pinkard, 84; Actor's Career Spanned Radio, TV, Film, Theater". Los Angeles Times. August 11, 2004.
- ^ "Fred Pinkard Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ "Oscar Brown Jr. Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ "Wezlyn Tilden on Apple Music". Apple Music.
- ^ "Janice Kingslow Biography" (audio). Old Time Radio Researchers – via YouTube.
- ^ "Janice Kingslow on Apple Music". Apple Music.
- ^ Ellett, Ryan. "Destination Freedom, 'A Garage in Gainesville' and 'Execution Awaited' (September 25; October 2, 1949)" (PDF). Library of Congress.
- OCLC 499232940.
- OCLC 45756791
- ^ Ellett, Ryan (2 August 2017). "Destination: Freedom Review". wordpress.com. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
Includes a June 30, 1948 review of 'The Knock-Kneed Man' episode
- OCLC 1323199177, 13571262
- ISBN 978-1931180290
- ISBN 978-1931180283
- ISBN 978-1931180085
- OCLC 1323122806, 13539680
- OCLC 1323213199, 13552117
- OCLC 1323012887
- ISBN 978-1931180177
- ISBN 978-1931180092
- OCLC 1323014705
- OCLC 1323214717
- OCLC 1323011392, 44424423
- ISBN 978-1931180115
- OCLC 1323172321, 13571231
- OCLC 1323131729, 13552063
- OCLC 1323037869, 13571298
- OCLC 1323113745
- OCLC 1323162018, 13552167
- OCLC 1323062084, 13552167
- OCLC 1323159810
- OCLC 1323099681, 44432611
- OCLC 1323101120, 1323026386
- OCLC 1323099681
- OCLC 1323112298, 13571462
- OCLC 1323156434, 13552079
- OCLC 1323056044, 26452916
- OCLC 1323024451, 26452929
- OCLC 1323169789, 13571462
- OCLC 1323169789, 44432615
- OCLC 1323103638
- OCLC 1323030252
- OCLC 1323062084, 45756791
- OCLC 26452908
- OCLC 1323006041
- ISBN 978-1931180122
- OCLC 1323116238
- OCLC 1323205525, 26452932
- ISBN 978-1931180221
- OCLC 1323028307, 44432637
- OCLC 1323193577, 13552079
- OCLC 1323144868, 13571274
- OCLC 1323132659
- ISBN 978-1931180306, 978-1931180177
- OCLC 735403.
- ^ Episode: "Segregation Incorporated"
- OCLC 1323103372
- OCLC 1323189154
- ISBN 978-1931180146
- OCLC 1323141961, 13571361
- ^ Destination Freedom – Execution Awaited (Part II in a series on prejudice), via YouTube
- OCLC 1323134434
- ISBN 978-1931180283
- ISBN 978-1931180276
- ISBN 978-1931180207
- OCLC 1323024018
- OCLC 1323123490, 13571361
- OCLC 1323057778, 13552045
- OCLC 13552045
- ISBN 978-1931180320; rebroadcast in March 2003 by KGNU; cast included Donnie L. Betts as Bill Robinson; with Jeff Campbell, Laurence Curry, Matthew Dente, Jacob Mora, Ruthay, Kurt Soderstrom, and John Williams; theme singer, Claire Frances Peterson
- OCLC 1323061080
- ISBN 978-1931180313
- OCLC 1323101003
- OCLC 1323048118
- OCLC 1323188137
- ^ Jones, Reinettn F. (April 22, 2021). "Chicago Police Officers from Kentucky, 1900–1930s". NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. University of Kentucky. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
Kinzie Blueitt, 1900–1971
- ^ Episode: "The Fifth District Crime Fighter"
- OCLC 1323188137, 13528620
- ISBN 978-1931180085
- OCLC 1323009843
- OCLC 1323211758
- ^ Broemmel, Mike. "A Look at Richard Durham: The Man Who Created Destination Freedom". Mike Broemmel.
- OCLC 1323018591
- ISBN 978-1931180214
- OCLC 1323063546
- OCLC 1323074703
- ISBN 978-1931180122
- OCLC 1323095433
- ISBN 978-1931180269
- ^ Episode: Patriotic Format"
- ^ Bill Hodak (July 4, 2011). "Patriotic Format". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?.
- ^ "United Nations". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. November 5, 2018.
- ^ Episode: "United Nations"
- ^ "Golden Circle, The". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. September 17, 2018.
- ^ "John, Alma, Johnny and Myra". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. December 31, 2018.
- ^ "Nathan Hale Story". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Forced Confession". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. August 27, 2018.
- ^ "Benjamin Drake Story". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. October 19, 2014.
- ^ Episode: "Benjamin Drake Story"
- ^ "Dick Draper Story". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. September 3, 2018.
- ^ Episode: "Dick Draper Story"
- ^ "Thomas Wright, American Citizen". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Citizen Whitney". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. October 29, 2018.
- ^ "Jones Family, The". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. December 17, 2018.
- ^ Episode: "The Jones Family"
- ^ "Fred Custer Story The". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. November 19, 2018.
- ^ Episode: "Fred Custer Story"
- ^ "Reverend Brown's Half Acre". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. October 1, 2018.
- ^ Episode: "Reverend Browns Half Acre"
- ^ "Anna's Story". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. November 14, 2015.
- ^ Episode: "Anna's Story"
- ^ "Russell Thomas Story". RUSC – R U Sitting Comfortably?. June 4, 2018.
Further reading
- Barlow, William (1999). Voice Over : the Making of Black Radio. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1566396660, 978-1566396677.
- Contreras, Felix (October 10, 2015). "With Dramas on the Dial 'Freedom' Made History by Teaching It". All Things Considered. NPR.org. OCLC 8239961269.
- Hine, Darlene C.; McClusky, John Jr.; Smith, Marshanda A. (2012). The Black Chicago Renaissance. New Black Studies Series. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. OCLC 772499394.
- Kavanaugh, Brian (March–April 2022). "Destination Freedom (1948) & Fred Pinkard & Richard Durham" (PDF). Old Time Radio Times (119). Lawrence, Kansas: Old Time Radio Researchers Group: 13–16.. Also see OTRR Maintained Archive Destination Freedom with individual episode recordings available at the OTRR Library.
- Savage, Barbara Dianne (1999). "Chapter 6: New World A'Coming and Destination Freedom". Broadcasting Freedom: Radio, War, and the Politics of Race 1938–1948. Chapel Hill & London: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 246–270. OCLC 40135343.
- Williams, Sonja D. (2015). Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio, and Freedom University of Illinois Press, OCLC 1004366808, 903873679
- For a book review see Jones, Ida E. (September 2016). "The Revolution Will Be an Audiophile". J.History, H-Net Reviews.
- Williams, Sonja D. (27 Oct 2016). "Destination Freedom: A Historic Radio Series About Black Life". Journal of Radio & Audio Media. 23 (2): 263–277. S2CID 157918778.
External links
- Destination Freedom programs
- "Destination: Freedom". The Digital Deli Too.
- Destination Freedom Black Radio Days Podcast, from Apple Podcasts
- Destination Freedom: One For the History Books – review of the series by PODCAKE, June 29, 2021
- Destination Freedom – listing of shows on RUSC (R U Sitting Comfortably?)
- Destination Freedom Black Radio Days, from KGNU News – Boulder Community Broadcast Association
- Destination Freedom Black Radio Podcast, Audio Drama at its Finest, Joins Broadway Podcast Network – a modern revival of the series from No Credits Productions, LLC
- Librivox Audio Books episodes with links to audiofiles
- Power, Politics, & Pride: Durham's Destination Freedom – WTTW: Chicago's Black Metropolis (with information on prominent cast members)
- RadioGOLDINdex – Destination Freedom – listing compiled by J. David Goldin
- Richard Durham Papers – Chicago Public Library archive
- Richard Durham – Radio Hall of Fame
- Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio & Freedom – video presentation from the Library of Congress featuring author Sonja D. Williams