''Destination Freedom'' was a weekly radio program produced by WMAQ in Chicago from 1948 to 1950 that presented biographical histories of prominent African-Americans such as George Washington Carver, Satchel Paige,

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he becam ...

Harriet Tubman Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 slaves, including family and friends, ...

, and Lena Horne. (Also see ) The scripts for the shows were written by Richard Durham. Studs Terkel voiced some of the radio characters. Hugh Downs also served as an announcer in both the initial and 1950 series. The show was the brainchild of African-American journalist and author Richard Durham. 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".Ashleigh Lawrence-Sanders, March 16, 2018
History, Memory, and the Power of Black Radio
AAIHS.org ''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 Don Ameche to write material for him. It is also said that Durham's relationship with NBC and WMAQ was not entirely harmonious. Continuing without Durham, the final year of the program turned to general themes of "American freedom," without the sharp focus on the African-American experience. This, WMAQ hoped, would create a show to rival ''Paul Revere Speaks'', which was a popular show at the time. For about 50 years, the show was long forgotten until some transcripts were found, and the characters voiced by Fred Pinkard, Oscar Brown Jr., Wezlyn Tilden, and Janice Kingslow, were heard once more. Two early recordings, "A Garage in Gainesville" and "Execution Awaited", are listed in National Recording Registry. In 1949 it received a first-place commendation from the

Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best pu ...

Institute for Education by Radio.

Richard Durham episodes

: * 1948 episodes ** The Knock-Kneed Man – Crispus Attucks – June 27 and July 30, 1950 ** Railway to Freedom –

– July 4 ** Dark Explorers – Moors who helped explore

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Am ...

– July 11 ** The Denmark Vesey Story – community leader in Charleston, South Carolina () – July 18 ** The Making of a Man –

: Part 1 – June 27 ** The Key to Freedom – Frederick Douglass: Part 2 – August 1 ** The Heart of George Cotton – doctors Daniel Hale Williams and

Ulysses Grant Dailey Ulysses Grant Dailey (1885–1961) was an American surgeon, writer, and teacher. He was one of the first African Americans recognized in the field of medicine in the United States., p. 373. In 1949, the House of Delegates of the National Medical ...

– August 8 and October 31. ** Truth Goes to Washington – Sojourner Truth – August 15 ** Arctic Autograph – Matthew Henson – August 22 ** The Story of 1875 –

Charles Caldwell Charles Caldwell may refer to: *Charles Caldwell (bluesman) (1943–2003), American blues musician *Charles Caldwell (physician) (1772–1853), American physician, founder University of Louisville School of Medicine *Charles Caldwell (politician) ( ...

– August 29 ** Poet in Pine Mill – James Weldon Johnson – September 5 ** The Father of the Blues – W. C. Handy – September 12 ** Boy with a Dream –

J. Ernest Wilkins Jr. Jesse Ernest Wilkins Jr. (November 27, 1923 – May 1, 2011) was an African American nuclear scientist, mechanical engineer and mathematician. A child prodigy, he attended the University of Chicago at the age of 13, becoming its youngest ever s ...

– September 19 ** Shakespeare of Harlem –

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, H ...

– September 26 ** Citizen – Toussaint l'Ouverture and the

Haitian Revolution The Haitian Revolution (french: révolution haïtienne ; ht, revolisyon ayisyen) was a successful insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now the sovereign state of Haiti. The revolt began on 22 ...

– October 3 ** Little David –

Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He re ...

– October 10 ** The Boy Who Was Traded for a Horse – George Washington Carver – October 17 ** Echoes of Harlem –

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was ba ...

– November 7 ** One Out of Seventeen – Mary McLeod Bethune – November 14 ** The Rhyme of the Ancient Dodger – Jackie Robinson – November 21 ** Investigator for Democracy – Walter Francis White – November 28 ** Autobiography of a Hero – Doris ("Dorie") Miller – December 5 ** The Pied Piper Versus Paul Revere –

Albert Merritt Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Albert C ...

– founder of the Boys Club of Martinsville, Indiana – December 12 ** Choir Girl from Philadelphia –

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to Spiritual (music), spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throu ...

– December 19 ** Mike Rex – author Willard Motley – December 26 * 1949 episodes ** Maiden Speech – Oscar Stanton De Priest – January 2 ** The Boy Who Beat the Bus – Governor William H. Hastie – January 9 ** The Chopin Murder Case – Hazel Scott – January 16 ** The World's Fastest Human – Jesse Owens – January 23 ** Last Letter Home –

332nd Fighter Group The 332d Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional air expeditionary group of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, currently active. It was inactivated on 8 May 2012 and reactivated 16 November 2014. The group forms part of ...

(

Tuskegee Airmen The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332d Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the United States Army ...

) – January 30 and August 13 1950 ** Searcher for History W.E.B. Du Bois – February 6 ** The Death of

Aesop Aesop ( or ; , ; c. 620–564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as ''Aesop's Fables''. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales cre ...

– February 13 and November 27 ** Peace Mediator – Dr. Ralph J Bunche – February 20 and August 6, 1950 ** The Houses That Paul Built –

Paul R. Williams Paul Revere Williams, FAIA (February 18, 1894 – January 23, 1980) was an American architect based in Los Angeles, California. He practiced mostly in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous celebrities, including Frank Sina ...

– February 27 ** Do Something! Be Somebody! – Canada Lee – March 6 ** Up From Slavery – Booker T. Washington – March 13 ** Black Boy – Richard Wright – March 20 ** Transfusion –

Charles R. Drew Charles Richard Drew (June 3, 1904 – April 1, 1950) was an American surgeon and medical researcher. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, developing improved techniques for blood storage, and applied his expert knowledge to devel ...

and his work on

blood transfusion Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood products into a person's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Early transfusions used whole blood, but m ...

– March 27 ** Pagan Poet – Countee Cullen – April 3 ** Woman with a Mission – Ida B. Wells – April 10 ** Before I Sleep – poet

Paul Laurence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Dayton, Ohio, to parents who had been enslaved in Kentucky before the American C ...

– April 17 ** Apostle of Freedom – Richard Allen – April 24 ** Help the Blind – Josh White – May 1 ** The Ballad of Satchel Paige – May 15 ** The Secretary of Peace – Benjamin Banneker – May 22 ** The Saga of Melody Jackson – Henry Armstrong – May 29 ** Anatomy of an Ordinance – Alderman Rev. Archibald Carey – June 5 ** Negro Cinderella – Lena Horne – June 12 ** Ghost Editor – Roscoe Dunjee – June 19 ** Harriet's Children (First anniversary program) – June 26 ** Norfolk Miracle –

Dorothy Maynor Dorothy Maynor (September 3, 1910 – February 19, 1996) was an American soprano, concert singer, and the founder of the Harlem School of the Arts. Early life Maynor was born Dorothy Leigh Mainor in 1910 in the town of Norfolk, Virginia to the Re ...

– July 3 (rebroadcast February 2002 by KGNU) ** Tales of

Stackalee "Stagger Lee", also known as "Stagolee" and other variants, is a popular American folk song about the murder of Billy Lyons by "Stag" Lee Shelton, in St. Louis, Missouri, at Christmas 1895. The song was first published in 1911 and first recorded ...

(Black folklore hero) – July 17 ** The Legend of John Henry – a retelling of the folk hero story – July 24 ** The Trumpet Talks – Louis Armstrong – July 31 ** The Long Road – Mary Church Terrell – August 7 ** Black Hamlet, Part I –

Henri Christophe Henri Christophe (; 6 October 1767 – 8 October 1820) was a key leader in the Haitian Revolution and the only monarch of the Kingdom of Haiti. Christophe was of Bambara ethnicity in West Africa, and perhaps of Igbo descent. Beginning with ...

(life as a slave) – August 14 ** Black Hamlet, Part II – Henri Christophe (rise to power) – August 21 ** Segregation Incorporated – National Committee on Segregation in the Nation's Capital, 1947–51 – August 28; rebroadcast in January 2003 by KGNU ** The Saga of Senator Blanche K. Bruce – September 4 ** The Tiger Hunt – the

761st Tank Battalion The 761st Tank Battalion was a separate tank battalion of the United States Army during World War II. The 761st was made up primarily of African-American soldiers, who by War Department policy were not permitted to serve alongside white troops; ...

in World War II – September 11 ** Poet in Bronzeville – Gwendolyn Brooks – September 18 ** A Garage in Gainesville – retelling of a lynching in a small southern town – September 25 ** Execution Awaited – a simulated court trial examining

prejudice Prejudice can be an affect (psychology), affective feeling towards a person based on their perceived group membership. The word is often used to refer to a preconceived (usually unfavourable) evaluation or classification (disambiguation), classi ...

and

racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

– October 2 ** Father to Son – Adam Clayton Powell Sr. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. – October 9, rebroadcast in August 2002 by station KGNU ** Of Blood and the Boogie – Albert Ammons – October 16 **Diary of a Nurse – Jane Edna Hunter – October 23 ** Keeper of the Dream – Captain

Hugh Mulzac Hugh Nathaniel Mulzac (March 26, 1886 – January 30, 1971) was an African-Caribbean member of the United States Merchant Marine. He earned a Master rating in 1918, which should have qualified him to command a ship, but racial discrimination pre ...

, commander of the – October 30 ** The Man Who Owned Chicago – Jean Baptiste Point du Sable – November 6 ** Blind Alley Symphony – Dean Dixon – November 13 ** The Tale of the Tobacco Auctioneer — Kenneth R. Williams – November 20 **The Death of

– February 13 and November 27 ** 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 ** Lawyer of Liberty – William Henry Huff – January 22 ** Portrait of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson – January 29 ** Housing: Chicago – February 5 ** Recorder of History – Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founded

Negro History Week Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ...

in Chicago – February 12 **

Brotherhood Week The National Conference for Community and Justice is an American social justice organization focused on fighting biases and promoting understanding between people of different races and cultures. The organization was founded in 1927 as the Natio ...

Begins at Home – February 19 – Tribute to

Hugh C. McMannan Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

** The Umfunddisi of Ndotsgeni – Todd Duncan – February 26 ** The Atlanta Thesis –

E. Franklin Frazier Edward Franklin Frazier (; September 24, 1894 – May 17, 1962), was an American sociologist and author, publishing as E. Franklin Frazier. His 1932 Ph.D. dissertation was published as a book titled ''The Negro Family in the United States'' (19 ...

– March 5 ** Premonition of the Panther – Sugar Ray Robinson – March 12 ** The Making of a Balladeer – Lonnie Johnson – March 19 ** The Liberators (Part I) –

William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison (December , 1805 – May 24, 1879) was a prominent American Christian, abolitionist, journalist, suffragist, and social reformer. He is best known for his widely read antislavery newspaper ''The Liberator'', which he foun ...

– March 26 ** The Liberators (Part II) – Wendell Phillips – April 2 ** The

Buddy Young Claude Henry K. "Buddy" Young (January 5, 1926 – September 5, 1983) was an American football player and track and field athlete. A native of Chicago, he was Illinois state champ in the 100-yard dash. The 5'4" Young, also known as the "Bronze Bu ...

Story – April 9 ** The Fifth District Crime Fighter (Captain Kinzie Bleuitt) – a dramatization of

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. The term ...

efforts in

South Side, Chicago The South Side is an area of Chicago, Illinois, U.S. It lies south of the city's Loop area in the downtown. Geographically, it is the largest of the three sides of the city that radiate from downtown, with the other two being the north and we ...

– April 16 ** The Dance Anthropologist –

Katherine Dunham Katherine Mary Dunham (June 22, 1909 – May 21, 2006) was an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. Dunham had one of the most successful dance careers of the 20th century, and directed her own dance company for ...

– April 23 ** The Case of Samuel Johnson – judge Jane Bolin – May 7 ** The Sorrow Songs – Spirituals – May 14 ** John Hope, Educator – May 21 ** The Grave Diggers' Handicap – Isaac Murphy – June 4 ** The Shy Boy – Fats Waller – June 11 ** The Case of the Congressman's Train Ride – Richard Westbrooks, who represented Arthur Mitchell in a US Supreme Court case – June 18 ** The Angel of Federal Street – a tale about heaven and

– nurse Ruth Blue Turnquist – June 25 ** Kansas City Phone Call –

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

– July 2 ** Mr. Jerico Adjusts a Claim – William Nickerson Jr. and the

Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, was once the largest black-owned insurance company in the western United States, founded by William Nickerson Jr. with the assistance of Norman Oliver Houston and George Allen Beavers Jr. Founding In t ...

– July 9 ** Test by Fire – Charlotte Hawkins – July 16 ** Sing a Song for Children – Pruth McFarlin – July 23, rebroadcast in September 2002 on KGNU

Post-Dunbar episodes – Paul Revere "Patriotic Freedom" format

* Patriotic Format – opening show for 1950, a discussion of freedom amongst historic figures – October 15, 1950 * United Nations – promoting the establishment of the organization – December 17, 1950 * Magic Words – a recap of the basic rights of freedom – November 5, 1951 * The Golden Circle – beginnings of the Knights of the Golden Circle – November 12, 1950 * Breakdown – an arrest (of Michael Shiftkoff) by the secret police in Communist Bulgaria – November 18, 1950 * The Price (Mackton and Winston of Company 'D') – a retelling of an American infantry unit's deployment to the Korean War – November 26, 1950 * Matthew Lyon – criticism of the Alien and Sedition Acts – December 10, 1950 * Weapons for Peace (United Nations) – illustrates the danger of world-wide nuclear war – December 17, 1950 * Peace on Earth (Frank Johnson Story) – a veteran's perspective on the end of a war – December 24, 1950 * John, Alma, Johnny and Myra – drama about the

Occupation of the Baltic states The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were invaded and occupied in June 1940 by the Soviet Union, under the leadership of Stalin and auspices of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that had been signed between Nazi Germany and the Sovie ...

– December 31, 1950 * The Capture – retells the story of Nathan Hale – January 7, 1951 * Dwight David Eisenhower – retells the story of his life up to his presidential election – January 14, 1951 *

Freedom of Assembly Freedom of peaceful assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right or ability of people to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend their collective or shared id ...

(Jeff Maxwell Story) – review of the right – February 4, 1951 * Forced Confession – promotes

Due Process of Law Due process of law is application by state of all legal rules and principles pertaining to the case so all legal rights that are owed to the person are respected. Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual pers ...

– February 18, 1951 * Anna Zenger – the first woman to publish a newspaper in America – February 25, 1951 * Benjamin Drake Story – drama about local people opposing unruly, oppressive people – March 4, 1951 * The Dick Draper Story – drama about employment rights in the United States – March 11, 1951 * Thomas Wright, American Citizen – About private efforts, including coercion, to thwart housing segregation in the United States – March 18, 1951 * Citizen Whitney – a dramatic criticism of

Marxism and religion 19th-century German philosopher Karl Marx, the founder and primary theorist of Marxism, viewed religion as "the soul of soulless conditions" or the "opium of the people". According to Karl Marx, religion in this world of exploitation is an expressi ...

– March 25, 1951 * The Jones Family – a dramatization about

eminent domain Eminent domain (United States, Philippines), land acquisition (India, Malaysia, Singapore), compulsory purchase/acquisition (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom), resumption (Hong Kong, Uganda), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Austr ...

– April 8, 1951 * Fred Custer Story – a dramatization about attending college and medical school – April 15, 1951 * Reverend Browns Half Acre – concerns property ownership – April 22, 1951 * Korean Frontline – Stories about the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top: ...

and communism in China – April 29, 1951 * Harper College Story (The Test) – Discusses education – May 6, 1951 * Open for Business – the difficulties and rewards of owning a small retail business – May 13, 1951 * Judge Farwell's Story – reflections of a US Federal Judge – May 19, 1951 * Anna's Story – an immigrant from Sweden – January 21, 1951 * Russell Thomas Story: Coal Miner to Pharmacist – Illustrates the opportunity for advancement available in America – June 2, 1951 * Crisis in Avondale (The Avondale Story) – a drama about how free speech can be irresponsibly misused – June 9, 1951 * Mike Yankovich, Minnesota Miner (Decision) – a drama about the costs and benefits of unionization in mining – June 16, 1951 * Wanted, a Witness – a drama about the civic responsibility to assist in solving crimes – June 23, 1951

References

External links

''Destination Freedom'' programs
*
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 it's 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 The Chicago Public Library (CPL) is the public library system that serves the City of Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois. It consists of 81 locations, including a central library, two regional libraries, and branches distributed throughout the ...

archive
Richard Durham
– Radio Hall of Fame
''Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio & Freedom''
– video presentation from the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The librar ...

featuring author Sonja D. Williams {{Authority control 1940s American radio programs 1950s American radio programs 1948 radio programme debuts 1950 radio programme debuts 1950 radio programme endings 1951 radio programme endings 1948 establishments in Illinois 1950 establishments in Illinois 1950 disestablishments in Illinois 1951 disestablishments in Illinois 1948 in radio 1949 in radio 1950 in radio 1951 in radio 1948 works 1949 works 1950 works 1951 works African-American cultural history African-American radio African-American sports history American documentary radio programs American radio dramas Chicago radio shows United States National Recording Registry recordings Works about African-Americans

Richard Durham episodes

Post-Dunbar episodes – Paul Revere "Patriotic Freedom" format

References

Further reading

External links