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
Americanism and
anti-Communism.
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
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,[10][11]Oscar Brown Jr.,[12]Wezlyn Tilden,[13] and Janice Kingslow,[14][15] 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
Links for each episode subject are provided
Episodes are listed in order of 1st broadcast [3]: ix–xxi
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]
^Olson, O. Joe, ed. (1949). Education on the Air. Nineteenth Yearbook of the Institution for Education by Radio. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. p. 412.
OCLC499232940.
^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
^Recording
OCLC176313684;
ISBN978-1931180320; 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
^Authors include Donnie L. Betts, T. J. Betts, Matthew Dente, Daniel Jensen, Ruthay, Julie Swartout, Arthur C. Jones, Spirituals Project Choir (Denver). Recording
OCLC262779717;
ISBN978-1931180269
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.
ISBN978-0807848043.
OCLC40135343.
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
Americanism and
anti-Communism.
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
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,[10][11]Oscar Brown Jr.,[12]Wezlyn Tilden,[13] and Janice Kingslow,[14][15] 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
Links for each episode subject are provided
Episodes are listed in order of 1st broadcast [3]: ix–xxi
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]
^Olson, O. Joe, ed. (1949). Education on the Air. Nineteenth Yearbook of the Institution for Education by Radio. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. p. 412.
OCLC499232940.
^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
^Recording
OCLC176313684;
ISBN978-1931180320; 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
^Authors include Donnie L. Betts, T. J. Betts, Matthew Dente, Daniel Jensen, Ruthay, Julie Swartout, Arthur C. Jones, Spirituals Project Choir (Denver). Recording
OCLC262779717;
ISBN978-1931180269
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.
ISBN978-0807848043.
OCLC40135343.