John L. Hanson Jr.
Host, Producer, In Black AmericaJohn L. Hanson is the producer and host of the nationally syndicated radio series In Black America. It’s heard on home station KUT at 10 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 a.m. Sundays — and weekly on close to 20 stations across the country. The weekly podcast of IBA, the only nationally broadcast Black-oriented public affairs radio program, is one of KUT’s most popular podcasts.
Hanson’s love of radio started in his hometown, Detroit, as a teenager. He began as a music programmer and youth reporter for the student station in his school. Upon his high school graduation, he traveled to Austin, Texas, to attend Huston-Tillotson College, and landed a DJ slot at a small, low wattage station in nearby Lockhart where he offered a popular nightly program of jazz and soul music. Eventually he was hired by KUT radio in 1974 where his first assignment was to produce a nightly program called “Soul on FM” which became an immediate success and ultimately earned him recognition as “Best DJ in Texas” by Texas Monthly magazine in 1976.
In 1977, Hanson received a Minority Training Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which he used to learn the ropes for setting up a public affairs program for KUT. Upon his return from the CPB workshops, Hanson turned his attention to improving and increasing information about the Black community, which was not effectively reaching the local media outlets.
He soon created Access, a weekly, live, phone-in program on KUT, which allowed experts in various fields and endeavors to address the public about their intended impact on the Austin community. From there, Hanson was promoted to the producer of In Black America after its previous host left the city in 1980.
Since that time, Hanson has served many roles at KUT, including being the station’s interim GM on two occasions. He retired from KUT in 2011, but has continued to work on IBA and host the Old School Dance Party on sister station KUTX 98.9 Friday afternoons from 4-7 p.m. Hanson is married to the former Latischa M. Merritt; he has two children, Kacey and Michael.
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In Black America's John L. Hanson Jr. interviews the documentary filmmaker on his journey to discover a family history obscured by slavery.
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The latest In Black America episode features an interview between John L. Hanson Jr. and the late entrepreneur, Earl G. Graves, Sr.
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John L. Hanson Jr. honors the famous Motown singer in a re-run of their conversation before Wilson's death.
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The 23-year-old children's book author was recently featured in the latest episode of In Black America.
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The latest In Black America episode honors the late John Saunders and the late Irv Cross, two of the first Black sports journalists and commentators.
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In Black America celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact 95 years after his birth.
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The Louisville native speaks about how she was inspired to write about how love can coexist with the trauma of drug abuse within communities.
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The episode features an encore interview between John L. Hanson Jr. and Shirley A. Chisholm, detailing her accomplishments as a congresswoman.
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The author and historian spoke with In Black America about how her family's labor history inspired her to chronicle the story of Black laborers, a group that has been historically underrepresented in narratives about the American working class.
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The Dallas-based trauma surgeon talks about his experience as a Black doctor on the front lines of trauma care.