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 Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m., as well as 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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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with K. Braeden Anderson, attorney, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of ‘Black Resilience: The Blueprint for Black Triumph in the Face of Racism.’ -
In 1970, Robinson founded TransAfrica Forum (now TransAfrica) to promote diversity and equity in U.S. foreign policy and justice for the African diaspora. He served as the organization's president until 2001.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Ebonie Smith, award-winning music producer, audio engineer and singer-songwriter, and the founder and president of Gender Amplified, Inc., an organization that celebrates and supports women and girls in music production and audio engineering.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Cameka Smith, founder and CEO of The Boss Network.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey, illustrators and co-author of Link + Hud: Heroes By A Hair.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents commentary by Jalen Hurts, quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes, quarterback with the Kansas City Chiefs, during the week preceding Super Bowl LVII.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Shondra J. Brown, nurse and author of How to Navigate White Privilege in the Workplace: The Black Professional's Guide.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents a tribute to the late William F. "Bill" Williams, co-founder of Glory Foods.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with noted actor Russell Hornsby.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr., presents a tribute to the late John Hope Franklin, the distinguished attorney and legal scholar and professor who helped prepare the U.S. Supreme Court case for Brown v. Board of Education.
