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 Karlos K. Hill, the author of The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents a tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Proctor, a distinguished minister, educator and author of three books.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with attorney Rawn James Jr., former assistant attorney general for the District of Columbia and author of The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with renowned actor, playwright and producer Javon Johnson.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with the late Mary Wilson, co-founder of the legendary Supremes.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with actress Angela Lewis, co-star of the FX series Snowfall.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Aaron Horne, an interventional cardiologist and heart care specialist in North Richland Hills, Texas.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Ya'Ke Smith, associate dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and an associate professor of film at the University of Texas at Austin.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Lavaille Lavette, president and publisher at Ebony Magazine Publishing and author of Ebony: Covering Black America.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. concludes his conversation with the author of Dear Kamala: Women Write To The New Vice President.
