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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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dyana Williams, veteran radio and television personality, music journalists, celebrity coach, member of the board of directors – National Museum of African American Music and co-creator and co-founder of Black Music Month. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Jocelyn Robinson, director of the Ohio-based HBCU Radio Preservation Project and the director of the Center for Radio Preservation and Archives at WYSO radio. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Vanessa Priya Daniel, Social Justice Activist and Organizer and author of ‘Unrig The Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning.’ -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents his second, and final, discussion with Carlton Dixon, former star high school and collegiate basketball player ,high school coach, and athletic director and Founder and CEO of Reveal Suits. -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Carlton Dixon, former star high school and collegiate basketball player ,high school coach, and athletic director and Founder and CEO of Reveal Suits.
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On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Wiley P. Davis, Jr., retired educator, educational and sports consultant, lifelong friend and author of ‘ The Flight of a Thousand Songbirds: A Family’s Courage Leads to a New Life.’ -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents his second, and final, discussion with Dr. Louis Moore, professor of history at Grand Valley State University, historian, co-host of the Black Athlete Podcast, and author of ‘The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and The Making of the Black Quarterback.’ -
On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Louis Moore, professor of history at Grand Valley State University, historian, co-host of the Black Athlete Podcast, and author of ‘The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and The Making of the Black Quarterback.’
