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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John L. Hanson Jr. celebrates the achievements and history of Black quarterbacks in the NFL during an awards luncheon at the LVIII Super Bowl.
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The president and CEO of one of nation's only minority-owned carriers that delivers data-focused insurance solutions to marginalized communities.
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John L. Hanson Jr. sat down with Williams, the president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, in the latest installment of In Black America.
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The lack of financial literacy is one of the biggest obstacles to racial wealth equity. John L. Hanson Jr. spoke to Washington Jr., CEO of Stone Hill Wealth Management, for more details.
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The former NFL star spoke to John L. Hanson Jr. about how he went from being a professional athlete to dedicating his time to mentorship and humanitarian aid in Texas.
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In Black America remembers the life of Watkins — who died in December 2023 — with an encore of his interview with John L. Hanson Jr. that originally aired in 2009.
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In Black America celebrates the life and achievements of the gospel singer - the original conversation with John L. Hanson Jr. aired in 2017.
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In part two of their In Black America interview, Byron Hurt and Althier Eady tell John L. Hanson Jr. why it was meaningful for the Hurt family to rediscover their ancestry.
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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.