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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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.
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Nat Glover reminisces about his career in law enforcement in Jacksonville, Florida, as president of Edward Waters College, a historically Black college, and how he dedicates his time to the Where They Will Shine scholarship.
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Nathaniel Glover lays out the life events that led to his historic appointment as the first Black sheriff of Jacksonville, Fla.
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The latest episode of In Black America dives into how this Austinite diversifies who gets to supply the global market.
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John L. Hanson Jr. learns about the advocacy and work of T.D. Jakes Enterprises with its chief operating officer, Michael Phillips.
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John L. Hanson Jr. talks with Campbell about how her trajectory as a nationally recognized civil rights leader led her to focusing on the case of Darius Elam.
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In the latest In Black America, Jessica Taylor speaks with John L. Hanson Jr. about how her experience as an educator and policy advocate informs her company, Ezra Coffee.
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John L. Hanson Jr. concludes even more highlights from the National Urban League conversation between the mayors of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City.
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John L. Hanson presents a conversation between Marc Morial and the mayors of Houston, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.