Nestled on Auburn Avenue, a street steeped in Atlanta’s Black history, lies a small brick building that holds a significant piece of American broadcasting history. WERD, the first Black-owned radio station in the United States, was not only a platform for Black jazz and blues performers but also a catalyst for change during the civil rights movement. From its humble beginnings as a white country music station to becoming a community-oriented phenomenon, WERD’s legacy continues to inspire and empower.<\/p>\n
In 1949, Jesse B. Blayton Sr., Georgia’s first Black certified public accountant, purchased WERD for $50,000. At that time, the station was located on Broad Street and primarily played white country music. Seeking to create a space that uplifted the Black community, Blayton moved WERD to the second floor of Auburn Avenue’s Prince Hall Masonic Grand Lodge on October 3, 1949. This move marked the beginning of WERD’s transformation into a powerful voice for change.<\/p>\n
Under the leadership of Jesse B. Blayton Jr., who served as the station manager, WERD quickly gained popularity within Atlanta’s Black community. Blayton Jr. hired Jack Gibson, also known as Jack the Rapper, as the station’s announcer, further fueling its success. WERD not only played Black jazz and blues performers but also became a platform for discussions on civil rights issues. The station provided a voice for those working towards a better future and supported the efforts of influential figures like Martin Luther King Jr.<\/p>\n
During the civil rights movement, WERD played a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of those fighting for equality. Martin Luther King Jr., whose Southern Christian Leadership Conference offices were housed in the same building, used WERD as a platform to make public statements and announcements. The station also broadcasted King’s Sunday sermons, reaching a wide audience and inspiring change. WERD became a beacon of hope and a source of information for the Black community during these transformative times.<\/p>\n
While WERD no longer operates on traditional airwaves, it continues to broadcast online at Live365. The station is in the process of training DJs and developing its program formatting as it prepares for a future traditional broadcast channel. Additionally, the historic building that housed WERD in the Masonic Lodge is currently undergoing restoration. Plans are underway to open a radio studio and museum in the building, preserving the legacy of WERD for future generations.<\/p>\n
WERD, the first Black-owned radio station in the United States, holds a significant place in Atlanta’s Black history. From its origins as a white country music station to becoming a community-oriented phenomenon, WERD paved the way for Black voices and empowered the civil rights movement. Today, WERD continues to evolve, broadcasting online and making plans for a traditional broadcast channel. As the historic building undergoes restoration, the future radio studio and museum will ensure that WERD’s legacy remains alive, inspiring generations to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discover the rich history and impact of WERD, the first Black-owned radio station in the United States, located on Atlanta’s iconic Auburn Avenue. Nestled on Auburn Avenue, a street steeped in Atlanta’s Black history, lies a small brick building that holds a significant piece of American broadcasting history. WERD, the first Black-owned radio station in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[168],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-radio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buzz360news.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}