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Destination Freedom

The concept of African-American civil rights was not mainstream at the end of the 1940's. Shows like Destination Freedom on WMAQ helped pave the way to a better society.

Destination Freedom

42 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 20 hours, 3596 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
21 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from September 05, 1948:

"James Weldon Johnson"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

African-American Civil rights dramatic anthology (1948-1950)

The triumph of African-American civil rights can be attributed to many heroes and heroines of the past. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Satchel Paige, Roscoe Dungee, Dr. Ralph Bunche, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Lena Horne were all major proponents of this movement, but some never think about Richard Durham. Durham's creation put a foothold on Civil rights and paved the way for equality.

Richard Durham

Richard Durham's Destination Freedom premiered on June 27, 1948 on Chicago radio WMAQ. Durham's vision was to reeducate the masses on the image of African American society, since it was tainted with stereotypes that threatened to tear its beautiful culture apart. The danger was so imminent, that many White Supremacy groups protested, such as the White Knights of Columbus. Week after week, Durham would generate all-out attacks on southern bias, the Ku Klux Klan, on the attitudes of rednecks and the mentality of the mob. For two straight years, Durham wrote script after script for Destination Freedom and asked for nothing in return. In 1950, Durham's financial needs exceeded his push for equality, so he opted to accept an offer by Don Ameche to write a vehicle for him. After Durham left, the station quickly changed the shows premise to a white show, in order to rival Paul Revere Speaks, which was a popular show at the time. For about 50 years, the show was long forgotten until some transcripts were found, and the voices of freedom, played by Fred Pinkard, Oscar Brown Jr., Wezlyn Tilden, and Janice Kingslow, were heard once more.

For additional radio shows covering African-American civil rights, see also: Roi Ottley's A New Worlds A-Coming and Freedom's People. See also Jubilee which was created to entertain the black soldiers in WWII.

For more interesting reading, see also: article on the history of Minstrel Shows and Old Time Radio.  See also Civil Rights, Racism, Discrimination, and Prejudice in Old Time Radio, KKK in Old Time Radio, Superman Fights the KKKPeople Take the LeadDestination Freedom, Racist Music, Former Slave Interviews, A New World A-Coming, and Minstrel Shows.

For more American historical drama, see also: American Adventure, An American in England, American Trail, Cavalcade of America, Democracy in America, The Free Company, Frontier Fighters, Inheritance, Norman Corwin Collection, Mr President, Science Magazine of the Air, You Are There, and The American History Collection.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    42 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 20 hours, 3596 min
    42 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 20 hours, 3596 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 42 shows – total playtime 20 hours, 59 minutes
    2. DF 480627 001 Knock Kneed Man, The Crispus Attuckus.mp3
    3. DF 480704 002 Railway to Freedom Harriet Tubman.mp3
    4. DF 480711 003 Dark Explorers.mp3
    5. DF 480718 004 The Denmark Vesey Story.mp3
    6. DF 480725 005 The Making Of A Man.mp3
    7. DF 480801 006 The Key To Freedom.mp3
    8. DF 480808 007 The Heart of George Cotton.mp3
    9. DF 480822 009 Arctic Biography.mp3
    10. DF 480829 010 The Story of 1875.mp3
    11. DF 480905 011 Poet of Pine Hill James Weldon Johnson.mp3
    12. DF 480926 014 Shakespeare of Harlem Langston Hughes.mp3
    13. DF 481003 015 Citizen Toussaint.mp3
    14. DF 481010 016 Little David Joe Louis.mp3
    15. DF 481017 017 Boy Who Was Traded for Horse-George Carver.mp3
    16. DF 481107 019 Echoes of Harlem Duke Ellington.mp3
    17. DF 481121 021 The Rhyme of the Ancient Dodger.mp3
    18. DF 490220 034 Peace Mediator Dr Ralph Bunche.mp3
    19. DF 490227 035 The Houses That Paul Built.mp3
    20. DF 490320 038 Black Boy.mp3
    21. DF 490410 041 Woman With A Mission.mp3
    22. DF 490515 045 Ballad of Satchell Paige, The.mp3
    23. DF 490529 047 The Saga Of Melody Jackson.mp3
    24. DF 490605 048 AnatomyOfAnOrdinance.mp3
    25. DF 490619 050 Ghost Editor.mp3
    26. DF 490703 052 Norfolk Miracle.mp3
    27. DF 490717 053 TalesOfStackalee.mp3
    28. DF 490724 054 The Legend Of John Henry.mp3
    29. DF 490731 055 TrumpetTalks.mp3
    30. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad.mp3
    31. DF 490814 057 Black Hamlet Part I.mp3
    32. DF 490821 058 Black Hamlet Part II.mp3
    33. DF 490828 059 Segregation Incorporated.mp3
    34. DF 490904 060 The Saga of Senator Blanche K Bruce.mp3
    35. DF 491009 066 Father to Son.mp3
    36. DF 491116 069 Man Who Owned Chicago.mp3
    37. DF 500105 075 BirthOfTheUrbanLeague.mp3
    38. DF 500312 083 PremonitionOfThePanther.mp3
    39. DF 500326 085 TheLiberatorsPt1.mp3
    40. DF 500611 094 Shy Boy, The Thomas Fats Waller.mp3
    41. DF 500702 097 Kansas City Phone Call Nat King Cole.mp3
    42. DF 500813 103 Last Letter Home.mp3
    43. DF 501015 000 First Paul Revere Epilog.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    42 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 20 hours, 3596 min
    42 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    543 MB – total playtime 20 hours, 59 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 42 shows – 543 MB – total playtime 20 hours, 59 minutes
    2. DF 480627 001 Knock Kneed Man, The Crispus Attuckus.mp3
    3. DF 480704 002 Railway to Freedom Harriet Tubman.mp3
    4. DF 480711 003 Dark Explorers.mp3
    5. DF 480718 004 The Denmark Vesey Story.mp3
    6. DF 480725 005 The Making Of A Man.mp3
    7. DF 480801 006 The Key To Freedom.mp3
    8. DF 480808 007 The Heart of George Cotton.mp3
    9. DF 480822 009 Arctic Biography.mp3
    10. DF 480829 010 The Story of 1875.mp3
    11. DF 480905 011 Poet of Pine Hill James Weldon Johnson.mp3
    12. DF 480926 014 Shakespeare of Harlem Langston Hughes.mp3
    13. DF 481003 015 Citizen Toussaint.mp3
    14. DF 481010 016 Little David Joe Louis.mp3
    15. DF 481017 017 Boy Who Was Traded for Horse-George Carver.mp3
    16. DF 481107 019 Echoes of Harlem Duke Ellington.mp3
    17. DF 481121 021 The Rhyme of the Ancient Dodger.mp3
    18. DF 490220 034 Peace Mediator Dr Ralph Bunche.mp3
    19. DF 490227 035 The Houses That Paul Built.mp3
    20. DF 490320 038 Black Boy.mp3
    21. DF 490410 041 Woman With A Mission.mp3
    22. DF 490515 045 Ballad of Satchell Paige, The.mp3
    23. DF 490529 047 The Saga Of Melody Jackson.mp3
    24. DF 490605 048 AnatomyOfAnOrdinance.mp3
    25. DF 490619 050 Ghost Editor.mp3
    26. DF 490703 052 Norfolk Miracle.mp3
    27. DF 490717 053 TalesOfStackalee.mp3
    28. DF 490724 054 The Legend Of John Henry.mp3
    29. DF 490731 055 TrumpetTalks.mp3
    30. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad.mp3
    31. DF 490814 057 Black Hamlet Part I.mp3
    32. DF 490821 058 Black Hamlet Part II.mp3
    33. DF 490828 059 Segregation Incorporated.mp3
    34. DF 490904 060 The Saga of Senator Blanche K Bruce.mp3
    35. DF 491009 066 Father to Son.mp3
    36. DF 491116 069 Man Who Owned Chicago.mp3
    37. DF 500105 075 BirthOfTheUrbanLeague.mp3
    38. DF 500312 083 PremonitionOfThePanther.mp3
    39. DF 500326 085 TheLiberatorsPt1.mp3
    40. DF 500611 094 Shy Boy, The Thomas Fats Waller.mp3
    41. DF 500702 097 Kansas City Phone Call Nat King Cole.mp3
    42. DF 500813 103 Last Letter Home.mp3
    43. DF 501015 000 First Paul Revere Epilog.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    42 recordings on 21 Audio CDs. Total playtime 20 hours, 59 min
    42 recordings on 21 Audio CDs
    total playtime 20 hours, 59 min

    Destination Freedom Disc A001

    1. DF 480627 001 Knock Kneed Man, The Crispus Attuckus
    2. DF 480704 002 Railway to Freedom Harriet Tubman

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A002

    1. DF 480711 003 Dark Explorers
    2. DF 480718 004 The Denmark Vesey Story

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A003

    1. DF 480725 005 The Making Of A Man
    2. DF 480801 006 The Key To Freedom

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A004

    1. DF 480808 007 The Heart of George Cotton
    2. DF 480822 009 Arctic Biography

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A005

    1. DF 480829 010 The Story of 1875
    2. DF 480905 011 Poet of Pine Hill James Weldon Johnson

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A006

    1. DF 480926 014 Shakespeare of Harlem Langston Hughes
    2. DF 481003 015 Citizen Toussaint

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A007

    1. DF 481010 016 Little David Joe Louis
    2. DF 481017 017 Boy Who Was Traded for Horse-George Carver

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A008

    1. DF 481107 019 Echoes of Harlem Duke Ellington
    2. DF 481121 021 The Rhyme of the Ancient Dodger

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A009

    1. DF 490220 034 Peace Mediator Dr Ralph Bunche
    2. DF 490227 035 The Houses That Paul Built

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A010

    1. DF 490320 038 Black Boy
    2. DF 490410 041 Woman With A Mission

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A011

    1. DF 490515 045 Ballad of Satchell Paige, The
    2. DF 490529 047 The Saga Of Melody Jackson

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A012

    1. DF 490605 048 AnatomyOfAnOrdinance
    2. DF 490619 050 Ghost Editor

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A013

    1. DF 490703 052 Norfolk Miracle
    2. DF 490717 053 TalesOfStackalee

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A014

    1. DF 490724 054 The Legend Of John Henry
    2. DF 490731 055 TrumpetTalks

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A015

    1. DF 490807 056 TheLongRoad
    2. DF 490814 057 Black Hamlet Part I

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A016

    1. DF 490821 058 Black Hamlet Part II
    2. DF 490828 059 Segregation Incorporated

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A017

    1. DF 490904 060 The Saga of Senator Blanche K Bruce
    2. DF 491009 066 Father to Son

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A018

    1. DF 491116 069 Man Who Owned Chicago
    2. DF 500105 075 BirthOfTheUrbanLeague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A019

    1. DF 500312 083 PremonitionOfThePanther
    2. DF 500326 085 TheLiberatorsPt1

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A020

    1. DF 500611 094 Shy Boy, The Thomas Fats Waller
    2. DF 500702 097 Kansas City Phone Call Nat King Cole

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Destination Freedom Disc A021

    1. DF 500813 103 Last Letter Home
    2. DF 501015 000 First Paul Revere Epilog

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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