Central Library To Host "A Radio Hero" Film Tribute to Black Radio on Wednesday, August 23

On Wednesday, August 23, the Birmingham Public Library will host A Radio Hero, a film tribute to the important role Black Radio played during Birmingham's 1963 Civil Rights Movement 50 years ago.

The public is invited to this free programs taking place from 6:00  - 7:30 p.m. in the Central Library in downtown Birmingham, 2100 Park Place.  Bob Friedman of the Birmingham Black Radio Museum (BBRM) will present the short film, A Radio Hero. The Birmingham Black Radio Museum is a non-profit organization founded by Friedman to preserve and exhibit materials relating to African American radio in Birmingham.

Created through Friedman's Four Octaves Productions, A Radio Hero details the development of black radio programming in Birmingham, covering the period from 1936 to1963 with emphasis on Paul "Tall Paul" White, the most significant announcer during Birmingham's Civil Rights Movement.

Along with radio partner Shelley "The Playboy" Stewart, White is best known for communicating with young Black children involved in the 1963 civil rights march known as the "Mighty Children's Crusade." A documentary, Mighty Times: The Children's March, won an Academy Award in 2005. 

Bob Friedman, Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Friedman began collecting artifacts, interviews, photographs and other materials to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the founding of WJLD-AM in 1992, and was supported by WJLD-AM owner Gary Richardson and others. Friedman incorporated the museum into a non-profit in 2004. 

Originally from New York City, Friedman moved to Birmingham in 1987, and began working at WJLD, where he hosted a 1950s  harmony show and a popular Saturday morning talk show called "Sound Off" for several years. 

Earlier this year in April at Powderly Branch Library, Friedman hosted another showing of the film and a talk about the history of Black radio in Birmingham.