Black Women In Radio (BWIR) Historic Collection Inducts 30 Powerhouses For Radio Preservation and Research
Today, Black Women In Radio (BWIR) announces a transformative moment in American history for minority women in media as 30 veteran broadcasters from all over the country are inducted into an interdisciplinary educational project for research.
The Black Women In Radio (BWIR) Historic Collection and Oral History project curated by radio vet, BWIR founder, and educator Felèsha Love documents long over due scholarly research, preservation of memorable moments in American radio history and examines
the disparities of female broadcasters of color. “When I developed BWIR five years ago, I set out to create a platform to celebrate career contributions of my peers and amplify their voices but that wasn’t enough.
I wanted to significantly change the trajectory of how we are viewed,” said Love. Founder of Urban ONE Cathy Hughes, National Media Talent and Celebrity Coach Dyana Williams, Media Talent and Executive Helen Little, Nationally Syndicated Radio Personality Jasmine Sanders, Nationally Syndicated Radio Personality Angela Yee, and 25 other significantly talented women across America donated their personal collections and extensive interviews to BWIR to tell their stories.
“Thanks to a partnership with Library of Congress’ Radio preservation Task Force (RPTF) and the Atlanta University Center’s Robert Woodruff Library, the collection has a home and legacy to build upon for many years to come. My dream is a reality,” said Love.
For centuries America’s history has focused largely on his-story which silences women and especially those of color. The collection is significant because is gives voice to women who have been ignored, omitted or devalued in historical conversations. Women, like BWIR’s inaugural group of 30, have weathered career storms, adapted to an ever-evolving changing industry and paved the way for today’s digital age of podcasters and influencers. See 20th and 21st Century national and local commercial Black radio from the lens of the women who lived to experience the journey.
The collection contains hundreds of hours of audio, video, digital media, photos, artifacts, awards, events, interviews, air checks and documents. Love, a former Spelman College professor, designed a section of groundbreaking oral history to benefit students and scholars in multi-disciplinary education such as African American culture, Black entertainment, business management, comparative women’s studies, digital media, music culture, women’s health and women in media. Plans are in the works for a traveling HBCU tour and exhibit of the collection before the end of the year. The collection is available to the public through the Atlanta University Center’s Robert W. Woodruff Library website at https://www.auctr.edu beginning Feb. 21st. Library policies and various levels of accessibility may apply.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Felèsha Love at 404-820-6839 For more information about Black Women In Radio (BWIR) and the BWIR Historic Collection go to the contact us page at www.blackwomeninradio.com or write to Felèsha Love at feleshalove@gmail.com
