Richard Durham facts for kids

Richard Durham (September 6, 1917 – April 27, 1984) was an important African-American writer and radio producer. He used his talents to promote civil rights and share stories about Black history and experiences in the United States. He is best known for creating the radio drama Destination Freedom.

Early Life and Education

Richard Durham was born in Raymond, Mississippi, on September 6, 1917. When he was four years old, his family moved to Chicago in 1921. He went to Hyde Park High School and later studied at Northwestern University.

A Career in Writing and Radio

Richard Durham had a long and active career. He used his writing skills in many ways, from newspapers to radio shows and even movies.

Early Radio Work

In 1940, Richard Durham started writing for radio. He created two short radio plays about famous artists, The Story of Winslow Homer and The Story of Auguste Rodin. These were part of a government program called the Federal Writers' Project.

His first radio series was Democracy – USA, which aired in 1946. The next year, he created Here Comes Tomorrow, a dramatic radio series that focused on Black characters.

Writing for Newspapers

Durham also wrote for several newspapers. He shared his ideas and stories in publications like New Masses, Chicago Defender, Chicago Star, and Illinois Standard.

Destination Freedom Radio Series

One of Richard Durham's most famous works was the radio drama Destination Freedom. He wrote and produced this series, which started in July 1948. It was broadcast on NBC Chicago's WMAQ station. The show told stories about the progress of African-Americans. It covered everything from the days of slavery to the ongoing fight for racial justice and equality.

After Destination Freedom

After his work on Destination Freedom, Durham became the national program director for the United Packinghouse Workers of America. He worked there until 1958.

Editing Muhammad Speaks

In the 1960s, Richard Durham became the editor of Muhammad Speaks. This was a newspaper for the Nation of Islam group, based in Chicago.

Bird of the Iron Feather Soap Opera

While he was editing Muhammad Speaks, Durham also created another radio soap opera. This show was called Bird of an Iron Feather. It had an all-Black cast and aired three times a week, starting in January 1970. The show's title came from a speech given by the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass in 1847.

Other Creative Works

Richard Durham also worked on other projects. He had a small acting role in the 1972 movie Sounder. He also helped write The Greatest: My Own Story, which was the autobiography of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. This book was later made into a movie in 1977.

Durham also wrote a short book of poetry called Night Windowpanes, which was published in 1975.

Political Involvement

Richard Durham was also involved in politics. In 1982, he helped Harold Washington with his speeches during Washington's campaign to become the mayor of Chicago. Harold Washington later became Chicago's first African-American mayor.

Personal Life

Richard Durham was married to Clarice Davis Durham (1919–2018). She was a well-known educator in Chicago. Richard Durham passed away on April 27, 1984, from a heart attack while visiting New York City.

See also

• Carlton Moss – an African-American radio dramatist from the 1930s and 1940s
• Roi Ottley – a journalist and writer who created the radio series New World A'Coming