Black History: Recognizing Broadcasting Firsts In Metro Detroit

WWJ is celebrating Black History Month by recognizing those individuals, entities and organizations in metro Detroit who are helping to keep history alive!

City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas takes a look at the organization preserving the history of the country's first black owned television station.

It was such a big deal that President Gerald Ford publicly congratulated WGPR-TV when it hit the air in 1975.

"I'm particularly proud that this first black-owned television station in the continental United States will be in my home state of Michigan," President Ford is heard saying on videotape.

Many names you may recognize got their start at the TV station. You'll also see clips from the popular dance shows like The Scene.

Karen Hudson Samuels, executive director of the WGPR-TV Historical Society talks about a good starting point. [More on Facebook]

"You can enter the exhibit and start at any point but an interesting place is to look at the broadcast pioneer William D. Banks," Samuels notes.

"We have the very first newscast that was broadcast on Channel 62 with Amyre Makupson anchoring - so you'll see that exhibit here, and on the national level it would have to be Sean Robinson who was the host for 16 years of Access Hollywood."

She spent about two years researching and putting it together.

GPR was the first station in this market to use videotape - first station in the market to air 24 hours a day.

Joe Spencer is president of WGPR-TV of the historical society.

"If you don't tell your history, who will?" And this was something historical that needed to be told and shared," said Spencer.

The exhibit runs through April 3.

WWJ celebrates Black History month this year by highlighting local outstanding African Americans who inspire others. Tune in for the reports throughout the day at: 6:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 5:20 p.m. and 10:20 p.m.