1940's
1941
Oscar Brown, Jr. had his first professional acting and singing debut on the radio show Secret City. At the tender age of 15, OBJ became the youngest and first “Negro” to co-star in a radio series that did not have the Black character play as the comic relief nor as a subservient in his role. Later, he would become one of the writers of the show.
1944
Oscar Brown, Jr. was dubbed “America’s first Negro Newscaster,” when he became the host of Negro Newsfront, the nation’s first Black news radio broadcast.
1948
Oscar Brown, Jr. runs on the Progressive Party ticket candidate for the Illinois Legislature.
1948
Oscar Brown, Jr. began acting in the Black Radio Days series: Destination Freedom. A pioneering weekly drama series, written by Richard Durham, with scripts emphasizing the progress of African-Americans from the days of slavery and beyond to the ongoing struggle for racial justice.
