WDIA and Nat D Williams: The Voices for Community, Culture, and Music in Memphis.
WDIA, the first radio station that centered on all African-American
programming, empowered the Memphis community and the surrounding
area. Station deejay Nat D. Williams was a powerful personality in Memphis.
He was known for his newspaper columns, which appeared in The Pittsburgh
Courier, The Memphis World, and The Tri-State Defender. Through this
lookback, one will learn how the press and radio were powerful vehicles for
change and one will also come away with an understanding of how Williams
and WDIA helped to explore the blues.
– Tanya Teglo, M.A.S.S.
Tanya Teglo, M.A.S.S., author and historian, has published many works on African
American history. She has written articles for academic journals, including her piece
“Nat D. Williams: Beale Street Historian” in the West Tennessee Historical Society
Papers, as well as a piece for Tennessee Historical Quarterly, “WDIA and the Black
Press: A Powerful Partnership.” Teglo’s main area of interest of the past 13 years has
been researching and writing about Nat D. Williams and WDIA. The lessons she has
learned from WDIA have carried over into her personal life. Teglo has volunteered for her
surrounding community in many facets, including writing a special education series for
the Erie Blues & Jazz festival, for which she serves on the board of directors, concerning
the history and meaning of the blues.
