Powerpoint Radio
An Archival Project of the University of Maryland
PowerPoint was the first national program on public radio to address issues affecting the African-American community, the nation, and the world. The program, created and produced by Straight Street Media’s founder and executive producer, Reggie Hicks, aired between 1997 and 2004. PowerPoint could be heard in 50 media markets and on National Public Radio’s (NPR) SiriusXM channel. Some of the program highlights over the seven years included the last U.S. interview of jazz legend Nina Simone, a live tag-up from space with astronaut Mike Anderson aboard the Space Shuttle, numerous programs on the issue of Race in America, and programs covering international topics from Africa to the Caribbean.
The program was highly culturally significant in the late 70s and early 2000s, prompting the University of Maryland to lead efforts in preserving its legacy. The Hornbake Library at the university secured a grant to archive PowerPoint episodes on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) platform. PowerPoint, with many topics still relevant today, offers insight into issues affecting people of color as the nation and world enter a new millennium. It now has a permanent home and is accessible to researchers, students, media outlets, the public, and future generations.