![Ricci International, owner of WERD the first black owned and operated radio station in North America. | Tom Griscom Photography Ricci International, owner of WERD the first black owned and operated radio station in North America. | Tom Griscom Photography](https://www.tomgriscom.com/img-get/I0000sTSQNhzhixY/s/1200/I0000sTSQNhzhixY.jpg)
Ricci International, owner of WERD the first black owned and operated radio station in North America. | Tom Griscom Photography
![Museum of Broadcast Communications on X: "Today, we remember WERD - the first radio station wholly owned and programmed by African Americans. Established in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 3, 1949, WERD had Museum of Broadcast Communications on X: "Today, we remember WERD - the first radio station wholly owned and programmed by African Americans. Established in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 3, 1949, WERD had](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLKVy8QXsAkuvvN.png:large)
Museum of Broadcast Communications on X: "Today, we remember WERD - the first radio station wholly owned and programmed by African Americans. Established in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 3, 1949, WERD had
![Ben Jealous on X: "Today In History: In 1949, WERD, the 1st Black radio station, began operating in Atlanta, GA http://t.co/oWhLyapdgG" / X Ben Jealous on X: "Today In History: In 1949, WERD, the 1st Black radio station, began operating in Atlanta, GA http://t.co/oWhLyapdgG" / X](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzB2HZjCUAAj_Km.jpg)