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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Pioneer broadcaster Richard Durham was born in 
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Mississippi and raised in Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Durham began his legendary broadcast 
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career during the Great Depression with the Writer's Project of 
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the Works Progress Administration; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Durham later wrote for the CBS affiliate 
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WBBM Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, As the sole writer and producer of Destination 
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Freedom, Richard Durham's goal was to combat the negative 
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stereotypes of blacks in the media; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Destination Freedom was originally heard on WMAQ 
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Radio from June 27, 1948 to August, 1950; it was sponsored 
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initially by the Chicago Defender, then by the Chicago Urban 
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League; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The groundbreaking radio drama Destination 
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Freedom included 91 episodes, showcasing the lives of prominent 
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black Americans; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Durham's extraordinary genius in both 
 


 






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journalism and broadcasting included serving as editor for the 
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Chicago Defender and Ebony magazine; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Durham is one of five people who will be 
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inducted posthumously into America's only National Radio Hall 
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of Fame on November 3, 2007 in Chicago; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the family and friends of Richard Durham, and the 
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countless admirers of him and his work; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Richard Durham as a symbol of our 
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esteem and respect.