Former WGPR-TV Employees Share The History of America's First African American-Owned Television Station

SOUTHFIELD (CW50) - WPGR-TV was founded by William Venoid Banks, and was marketed to African American communities in Detroit. WGPR-TV first aired on channel 62, featuring broadcasts of religious shows, R&B music shows, syndicated shows, and old cartoons.

WGPR-TV was an important part of the television industry - giving local African Americans the opportunity to find producing, directing, and other "behind the camera" jobs in the industry.

On this week's COMMUNITY CONNECT, Lisa Germani went over to the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum to talk with four former employees of WGPR-TV about their experiences at the station and what it meant to them to find work at the first African America owned and operated television station in the United States.

The guests include:

Karen Hudson, Former News Director of WGPR-TV

Kenneth Bryant Jr., Former CBS 62 Producer/Director

Delphine Bell, Former Executive Secretary to the Station Manager

Tim Brown, Former Master Control Operator

Watch COMMUNITY CONNECT, Saturday at 8:30am on CW50