Jesse B. Blayton Sr

Jesse B. Blayton

(1897-1977)

He was a multifaceted individual, known for his roles as a radio entrepreneur, civil rights activist, professor, accountant, and businessman. Here’s a reformatted summary of his life and accomplishments:

Early Life

  • Jesse B. Blayton Sr. was born on December 6, 1897, in Fallis, Oklahoma, to Lester B. Blayton and Mattie E. Carter.
  • He attended Langston University in Oklahoma from 1915 to 1918.

Career

  • Between 1925 and 1930, Blayton worked as a professor in accounting at Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta, Georgia. He became a mentor to young African Americans studying accounting during this time.
  • He served as the founding president of Georgia’s Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1925 to 1971.
  • In 1928, Blayton achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first African-American in Georgia to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. He was only the fourth black CPA in U.S. history at that time.
  • From 1930 to 1970, Blayton held the position of Professor of Accounting at the University of Atlanta, where he earned the moniker “Dean of Negro Accountants” for his efforts in encouraging young African-Americans to pursue accounting careers. This was a remarkable achievement, given the historical barriers that African Americans faced in entering the CPA profession.
  • In 1932, Blayton obtained a Bachelor’s degree in business education from the Walton School of Commerce in Chicago. He furthered his education by attending the University of Chicago for business administration, earning an MBA in 1935.
  • Blayton co-founded Atlanta’s first black nightclub, “Top Hat,” in 1937, although racial segregation still restricted access for African-Americans on Saturday nights. Additionally, he was involved in the ownership of Brown Boy Bottling Co.

WERD

  • Jesse Blayton made history when he purchased WERD in 1949 for $50,000, establishing it as the first radio station both owned and programmed by African Americans.
  • WERD’s programming catered to African-American audiences, featuring a pioneering format that included predominantly rhythm and blues music. The station also broadcasts jazz, gospel music, public service programs, educational content, church services, radio plays, and community news.
  • Blayton’s son, Jesse Blayton Jr., served as WERD’s program director, and the station hired black employees, including the popular disc jockey and radio personality “Jockey Jack” Gibson. Blayton believed that employing African Americans and reaching a black audience would contribute to the economic empowerment of the community.
  • WERD played a pivotal role in publicizing the civil rights movement by disseminating information about the movement and broadcasting speeches by prominent civil rights leaders. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was closely associated with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), shared a building with WERD and frequently used the studio to announce the activities of the SCLC.
  • Jesse Blayton’s approach to the Civil Rights Movement was through the use of politics, and his conservative stance garnered both criticism and praise. In 1950, WERD was considered a significant milestone for civil rights in the United States.
  • Such was the station’s success that in mid-1954, the Blaytons acquired an AM station, KREL, in Baytown, Texas. They subsequently sold it four years later.

Later Life

  • Jesse B. Blayton retired and sold WERD in 1968 but remained an active community leader until his passing on September 7, 1977.
  • He passed away on the street while returning from a barbershop in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Blayton was laid to rest in South View Cemetery in Atlanta.
  • In recognition of his contributions to radio history and his role in providing a platform for civil rights activists, he was posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jesse B. Blayton’s life and legacy encompassed groundbreaking achievements in radio, accounting, and civil rights activism, leaving an indelible mark on African-American history and American society as a whole.