Bev Smith
Radio talk show host Bev Smith was born March 4, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Smith is the eldest of six children born to Isabel and John Sloan. She was raised in the Homewood neighborhood of Pennsylvania, and graduated from Westinghouse High School. In 1961, Smith entered beautician school, to raise money for college, and a year later enrolled in Clark’s Business School. In 1963, she took classes at Robert Morris Junior College.
In 1969, Smith was appointed office manager for the National Conference of Christians and Jews, under Ralph King. In 1971, she was named Pittsburgh’s first African American consumer affairs investigative reporter for WPXI Television. She was then hired as news and public affairs director for Sheridan Broadcasting in 1975, and hosted a talk show on Sheridan's flagship station, WAMO. In 1977, Smith became the director of consumer affairs, as well as energy coordinator of her county in Pennsylvania. That same year, she moved her radio show to KDKA, where she also hosted a television show called Vibrations. Smith then became a radio host for Miami’s WGBS (now WNMS) in 1979, and Orlando’s WKIS in 1985. In 1988, Smith began hosting a local radio program in Washington D.C., as well as the national Black Entertainment Television talk show "Our Voices," which she hosted for over thirteen years.
In 1998, Smith became the host of "The Bev Smith Show," on American Urban Radio Networks, which made her the only African American female radio talk show host with a nationally syndicated show in the country. Smith signed off the air as host of her show in 2011.
Smith has received nearly 300 awards and recognitions for her contributions to radio and television, including the Spirit of Democracy Award, the Radio Air Crystal Award and the prestigious Max Robinson Award. She has also been selected by Talkers magazine as one of the most important radio talk show hosts in America.
Bev Smith was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on June 9, 2014.
A2014.154
Female
6/9/2014
Smith
Widow
Lyn
Crescent Elementary School
Westinghouse Academy
Duff's Business School
Robert Morris College
Baxter Elementary School
Beverly (Bev)
Pittsburgh
SMI31
Fall
Pennsylvania
Nassau, Bahamas
Stand Up, Be Counted, Get Involved.

Pennsylvania
3/4/1943
Pittsburgh
United States
Yellow Cake With Chocolate Icing
Radio talk show host Bev Smith (1943 - ) hosted the nationally syndicated talk show “The Bev Smith Show” from 1998 to 2011.
National Conference of Christians and Jews
WIICTV (Now WPXI)
Allegheny County Government
KDKA Radio
KDKA-TV
WBBS
WKYS Radio
Daytona Beach Channel 2
WTAE Radio
WRC Radio
Black Entertainment Television
CNN
MSNBC
PBS Washington
American Urban Radio Networks
Black
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Bev Smith's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Bev Smith lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Bev Smith describes her mother's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Bev Smith describes her maternal family's home in Danville, Virginia
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Bev Smith talks about her mother's upbringing
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Bev Smith describes her father's family background, pt. 1
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Bev Smith talks about her brother
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Bev Smith describes her father's family background, pt. 2
Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Bev Smith talks about her father's labor activism
Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Bev Smith describes how her parents met, pt. 1
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Bev Smith describes how her parents met, pt. 2
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Bev Smith talks about her father's service in the Civilian Conservation Corps
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Bev Smith talks about her mother's education
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Bev Smith lists her siblings, pt. 1
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Bev Smith lists her siblings, pt. 2
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Bev Smith describes her parents' personalities and who she takes after
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Bev Smith describes her earliest childhood memory
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Bev Smith remembers moving from the Hill District to Homewood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Bev Smith describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood
Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Bev Smith remembers her father's musical tastes
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Bev Smith remembers the Pittsburgh Courier
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Bev Smith talks about her early interest in art
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Bev Smith recalls her early influences
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Bev Smith remembers her parents' emphasis on politics and current events
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Bev Smith recalls her favorite television and radio programs
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Bev Smith talks about the black community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Bev Smith talks about her schooling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Bev Smith talks about her family's political affiliations
Tape: 3 Story: 9 - Bev Smith remembers the gentrification of the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 3 Story: 10 - Bev Smith talks about her parents' strict discipline
Tape: 3 Story: 11 - Bev Smith recalls her influences at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 3 Story: 12 - Bev Smith talks about her speaking voice
Tape: 3 Story: 13 - Bev Smith describes her relationship with the Kennedy family
Tape: 3 Story: 14 - Bev Smith remembers the debate club at Westinghouse High School
Tape: 3 Story: 15 - Bev Smith talks about her aspiration to attend college
Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Bev Smith recalls her responsibilities as the oldest of six siblings
Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Bev Smith talks about her experiences of bullying
Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Bev Smith remembers Duff's Business Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Bev Smith talks about her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Bev Smith remembers Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Bev Smith recalls the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Bev Smith remembers her ex-husband
Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Bev Smith talks about her work with the National Conference of Christians and Jews
Tape: 4 Story: 9 - Bev Smith remembers David Chase
Tape: 4 Story: 10 - Bev Smith recalls her start as a news reporter on WIIC-TV
Tape: 5 Story: 1 - Bev Smith talks about the reprisals against her investigative reporting
Tape: 5 Story: 2 - Bev Smith remembers Fred Rogers of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'
Tape: 5 Story: 3 - Bev Smith describes her transition from WIIC-TV to WAMO Radio
Tape: 5 Story: 4 - Bev Smith talks about her reputation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 5 - Bev Smith remembers the black community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 6 - Bev Smith remembers her programs on WAMO Radio
Tape: 5 Story: 7 - Bev Smith talks about the problems facing the black community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 8 - Bev Smith remembers her time at the Xerox Corporation
Tape: 5 Story: 9 - Bev Smith describes her return to WAMO Radio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 10 - Bev Smith remembers her weekend talk show on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 11 - Bev Smith talks about the struggle of black steelworkers in Pennsylvania
Tape: 5 Story: 12 - Bev Smith remembers working on Edward M. Kennedy's presidential campaign
Tape: 5 Story: 13 - Bev Smith talks about her advocacy at WYCB Radio
Tape: 6 Story: 1 - Bev Smith remembers moving to Miami, Florida
Tape: 6 Story: 2 - Bev Smith talks about her experiences as a radio personality in Florida
Tape: 6 Story: 3 - Bev Smith remembers working for WRC Radio in Washington, D.C.
Tape: 6 Story: 4 - Bev Smith remembers balancing her radio talk show and her program on BET
Tape: 6 Story: 5 - Bev Smith talks about the racist origins of marijuana criminalization
Tape: 6 Story: 6 - Bev Smith remembers Mayor Marion Barry
Tape: 6 Story: 7 - Bev Smith talks about her grassroots organizing efforts
Tape: 6 Story: 8 - Bev Smith talks about the changes in the role of black media
Tape: 6 Story: 9 - Bev Smith reflects upon the downfall of the black media industry
Tape: 7 Story: 1 - Bev Smith reflects upon her time at BET
Tape: 7 Story: 2 - Bev Smith talks about her stint as commentator on the American Urban Radio Networks
Tape: 7 Story: 3 - Bev Smith talks about selecting topics for her radio programs
Tape: 7 Story: 4 - Bev Smith talks about her network of contacts
Tape: 7 Story: 5 - Bev Smith describes the origin of her nickname
Tape: 7 Story: 6 - Bev Smith remembers leaving the American Urban Radio Networks
Tape: 7 Story: 7 - Bev Smith talks about independently producing 'The Bev Smith Show'
Tape: 7 Story: 8 - Bev Smith talks about the future of black radio
Tape: 7 Story: 9 - Bev Smith describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community
Tape: 7 Story: 10 - Bev Smith reflects upon her career
Tape: 7 Story: 11 - Bev Smith reflects upon her legacy
Tape: 7 Story: 12 - Bev Smith talks about her family
Tape: 7 Story: 13 - Bev Smith talks about the threats against her life
Tape: 7 Story: 14 - Bev Smith describes how she would like to be remembered
Tape: 8 Story: 1 - Bev Smith talks about her books
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