In February, Americans celebrate Black History Month in honor of African Americans across the nation. Beginning in 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson and Minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History to bring awareness to the forgotten African American contributors of this great nation. In 1926, the two men brought to life the Negro History Week, and it wasn’t until 1976 that then-President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month as a national month-long celebration during February. This year, The Feather will showcase historical African American figures from the Central Valley area who brought positive change to their communities.
De Arthur Woodrow “Woody” Miller is remembered as the first African American to own their own radio station in the California Central Valley. Using his radio influence, Miller promoted black culture and the voices of African American community leaders, strengthening the local civil rights movement in Fresno.
Miller was born in Dermot, Arkansas, on Oct. 22, 1927. He grew up partially in Oakland, California, before moving to Fresno in 1935 to live on his grandparents’ cattle ranch. After graduating from high school in 1945, Miller served as a U.S. Army aircraft mechanic until 1948.
Returning from the army to Fresno in 1949, Miller was hired by Morrie Mindel, owner of the local radio station, KLIP. He later worked for various radio stations from Bakersfield to San Francisco. Miller came back to Fresno in 1962 as an assistant to Mindel at KLIP 1220 AM, becoming a co-owner of the station in 1977 and general manager of the station in Fowler. He promoted rhythm and blues music, sharing African-American culture through the talent of various artists. Miller also worked to expose injustices and spread information about pushing back against racial discrimination, promoting common identity and change.
With a passion for the civil rights of African Americans, in 1968, Miller co-chaired Robert Kennedy’s Central Valley presidential campaign. Miller ran for a Fresno City Council seat in 1971; though unsuccessful, he continued to promote African American pride and culture through his radio stations. He also coordinated Jesse Jackson’s local campaign when he ran for president in 1984 and 1988, attempting to help the civil rights leader win the office.
In the early 1980s, Miller co-founded and ran the Valley Black Talk Radio at KFCF, the valley’s first all-black radio talk show. He interviewed community leaders and musicians, and broadcast community meetings and church services. On his KLIP program “The Jazz World of Woody Miller,” he interviewed some of the greatest musicians of his time, such as James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Ray Charles. While for community purposes, Miller was able to take creative initiative on his show and speak about more than just civil rights.
FC staff member and girls tennis coach Daniel “Bulldog” Jessing ran his “Off the Bench” podcast to share his passion, athletics, expressively before it was picked up by ESPN. He is part of the next generation who have moved from radio hosting to podcast hosting. He knows well the risk and enjoyment of putting together a talk show.
“Podcasting for me was simple; it was fun, so I kept doing it,” Jessing said. “It didn’t matter if anybody was actually listening, we were having fun conversations, and that is all that mattered.”
Also in the early 1980s, Miller worked with Lesly Kimber from the California Advocate Newspaper to promote black voter participation and voter registration. Together, they formed the “Central California Black Media,” which combined the newspaper and radio station into a single media platform to unite the black community and work against discrimination.
Fresno Christian student Matthew Tacchino previously ran The Feather’s FC EagleCast podcast and shares insight on the value of vocal presence in the community.
“I can see a talk show as an asset to the community because it gives them a direct outlet with which they could share their opinions and experiences while also not having them be shut down or go unpublished,” Tacchino said.
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In 1983, the City of Fresno named May 14 “Woody Miller Day” to honor his contributions to the city. He continued to contribute to the community through teaching a course on the History of African American Music at Fresno City College, educating the young generation and encouraging them to appreciate other cultures. He also volunteered at California State University as a jazz host on the radio station KFSR FM.
Miller died on May 13, 2017, at the age of 89, due to Alzheimer’s. His lasting legacy in Fresno is a strong community full of cultural diversity and understanding.
For more Black History Month spotlights, check out Black History Month Spotlight: Jack Kelley leaves an inspirational legacy in the Central Valley.
For more from The Feather, visit Fresno Christian hosts memorable events for spring semester and Girls basketball Senior Night.
