New World A'Coming

Life in the Ghetto

English · Dramatic Readings, Social Science

New World A'Coming brings the lives and concerns of Black Americans to radio through dramatic presentations inspired by real experiences and contemporary issues. The program offers a window onto communities and individuals whose stories were rarely centered in mainstream broadcasting.

Its episodes use radio drama to explore subjects such as work, family, discrimination, and life in urban neighborhoods. The title “Life in the Ghetto” points to a focus on the conditions and experiences of residents in a segregated community, presented through the intimate, imaginative form of a broadcast play.

The series combines social observation with human-scale storytelling, inviting listeners to consider both the pressures shaping everyday life and the resilience of the people living it. Its direct, serious tone makes it a distinctive example of radio drama engaging with Black life and social realities of its era.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.