About Carl Nelson

The Carl Nelson Show Launched Mon-Fri 4-7pm on WOL-AM 1450 February 6th 2012 in the nations capital. Ground-breaking, Peabody Award-winning broadcast news journalist Carl Nelson, has interviewed Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of State, politicians, authors, celebrities, civic leaders and people from all walks of life over a four-decade career that has taken him from Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, to the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, to his present career as host of Washington DC’s latest daily newsmaker radio program, The Carl Nelson Show, a 3-hour daily news program on Radio One’s flagship radio station WOL-1450 AM.

Carl Nelson was the first reporter allowed to interview Nelson Mandela on the eve of his historic 1991 release from his South African prison and, as News Director for Stevie Wonder’s KJLH Radio, was the only news reporter allowed across police lines during the 1991 Rodney King riots. KJLH’s acclaimed coverage of this civic unrest garnered KJLH the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, an NAACP Image Award, a Golden Mike Award, the Los Angeles Press Club Award and several other industry-wide awards.

Nelson began his broadcasting career in 1971 at WYNT Radio in New York City. In 1974, he was recruited by Inner City Broadcasting Company, owners of WLIB Radio and WBLS Radio. After stints at several radio stations in Los Angeles, Nelson was named News Director of Stevie Wonder’s KJLH Radio, a position he held for a quarter of a century (1980-2005). In addition to his managerial responsibilities, Nelson was deeply involved in Wonder’s Bid to make Dr. Martin Luther Kings’ birthday a national holiday, he was also led in the station’s critically-acclaimed coverage of local, regional and national politics, breaking news and national events, including coverage of all the US political conventions.

Nelson has interviewed former US President Ronald Reagan, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former South Africa Premiere Peter Botha, Zambia’s first

President Kenneth Kaunda, Namibia’s Former President Sam Nujoma, current South African President Jacob Zuma, dozens of US political leaders including former US presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator Edward Kennedy, Representatives Maxine Waters, John Conyers and Diane Watson, Julian Bond, Andrew Young, TD Jakes, and Rev. Al Sharpton, among many others.

Nelson’s celebrity interviews include: Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah, Michael Jackson, Prince, Sidney Poitier, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Redd Foxx, Luther Van Dross, Quincy Jones Berry Gordy, Magic Johnson, Muhammad Ali, O.J Simpson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar Richard Pryor and Nancy Wilson, to name but a few

In 1996, The Black Radio Exclusive Magazine named Carl News Director of the Year. Nelson is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Radio Television News Directors Association and the Black Journalists Association. Formerly the co-owner of WSRF AM radio in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Nelson sits on the President’s Advisory Board at St. Thomas University, Miami, FL.

Black Politics Expert, Dr. James Taylor examines "The Race Politics of Corona". Dr. James Taylor will discuss "Corona, Blacks, and the 2020 Elections," how the pandemic is reshaping the politics and economic infrastructure of the US.

  Pan-African activist-scholar, Dr. James Small reports on the conflicts many blacks have in accepting government health reports. Dr. Small will talk about the Tuskegee Experiment and how that project is still seared into the memory banks of many of our people. The Professor will also update us on the Chinese ongoing abuse of Africans in China […]

  Health researcher, Author, Broadcaster & Musician, Keidi Awadu updates us on the coronavirus pandemic. Keidi is concerned with figures being released from the government and will also offer some information on how to take advantage of the Global Economic reset. In addition, Keidi will also look at the potential economic possibilities in Africa despite […]

Griot, Scholar & Educator, Dr. Leonard Jeffries checks in to discuss how the coronavirus is highlighting the differences in available health care. Dr. J will examine why Blacks may be in better shape to survive the pandemic than their counterparts in the US. Dr. J will also discuss the xenophobia being practiced by some Chinese […]

The University of Houstons’ Africana & History Studies chair, Dr. Gerald Horne checks in to discuss if the coronavirus could lead to the break up of the US, why Viet Nam has some of the lowest infectious rates & Brazil the highest, & Cuban Medical Brigades. Dr. Horne will also look at the issues in […]

Author, activist, mini-movie, and documentary filmmaker Jeremiah Camara checks in to discuss plans for his state of Georgia to reopen this weekend. Jeremiah will also talk about how the virus affects Blacks different from Whites & how Racism/White Supremacy is reflected in the fight to contain the virus. Jeremiah will also examine the role religion […]

  Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Jerome E. Fox discusses Xenophobia & Self-hate. Dr. Fox is the author of ‘Addicted to White, The Oppressed in League with the Oppressor: A Shame based Alliance’. Dr. Fox claims there are five core values that inherently promote tacit acceptance of white domination. Before we get to Dr. Fox we’ll talk […]

Public Enemy’s Minister of Information, Professor Griff checks in to discuss Trump’s move to re-open the economy, the coronavirus as a biological weapon, Griffs’ Alternative Black Studies Course, The war on Hip Hop & more. Before we get to Professor Griff, Bryan Franklin from Black Economic Matter on the groups plan to take advantage of the economic […]

Critical Thinking Professor, Dr. David Horne checks in to discuss how the coronavirus may influence the November elections. Dr. Horne will talk about the candidates available to be Joe Biden’s running mate, the possibilities of a Brokered Convention, he’ll also discuss the odds of the Trump Administration postponing the election & more. Before we get […]

Kemetologist & author Anthony Tony Browder returns to dig into the Browder files to discuss ‘Survival Strategies for Africans in America’, the title of one of his best selling books. Tony will discuss the 13 steps outlined in his book. Before we get to Brother, Anthony Tony Browder, businessman & attorney, Michael Roberts on how to take […]