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.

Activist, Jerroll Sanders reviews the Amber Guyger trial, she’s the white cop accused of killing Botham Jean in his apartment. The jury is deciding whether she was reasonable to think Jean posed a threat. The judge ruled that the ‘Castle Doctrine’ can be used in her defense. Jerroll Sanders is the author of The Uniform […]

Black Politics Expert, Dr. James Taylor examines the impeachment controversy surrounding Trump. Dr. Taylor will also discuss if the incident is impacting Biden’s Presidential bid, will it start a Civil War as 45 is tweeting & will the move backfire on the Democrats? Before we get to Dr. James Taylor, Coach Butch Mcadams on the Track & Field Championships, The […]

Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s mentor, Neely Fuller Jr. with another installment of his tome on Racism/White Supremacy. He claims if you don’t understand how it works and everything it entails then everything else you think you understand will only serve to confuse you. Before we hear from Neely, Dr. Llaila O Afrika on African Holistic Health. […]

The head of the Universal Afrikan peoples Organization, Zaki Baruti outlines the upcoming 5th National Black Political Leadership Conference in Ferguson MO. The conference will review candidates running for office for the Presidency, Governor in eleven states, & US Senators in 34 states. Brother Zaki will also talk about MO Governor ordering State Troopers into […]

Griot, Baba Lumumba from Umoja House in WDC discusses “what is Freedom for Black People?” Baba Lumumba will also explore the many things we might mean when we use the word ‘Freedom’. Before we get to Baba Lumumba, DC activists Alexis & Nicole will inform us of the changes in the District & their program next week to highlight the transformation. 

Activist, Chairman Fred Hampton explains the influence of the Black Panthers on The Young Lords. The Puerto Rican resistance group was founded in Chicago and modeled many of its ideals after the BPP 10 point Program. Before we get to The Chairman, Healer, and Counselor, Nana Kwabena Brown discussing Relationships, Black Love, 55 & Over […]

The Chairman of the ‎African People’s Socialist Party, Omali Yeshitela checks in to discuss the Democratic Presidential Candidates, MLK the third’s call for an NFL boycott, Trump’s response to the bombing of the Saudi’s oil field & more. Before we get to Chairman Omali Yeshitela, an update on the medical & legal problems facing Mumia Abu Jamal & […]

The Chair of History & African American Studies at the University of Houston, Dr. Gerald Horne connects the dots between the Saudi oil strike, Iran & Israel. Dr. Horne will also discuss the Democrats dilemma in selecting a Presidential candidate, North Korea, Brexit, Afrophobia, Trump’s taxes, The Civil Rights Act of 1866 & more. Before we […]

  Kemetologist, Tony Browder updates us his ASA Restoration Project. Tony just returned from Luxor, Egypt where he attended the opening of the Luxor Temple. Tony will also detail his work in South Asasif, Kemet and reveal some exciting news. Before we get to Brother, Anthony Tony Browder, Marketing Executive, Overton Wilkins breaks down the Popeye’s recent promotion […]

Griot, Historian, and Lecturer on ancient African History and Religion, Ashra Kwesi reveals firsthand information from the ancient temples, tombs and papyrus papers recorded when African people were teachers of the world. Before we get to Brother Kwesi, the former President General, UNIA-ACL, Senghor Jawara Baye on his new book, ‘A Garveyite’s Whirlwind Journey 1980 to […]