WERD was the first radio station in the United States owned by African Americans. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1949 by Jesse B. Blayton Sr., a prominent Black businessman and entrepreneur. WERD played a significant role in amplifying the voices and perspectives of the Black community during a time of widespread segregation and discrimination.

The station provided a platform for discussions about civil rights, social justice issues, and community events that were often ignored or marginalized by mainstream media outlets. WERD also played a crucial role in promoting Black music and culture, featuring artists and musicians who were not given airtime on white-owned stations.

One of the most famous on-air personalities at WERD was Jack "The Rapper" Gibson, who became a well-known figure in the Black radio industry and helped to launch the careers of many Black musicians and entertainers.

Although WERD eventually went off the air in the 1960s, its legacy as a pioneering Black-owned radio station remains an important chapter in Black history and the struggle for racial equality and representation in the media.