About We Black Radio
We Are We Black Radio.
We don't run from the truth. We broadcast it.
We Black Radio (WBR) is an internet radio station built to amplify music rooted in Black culture and to drive real, lasting social equity through community programs and revenue reinvestment into education, safety, and racial justice initiatives.
We exist because the truth needed a home.
How It Started
In 2021, founder Riccardo Waites walked away from a radio station job after his show, one that told the real stories of Black life in Central Oregon came under attack from board members and powerful insiders who didn't want those truths told.
Instead of backing down, Riccardo built something they couldn't silence. We Black Radio was born: a platform with no corporate gatekeepers, no fear of confrontation, and a deep commitment to racial justice and community truth-telling.
What We Stand For
- Black Music & Culture — We amplify the sounds, stories, and voices that shape Black culture and community identity.
- Racial Justice — We take on injustice directly, through programming, partnerships, and community action.
- Community Investment — Every dollar we generate gets reinvested into programs that serve our people.
Our Programs
The Good Deeds Program
We work to remove racially biased language from home and land deeds — because equity starts with ownership, and ownership starts with language that doesn't carry the weight of oppression.
The Equity Advertising Program
We provide free radio advertising to Black, Indigenous, and Brown business owners — because representation in the marketplace is economic justice.
Why We Built the WBR Store
When you rep WBR gear, you're not just wearing a brand, you're wearing a movement. Every purchase supports our mission to keep the signal strong, the programs running, and the community thriving.
Every dollar of profit from the WBR Store goes directly toward:
- Keeping WBR broadcasting — so the signal never goes silent and the truth keeps reaching the community
- Providing free ads to Black, Indigenous, and Brown business owners through our Equity Advertising Program
- Community reinvestment — funding programs and events that create real change on the ground where we live
This ain't just merch. Every purchase is a contribution to something bigger than a t-shirt. You're funding the movement, the mission, and the community.
Wear it proud. Support the cause. We Black Radio — built by the community, for the community.