*Bob Law, the broadcaster behind the groundbreaking political talk show “Night Talk,” has passed away at the age of 86, friends and family confirmed on March 30, TheGrio reports.
Over a career exceeding five decades, Law stood as one of Black radio’s most enduring and consequential figures.
Rev. Al Sharpton was quick to honor his legacy on social media.
“Bob Law, a pioneer in National Black Talk radio, has passed away,” Sharpton wrote. “His unparalleled #NightTalk show was the political grapevine of Black America. He was one of a kind, a true representative and voice of Black radio.”
Sharpton also spoke to their long personal history, adding, “He gave me my first radio program when I was 16, and he along with Hank Spann introduced me to James Brown. My personal relationship with him and his Queen, Muntu, ran deep and strong for over 50 years. I will miss him dearly.”
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New York State Attorney General Letitia James offered her condolences, calling Law “a renowned radio talk show host and a tireless activist for the Black community” whose impact “will continue to be felt for generations to come.”
Law’s road to radio ran through activism. He served as a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee before taking on a community affairs role at WWRL, eventually climbing to program director. He never lost sight of that connection. “I’m one of the people who can truthfully say, I got my job through the Civil Rights Movement,” he said in a 1992 interview.
In 1981, Law took “Night Talk” national through the National Black Network, becoming the first live Black radio talk show to broadcast on a national scale. The program also played a documented role in Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign.
“It was ‘Night Talk’ that started the campaign ‘Run Jesse Run’ in 1984,” Law said in a 2025 interview. “Jesse Jackson came on the show every Tuesday night and we started talking about that on the air. Run Jesse Run. ‘Night Talk’ was a major factor in that presidential campaign.”
When discussing the importance of “Night Talk,” Law highlighted how it fosters connection. “We’ve raised a lot of issues and hopefully raised the consciousness of people who listen to us regularly,” he said.
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