"Like It Is" was a groundbreaking weekly public affairs interview television program created and hosted by Dr. Arthur E. Thomas, known for its uncompromising exploration of issues affecting the African American community. The show aired from 1978-1985 on the local Dayton television stations WPTD-WPTO 16-14 (PBS) and WHIO 7 (CBS), and became a powerful platform for Black voices, history, culture, and politics—long before such topics were widely covered in mainstream media. Dr. Thomas used "Like It Is" to spotlight civil rights leaders, scholars, artists, and everyday people, fostering dialogue and raising awareness during pivotal moments in American history. Revered for its authenticity and depth, the show remains a seminal contribution to Black media and social consciousness.
The original videocassettes of the television program are part of the Dr. Arthur E. Thomas, President Emeritus, Central State University, Collection (MS-667). Digitization of the "Like It Is" program was made possible by a grant from the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board in 2022.
Submissions from 1983
"Like It Is" Episode #627 -- Interview with Dr. William Amoaku, Arthur E. Thomas and William Amoaku
"Like It Is" Episode #616 -- Interview with Tyree Broomfield, Arthur E. Thomas and Tyree Broomfield
"Like It Is" Episode #621 -- Interview with Les Brown, Arthur E. Thomas and Les Brown
"Like It Is" Episode #634 -- Interview with Dr. Bryant Crawford, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and Bryant Crawford Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #630 -- Interview with Frankie M. Freeman, Arthur E. Thomas and Frankie M. Freeman
"Like It Is" Episode #626 -- Interview with Mayor Paul Leonard, Arthur E. Thomas and Paul Leonard
"Like It Is" Episode #635 -- Interview with Barbara Mims and Marjorie Lahm, Arthur E. Thomas, Barbara Mims, and Marjorie Lahm
"Like It Is" Episode #628 -- Interview with Larry Troutman, Arthur E. Thomas and Larry Troutman
Submissions from 1982
"Like It Is" Episode #517 -- Interview with Dr. Melvin Chapman, Arthur E. Thomas and Melvin Chapman
"Like It Is" Episode #602 -- Interview with Don Crawford, Arthur E. Thomas and Don Crawford
"Like It Is" Episode #607 -- Interview with Willis "Bing" Davis, Arthur E. Thomas and Willis "Bing" Davis
"Like It Is," Episode #605, Interview with Judge Arthur O. Fisher, Arthur E. Thomas and Arthur O. Fisher
"Like It Is" Episode #611 -- Interview with Judge Alice O. McCollum, Arthur E. Thomas and Alice O. McCollum
"Like It Is" Episode #526 -- Interview with Annie Orr and Elaine Rodney, Arthur E. Thomas, Annie Orr, and Elaine Rodney
"Like It Is" Episode #531 -- Interview with Lorna Revere and Amy Revere, Arthur E. Thomas, Lorna Revere, and Amy Revere
Submissions from 1981
"Like It Is" Episode #423 -- Interview with Mrs. Mona Bailey, Arthur E. Thomas and Mona Bailey
"Like It Is" Episode #504 -- Interview with Rev. Tyrone Crider, Arthur E. Thomas and Tyrone Crider
"Like It Is" Episode #431 -- Interview with Jackie Jackson, Arthur E. Thomas and Jackie Jackson
"Like It Is" Episode #505, featuring Speech from Rev. Jesse Jackson, Arthur E. Thomas and Jesse Jackson
"Like It Is" Episode #513 -- Interview with Robert Johnson, Arthur E. Thomas and Robert Johnson
"Like It Is" Episode #511 -- Interview with Yolanda King and Attallah Shabazz, Arthur E. Thomas, Yolanda King, and Attallah Shabazz
"Like It Is" Episode #420 -- Interview with Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, Arthur E. Thomas and Joseph E. Lowery
"Like It Is" Episode #432 -- Interview with Judge Alice O. McCollum, Arthur E. Thomas and Alice O. McCollum
"Like It Is" Episode #429 -- Interview with Mayor James H. McGee and Commissioner R. Clay Dixon, Arthur E. Thomas, James H. McGee, and R. Clay Dixon
"Like It Is," Episode #509, Interview with Rep. C. J. McLin, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and C. J. McLin Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #430 -- Interview with Walter J. Morrison, Arthur E. Thomas and Walter J. Morrison
"Like It Is" Episode #424 -- Interview with Dr. L. Shelbert Smith, Arthur E. Thomas and L. Shelbert Smith
"Like It Is" Episode #425 -- Interview with Louis Stokes, Arthur E. Thomas and Louis Stokes
"Like It Is" Episode #506 -- Interview with Larry Troutman, Arthur E. Thomas and Larry Troutman
Submissions from 1980
"Like It Is" Episode #402 -- Interview with J. Kenneth Blackwell and Sylvester Murray, Arthur E. Thomas, J. Kenneth Blackwell, and Sylvester Murray
"Like It Is" Episode #330 -- Interview with Julian Bond, Arthur E. Thomas and Julian Bond
"Like It Is," Episode #329, Interview with Holmes Braddock, Arthur E. Thomas and G. Holmes Braddock
"Like It Is," Episode #416, Interview with Col. Tyree Broomfield, Arthur E. Thomas and Tyree Broomfield
"Like It Is" Episode #407 -- Interview with Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and Benjamin Chavis Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #338 -- Interview with Nikki Giovanni, Arthur E. Thomas and Nikki Giovanni
"Like It Is," Episode #323, Interview with Dr. Frank Hale, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and Frank Hale Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #334 -- Interview with Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Arthur E. Thomas and A. Leon Higginbotham
"Like It Is" Episode #331 -- Interview with Benjamin Hooks, Arthur E. Thomas and Benjamin Hooks
"Like It Is" Episode #318 -- Interview with Dr. Jacquelyne Jackson, Arthur E. Thomas and Jacquelyne Jackson
"Like It Is" Episode #417 -- Interview with Yolanda King, Arthur E. Thomas and Yolanda King
"Like It Is," Episode #327, Interview with Dr. Marian Musgrave, Arthur E. Thomas and Marian Musgrave
"Like It Is," Episode #333, Interview with Anne S. Pruitt-Logan, Arthur E. Thomas and Anne S. Pruitt-Logan
"Like It Is" Episode #409 -- Interview with Rev. Frederick G. Sampson, Arthur E. Thomas and Fredrick G. Sampson
"Like It Is" Episode #332 -- Interview with Louis Stokes, Arthur E. Thomas and Louis Stokes
"Like It Is" Episode #419 -- Interview with Rev. Leon Sullivan, Arthur E. Thomas and Leon Sullivan
Submissions from 1979
"Like It Is" Episode #236 -- Interview with Dr. E. Lavonia Allison, Arthur E. Thomas and E. Lavonia Allison
"Like It Is" Episode #301 -- Interview with Maya Angelou, Arthur E. Thomas and Maya Angelou
"Like It Is" Episode #302 -- Interview with Maya Angelou, Arthur E. Thomas and Maya Angelou
"Like It Is" Episode #225 -- Interview with Lerone Bennett, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and Lerone Bennett Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #215 -- Interview with Clarence J. Brown, Jr., Arthur E. Thomas and Clarence J. Brown Jr.
"Like It Is" Episode #231 -- Interview with Faye Bryant and Hiliary H. Holloway,, Arthur E. Thomas, Faye Bryant, and Hiliary H. Holloway
"Like It Is" Episode #234 -- Interview with Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Arthur E. Thomas and Stokely Carmichael
"Like It Is" Episode #235 -- Interview with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Arthur E. Thomas, Ossie Davis, and Ruby Dee
"Like It Is" Episode #310 -- Interview with Dick Gregory, Arthur E. Thomas and Dick Gregory
"Like It Is" Episode #222 -- Interview with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Arthur E. Thomas and Jesse Jackson
"Like It Is" Episode #224 -- Interview with Dr. John L. Jones, Arthur E. Thomas and John L. Jones
"Like It Is" Episode #240 -- Interview with Flo Kennedy, Arthur E. Thomas and Florynce Kennedy
"Like It Is" Episode #229 -- Interview with Dr. William E. Nelson, Arthur E. Thomas and William E. Nelson
"Like It Is" Episode #233 -- Interview with Rosa Parks, Arthur E. Thomas and Rosa Parks
"Like It Is" Episode #232 -- Interview with Maj. Gen. Fred C. Sheffey, Arthur E. Thomas and Fred C. Sheffey
"Like It Is" Episode #219 -- Interview with Louis Stokes, Arthur E. Thomas and Louis Stokes
"Like It Is" Episode #217 -- Interview with Dr. Charles H. Wesley, Arthur E. Thomas and Charles H. Wesley
"Like It Is" Episode #226 -- Interview with Dr. Robert L. Williams, Arthur E. Thomas and Robert L. Williams
Submissions from 1978
"Like It Is" Episode #214 -- Interview with Dale Bertsch and James H. McGee, Arthur E. Thomas, Dale Bertsch, and James H. McGee
"Like It Is" Episode #471 -- Interview with William A. DuPree, Arthur E. Thomas and William A. Dupree
"Like It Is" Episode #1-- -- Interview with Ms. Nan Gooch, Arthur E. Thomas and Nan Gooch
"Like It Is" Episode #1 -- Interview with Louis Stokes, Arthur E. Thomas and Louis Stokes
"Like It Is" Episode #1 -- Interview with Carolyn Wright and Dr. Joseph Lewis, Arthur E. Thomas, Carolyn Wright, and Joseph Lewis
