If you ever listened to rebroadcasts of The Adventures of Superman radio serial you know that Supe was woke AF from the beginning.
I am heavily excerpting this directly from James Lantz's review/summary of "George Latimer, Crooked Political Boss" from the Superman home page here.
The episodes were originally broadcast between September 03, 1946 and September 25, 1946, so if you're concerned about having a 79-year-old radio drama spoiled, you should stop reading right now.
Joe Martin, brother of the Daily Planet copy boy Beany and war hero of the Okinawa Invasion, and his Jewish friend Sam Robbins are in the state capitol speaking with thousands of G.I.s against the policies of Governor Frank C. Wheeler, who has been using prejudiced hiring methods. Most veterans have not gotten work because of their race and/or religion. Many of these jobs were promised to soldiers returning from the war. Both Joe and Sam believe that everyone should have an equal right to have employment. However, they want to protest in a different way. Joe wants to storm the capitol building, but Sam believes a more peaceful solution will work better. However, the men with whom they are talking are impatient and want a quick resolution to this problem.
Governor Wheeler is in a panic. George Latimer, corrupt man that is really controlling the political figure, is trying to calm him down. The state police have been dispatched to protect the area. Latimer has a plan that will make it look like Sam Robbins will do away with Joe Martin. All Wheeler has to do is speak to the G.I.s. He does so by saying he wants to rid the USA of foreigners that can undermine the government for true Americans. His words anger the war veterans, and in a panic, Wheeler orders the state police to fire their tommy guns. Chaos has now rocked the state capitol.
Beany has just received news that his brother had been shot while he and the other G.I.s were demonstrating at the state capitol. Perry White and Clark Kent promise to do everything they can to help Joe. Clark goes to the hospital and speaks with Sam Robbins. He doesn't know how Joe became the only one that could have been shot if tommy guns were used. Clark then investigates further by going to the state police department. Sergeant Adams, a ballistics expert that was at the G.I. protest, had told Governor Wheeler that he and his men didn't want to fire on any soldiers because many were in the war themselves. George Latimer convinced them to shoot, but the weapons were normally issued arms. Only one thing could clear the officers at the capitol building: the type of bullet that hit Joe Martin....
Joe Martin has just come out of his coma and is asking for Sam. Joe is in a critical state. Only seeing Sam could help Joe. This means Superman may have to break the law to save the lives of two human beings...
Superman has promised the police that he'll bring Sam back to prison after he helps Joe. Sam has just visited and spoke with his friend. Joe Martin, thanks to Sam Robbins and Superman, is now on the slow road to recovery...
Governor Wheeler and George Latimer are in the former's office. A message about Sam's visit and Joe's recovery has gotten to Latimer. Now, the corrupt political leader must hatch another sinister plot that could mean trouble for Superman and his friends.
Lippy Williams, reporter for the Daily Clarion, is meeting George Latimer in Governor Wheeler's office. Latimer wants to spread propaganda against Sam Robbins, Jews, Catholics, African Americans and other races and religions in order to give his friends state jobs, and he doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.
An article in the Clarion claims that the shooting of Joe Martin was a foreign plot. While Clark Kent follows a lead given to him by the rival newspaper, Some of the G.I.s at the American Legion that were at the state capitol are taking it upon themselves to attempt to get Sam Robbins out of prison. This makes George Latimer happy. Everything seems to be going better than he had planned. The veterans may very well get themselves into some really big trouble...
The unruly group of masked vigilantes led by a man named Dean Carter, an ally of George Latimer, has just taken Sam into the woods. In the meantime, Clark Kent has learned of George Latimer's "suggestion" to move Sam Robbins upstate. The irate Kent tells Governor Wheeler to pray that nothing happens to Robbins. Superman then flies to Grant City unaware of the fact that a bound Sam is being beaten by a mob of hate-filled men. Will the Man of Steel learn of young Robbins' peril?
One member of the mob named Doc has had a change of heart. He helps Sam escape the hate mongers. They flee for their lives in the dark woods. Meanwhile, Clark Kent is worried. It's been three hours since the patrol car carrying Sam left Metropolis, and it hasn't reported in anywhere. As Superman, he flies on a frantic search for Sam, who is running through the forest with Doc's aid. A war injury has prevented Sam from moving without help. They make it to an old barn. However, the masked vigilantes are closing in and shooting, and thanks to some burning hay, the structure Doc and Sam are inside is starting to catch on fire.
Superman has just seen the barn fire. He shields Sam and Doc just as the roof collapses. Taking Dean Carter's mob of bigots to the state policemen he had untied, the Man of Steel is now prepared to take Doc and Sam to Metropolis. Later, in Perry White's office, Clark Kent tells the chief of recent events and new information. The G.I.s with Joe Martin and Sam Robbins swear that the latter didn't have a gun. Plus, the direction of the bullet that hit Joe indicates that it was shot from the steps of the state capitol building...
Superman is meeting with Inspector Henderson later that night. The Man of Steel carries him and lands on the balcony of Latimer's apartment home. Henderson also has a small record player and a record. Superman takes both and prepares to get a confession from George Latimer. The voice of Governor Wheeler is heard in the hate mongering political boss' bedroom. Latimer is crazed with fear. Taking a revolver, he fires at the shadowed figure of Superman. As the Governor Wheeler's voice continues, Latimer confesses to all of his crimes and is taken to prison. As a result of Latimer's arrest, Governor Wheeler resigns his post in the state government. Superman has once again fought injustice...
It is late at night in the home of Clark Kent. Bruce Wayne, who is Batman, has just called the reporter for help. At the Wayne home, Bruce tells Clark how his friend John Grayson and his wife were killed during an acrobatic act that they had performed five years ago in the circus. John's last words were for Bruce to take care of his son Dick, who we all know is Robin the Boy Wonder. John Grayson's diary and conversations Dick had overheard say that a man named George Larson had blackmailed the Graysons because Mrs. Grayson was French and had family that was part of the underground during the war. When the Graysons could no longer pay Larson, they threatened to go to the district attorney. Larson had later tampered with the high wire used in the Graysons' performance.
Trivia: Charles Boulty, Chairman of the American Veterans Committee, gives the series a commendation for fighting against prejudice before the beginning of chapter eleven.
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