Writer Jack Kerouac was best known for his 1957 book On the Road, and the free spirited Beat was nobody’s family man. Jan Kerouac only met her father twice, and as an adult she struggled to understand him. In 1989 Jan heard an archival recording of Jack Kerouac giving a talk, and radio producer Marjorie Van Halteren asked her to write a poem in response to it. They recorded it one cold winter night in New York.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!