Few people have had the kind of impact on Indianapolis residents, especially in the Black community, that Amos Brown has.
Every day, thousands of people throughout Central Indiana tune in to his “Afternoons with Amos” talk show on WTLC-AM (1310) to hear Brown share information about important developments, highlight significant milestones and ask a variety of guests the tough questions needed to bring the community closer to solutions for the challenges it faces.
When he is not hosting the show, Brown, strategic analyst for Radio One, can be found anywhere in the city, doing anything from being the emcee of a community fundraiser and moderating a political debate, to speaking with students or having a conversation with civic leaders.
Brown’s status as a top talk show host is the culmination of a broadcasting career that began when the Chicago native arrived in Indianapolis in April of 1975 to work as a sales representative for WTLC-FM.
Over the years he evolved into an outspoken advocate of community awareness, while being promoted to assistant station manager (1977), and station manager in 1981, hosting the popular Mornings With the Mayor program with former Mayor William Hudnut.
In 1994, Brown departed WTLC to work as a strategic analyst and talk show host for Hoosier Radio and TV before returning to WTLC after its purchase by Radio One in 2001.
This week the Recorder put Brown, who relishes interviewing guests, in the rare position of being the interviewee himself. During the discussion, Brown spoke about everything from the impact of his show to his favorite guests and pastimes. Here are excerpts from the interview:
What brought you to Indianapolis?
Looking for work! (Laughs)
In school, were you well-behaved or a rule breaker?
I was well-behaved, probably boring.
Is that how your friends from that time would describe you?
If you could find them, then you’d be doing better than the CIA. I would say I was probably a shy kid, the type who always dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s. I definitely wasn’t a troublemaker.
What were your passions in college?
When I was at Northwestern University, the first passion I had was working on the campus radio station, where we built the legacy of a student-run radio station that could be very independent and could serve 24 hours a day that still operates today. I was also active in student government as speaker of the student forum – kind of like speaker of the house – during the late ‘60s, when we had Vietnam and the civil rights movement.
What did you learn from your early years on radio?
The job has evolved over the years. When I started out it was about being a young manager, and when you’re a young manager you think you can do everything and conquer the world. Probably looking back over it today, I was a lot more arrogant than I should have been. But I enjoyed being at the point of the sphere. I learned a lot, and during those years I used to joke I did everything at the station except fix a transmitter and I didn’t do windows.
The role today is different, knowing that I’ve seen a lot, done a lot and that I’m here to help our staff. I actually learn from our team members, especially our younger staff. They keep me young, and I hope they learn from me as well. I’m in a position to say not “this is how I do it and how you ought to do it,” but “this will help our staff look at all the options” and bring a sense of history and institutional memory.
Overall, the job has always been being out in the community listening and talking to folks, trying to find out what the issues are so as a station we can do things in a positive way to deal with those issues.
What is a major misconception of “Afternoons With Amos”?
That I tell people who to vote for, which I don’t. They can read between the lines and figure it out sometimes, but I never say “you should vote for this candidate or against so and so.” The thing we’ve tried to do – and this goes all the way back to the show we did with Mayor Hudnut – is to treat people with decency and respect, even if we disagree. When people come on the show, it’s like I’m inviting them to my house. You don’t invite people to your house just to disrespect or beat up on them.
Next week: Amos Brown talks about his family, favorite activities, his most memorable guests and the issues facing Indianapolis.
