Last week Amos Brown, host of the popular “Afternoon’s with Amos” show on WTLC-AM (1310) shared a rare personal interview about the development of his career and what he has learned from it.
This week, the Recorder continues its discussion with Brown, who is director of strategic research for Radio One Indianapolis. Among many topics, he talks about some of his favorite guests, his family and the impact his highly rated show has had on the community.
Prior to “Afternoons With Amos,” Radio One had “The Bottom Line” with Willie Frank Middlebrook. How difficult was it to follow that?
Willie was doing a great thing, and he had tapped angst and frustration and concern in the community. I had to ease into that knowing that people appreciated what he was doing and was loyal to him.
Media also had changed. Earlier shows, such as “The Noon Show,” were part of the traditional format of “I’m just going to interview and not get into a whole lot of controversy.” That’s not what people were looking for on the radio anymore. We had to evolve and had to adapt.
Sometimes you have made statements that seem to challenge powerful people. Have you ever been threatened?
Ill-will has been caused among some folks. There have been some people who have tried to go over my head to speak with my bosses, which doesn’t work. What really gets me is when people aren’t man or woman enough to say, “Hey, I didn’t like what you said.” I have the greatest admiration when someone has a problem with what I say, they simply come and address me directly. Usually when those cases happen, we can get it smoothed out and straightened out, or at least come to some understanding.
Who have you enjoyed interviewing the most?
Harry Belefonte and Famous Amos, the cookie guy, I enjoyed interviewing them. Obviously, then presidential candidate Barack Obama, first when he visited Plainfield and then Terre Haute, really stands out, along with President Bush’s visit to Indiana Black Expo.
Doing a show live from a working IndyGo bus is another one I’ll never forget. It helped to dramatize what was going on with mass transit in the city.
Minister Louis Farrakhan is another highlight, because for one thing he rarely does live interviews. It was interesting when he did the program. At one point he was telling a story, and in the course of telling the story he went from being very quiet to very animated and excited, then he blurted out the n-word.
I was kind of shocked with the Minister using that word while we were still on the air, but I couldn’t get to the button fast enough. I said “Minister Farrakhan, with all due respect we don’t use that word here.” After I said that, I suddenly thought, “oh, I just told Minister Farrakhan what he is not supposed to do.” Then I looked at the security people that were with him. He looked at me, then became sheepish and was very gracious in his apology. He said he was sorry and we moved on. It showed me the power that he has, in that he can go from being very mild mannered to being very animated and fierce in the blink of an eye. Then he can realize that he is human and can acknowledge a mistake all very quickly. It was a different side of the minister that many people never get to see.
Who would you like to interview in the future?
The first person that comes to mind is Oprah. She was in town 26 years ago at the Walker, during an event for the 100 Black Women where I had been asked to emcee. In fact, Stedman was sitting on the piano bench in the Walker Ballroom up on the fourth floor. If I were smart, I would have taken the tape recorder then. I would also love to interview Diana Ross and Tyler Perry, because he has created an entire genre of entertainment and is on par to become like Steven Spielberg or George Lucas.
Can you tell us a little about your family? Is there a Mrs. Brown or any children?
You know, that’s one of the great mysteries … I try to keep the private life as private as I can. I have never gotten used to mixing public life with private life. Yes, there is another half, she knows who she is (laughs). Actually, Mayor Hudnut introduced us at a reception at the art museum over 30 years ago. Then she had a son, he had a daughter and she is our legendary granddaughter. I’ve been in her life literally from day one. She’s now a senior in high school, and I’m just watching her grow up. They keep me grounded.
I understand you have a birthday coming up.
Yes, I’ll be 62 on Dec. 18. Some people even think I’m 50 (laughs).
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
(Laughs) I like to read, especially non-fiction. That’s probably what relaxes me the most. I also like photography, although it’s been a long time, and I’m trying to get back into it. Once I get to walking, I like it. Obviously, I grew up in Chicago, a great city to walk in. That might be one reason why l love Expo so much because I can walk around. Yes, it’s tiring, but it’s great exercise and you meet a lot of folks. I don’t do enough of it, and probably as I get older, I need to.
What talk shows do you listen to on the radio?
With the business that I’m in, I’m in the habit of listening to everybody else. I listen to talk shows, especially on WIBC, because I like their style. Occasionally I listen to Rush Limbaugh, only because he drums on the table, and I stole that from him. All of us who do this, we have stolen some stuff from Limbaugh. One of the things I made my own is the ability to laugh if there is something funny. As serious as he is, and ridiculous as he is, Limbaugh will laugh and bring humor to what he does.
You have to bring humor to what you do, but one thing I do that he doesn’t do is get caught up in emotion. I have had callers that have brought me to tears because they had circumstances where I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t moved. Callers have also made me angry. Sometimes I share the emotions that the listeners are sharing.
What kind of music do you enjoy? Do you enjoy the music when you’re at events for Indiana Black Expo and Circle City Classic?
(Laughs) I dance like I dance in the Circle City Classic parade; it has to be seen to be believed. My iPod is eclectic – you might find some ‘70’s soul, a couple of classic rock songs, or whatever reflects my eclectic taste at the particular moment.
Your position gives you a unique vantage point of the community. What do you believe are its top challenges?
I think we’re in a transition. We’re at a point when it’s time for the next generation to step up. As our generation starts to move towards the sidelines and give room to the next generation … how we handle that is one thing.
Also, we are now a Democratic city and a growing minority city, Black and brown. Just as some Republicans had to come to grips with how this country is changing, a number of those in the local power structure have to come to grips with how this city is changing, which they have not done yet. Indianapolis is becoming a more racially, household and gender diverse city surrounded by somewhat traditional suburbs. That could cause a lot of angst and tension in the next several years and how we surmount that will determine the future of this city.
The other thing is that we have a serious leadership problem. It’s astounding to me how reluctant some organization leaders are to stand up and provide leadership. I remember when the local Chamber of Commerce would host meetings with leaders from the white community and the Black community in the same room. The meetings would be at the old Pearl’s Lounge. The first time I was asked to attend one of those meetings I looked around and saw the head of the water company, the light company, the chamber president, heads of major banks and businesses, prominent Black physicians, the Urban League, the NAACP and leaders from our community.
There was booze – lets be real – and the smoke was thick and the language was rough, but they were at least talking to each other. That’s kind of how Indianapolis moved along back then. We don’t do that now. This whole attitude of “I’m not going to talk to you or I’m afraid to answer your question”, that’s not the Indianapolis that built this city in the modern era. That’s not how the Black and white community’s leadership was able to communicate to each other. I think in some ways, I try to do that on the air and in my career. We have to get back to that communication and dialogue, and hopefully we won’t have a crisis that forces us to do that.
How do you feel about the impact you have made on listeners?
Obviously, I chose to be in this business, but I don’t know whether I chose the role I’ve ended up in. There’s not a month that goes by when somebody doesn’t see me out in the community, in the street or at the grocery store who says “you spoke at my school, or I’ve listened to you for many years or I feel that I know you.”
The first time I interviewed Tavis Smiley, and he said that he grew up listening to me on the radio doing “Mornings With the Mayor,” it took my breath away.
Athletes, teachers and those who have been privileged to serve for a long time often don’t realize how much influence they have. You don’t get up in the morning and say “gee, I’m going out here to have influence on people.” That’s not what’s it’s about. I go and do a job and try to do it to the best of my ability.
