S2 Ep54: That’s So Cincinnati: Long-time radio host talks the state of race relations in Cincinnati

Lincoln Ware has been on the air in Cincinnati for nearly a half century, known to his listeners as a trusted voice who gives them a chance to have theirs heard. 

"I've been on the air longer than any African American in the history of Cincinnati radio," said Ware, who hosts the Lincoln Ware Show 10 a.m.-12 p.m. weekdays on 101.5 FM The Buzz. 

Ware joined The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast to do what he does best – speak honestly about Cincinnati politics, issues affecting Black citizens and the state of race relations. 

A Marine veteran, Ware also talked about how being a disc jockey on an aircraft carrier helped launch his radio career back home in Cincinnati. He started as a DJ with WCIN-AM in 1973, eventually moving into a talk show host role in the early 1990s. His time on the air has afforded him an institutional knowledge of Cincinnati that few others currently working in local media have.

That includes a perspective on how Cincinnati's race relations have evolved. Here's what Ware told That's So Cincinnati when asked about the state of race relations in Cincinnati today: 

I think we've come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. Even in the police department. When (former Chief Tom) Streicher was around, he ran that police department with a heavy hand. You'd hear that they'd discipline Black police officers more harshly than they would white police officers. You look at the gentrification that 3CDC is always accused of, but I think they're making progress. I like what they're doing down in Over-the-Rhine.

But people are still claiming that this is one of the most racist towns that they've been in. There's two Cincinnatis. The Urban League said one Black, one white. I kind of believe that. I've been in this broadcast business for 47 years. I'm not saying people should know me, but there's some white folks in this town, they never listen to Black radio. You might mention (101.5 FM) The Wiz to them, they don't know what you're talking about.  

They never venture into the world of the African American. But African Americans will venture into their world. People know Bill Cunningham. They know Jim Scott. The white community doesn't seem to embrace the Black community like the Black community embraces the white community. So Cincinnati has a long way to go.

Here's a look at some other topics Ware discussed in a wide-ranging podcast interview: 

• On retirement:  "I might hang around another few years. In 2023, it'll be 50 years for me. I might make 50 years and then pack it in."

• On hosting a call-in show: "Everybody wants to vent, and that's why people like my show a lot. I let them get it off their chest. They want their voices heard."  

• On standing up for Black leaders: "A lot of these companies and organizations, when they hire a Black person, it's normally from outside of Cincinnati. My theory on this is they bring people in from outside Cincinnati so when they get ready to fire them, they don't have a whole of friends to stand up for them. ... I hate to see that happen to Black leaders."