Broadcaster Who Barred Black Callers Is Back

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A radio talk show host who was suspended for banning black callers returned to the air today after his station manager said his action was not malicious.

Tim Lennox, suspended Thursday, returned to the air on WERC-AM.

But station Manager Berkley Fraser said Lennox was removed from his job as news director and will be on probation for a year.

Lennox will also be required to develop, produce and serve as host of a special series for the station on the topic “Birmingham faces the future,” focusing on race relations in the city.

Lennox said early in his two-hour talk show on July 11 that he would take no calls from blacks that day. Lennox imposed the ban after three employees saw a black youth break into a fellow employee’s car and take her purse.

Lennox, 40, said later he made “an emotional spur-of-the-moment decision.”

He and Fraser issued on-air apologies. On Thursday’s pre-suspension show, Lennox fielded listener reactions without commenting on them.

Fraser said Monday his investigation showed that Lennox’s black ban was “not based in malice and his 14-year career was without incidence of any racial prejudice.”