Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, the former pastor of Nast Trinity Church in Over-the-Rhine, says the 12 years he spent living in Greater Cincinnati shaped the person he is today.

        Bishop Sprague, 62, a social activist, author and United Methodist Bishop of Chicago, was the keynote speaker at a symposium Tuesday at Emanuel Community Center in Over-the-Rhine. The focus of the forum was to discuss the challenges facing the city and Over-the-Rhine following April's civil unrest.

Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, a former Over-the-Rhine pastor, returns to the neighborhood Tuesday for a symposium. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        The days of looting and mayhem triggered by the April 7 shooting death of Timothy Thomas by a Cincinnati police officer, conjured up hauntingly familiar images in Bishop Sprague's mind.

        Bishop Sprague sat down with Enquirer reporter Kevin Aldridge to reminisce about his days as an Over-the-Rhine pastor and social activist during the 1960s riots.

        Q: What was Over-the-Rhine like when you pastored there during the late 1960s?

       A: It was extremely poor. Over-the-Rhine and the West End were probably at the top in terms of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. The housing was abysmal. People were stacked one on top of another in tenements. The neighborhood at that time was comprised mostly of second- and third-generation poor, white Southern Appalachians. In the late 1960s, more poor blacks began moving in, turning the community from Appalachian migrant to more of a biracial mix. The degree of alcoholism and drug abuse — mostly glue sniffing — was extremely high at that time.

        Q: What do you remember about Cincinnati's riots in the 1960s, and what were the issues facing people of color?

       A: There were issues and concerns about the city's safety department, which included police and fire. They had a real problem relating to blacks, particularly youths. Poor blacks and whites complained of a lack of opportunity for jobs, opportunity for education, opportunity for housing and opportunity for health care.

        Q: How would you describe things post-1960s riots?

       A: After the initial shock of the riots and some subsiding of anger and opening of lines of communication, there was a burst of hope in Cincinnati generated largely by President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty. Resources were being made available that were not before. There was a sense of empowerment and hope. But that all dissipated quickly when the strings were pulled on the war on poverty because of Vietnam.

        Q: Were you surprised to hear about riots breaking out again in Cincinnati this past April over pretty much the same issues that folks were talking about three decades ago?

A: It was like deja vu. It was sobering to see that such pain and suffering in Over-the-Rhine still exists. It's sad that in all these years and with all the things that some good people have done, it's still the same.

       Q: With all those battles fought then, how do you think we get here in 2001?

       A: I think my generation needs to take responsibility for the fact that we were not deeply rooted. We did a quick in-and-out job.. Q: What needs to happen for Cincinnati to get past this racial impasse and heal places like Over-the-Rhine?

       A: We need to act like nonviolent revolutionaries, but realize that change is evolutionary. Simple rhetoric, a few media events and elevating a few blacks to prominent leadership positions won't do it. People who have a connection to affluence have a ministry to open the doors of opportunity and perhaps open their checkbooks.

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