EQUITABLE DINNERS ON SEPT 18TH
On the morning of September 18th, 2022, Out of Hand Theater held its largest Equitable Dinners event online and in various venues across the city of Atlanta, with community members from all walks of life having discussions about how we can combat the effects of racism by learning about the past to inform how we build our future. Approximately 500 tables with 5000 guests attended the event and as a result, countless experiences, stories, and perspectives were shared among members of the Atlanta community.
With the help of approximately 150 facilitators and 100 actors, including staff taking on multiple roles throughout the day, the dinners took place in various settings, including but not limited to:
Personal Homes
Churches
Community Centers
Museums
Colleges and Universities, as well as other locations across Atlanta
I had the personal experience of serving as a Facilitator for two Equitable Dinners and a guest for another. The overall experience was one that was uplifting but also reflective as I guided the conversation and listened to the varying perspectives. I listened to people that were from out of the country, college students, educators, and activists of all ages speak about their experiences with racism in America.
One of the most surprising moments that I can recall was when a guest from the United Kingdom mentioned that “[he] had never seen casual racism at the level that it exists in America”, comparing his experience with discrimination in the United Kingdom with the stories he heard from his American friends and neighbors. It was truly a testament to what people from other countries perceive of America, especially when talking about various forms of discrimination between people. It was a sobering moment for all of the guests at the table and the conversation became one focused towards finding solutions and how people from other countries can help, no matter how small their role may seem.
Another significant conversation I experienced was with students from Spelman College involved with the Social Justice Fellows Project. Listening to college students speak passionately about issues that directly affect them as people of color and think about solutions to these issues was inspiring and made me hopeful for the future of our country.
The success of Equitable Dinners can also be seen and felt when the conversation continues beyond the dinner table. I was fortunate enough to experience this with Laverne Henderson, an older woman who served as Facilitator at the Andrew Young YMCA during last Sunday. She expressed to me how the event was important to her as someone that grew up during Jim Crow and was inspired like I was to see younger people be motivated to create change in America.
Equitable Dinners is an event that seeks to bring together the community for healing and understanding, regardless of status, age, race, and otherwise. The goal is to motivate change and modify perspectives around the Atlanta Race Massacre, but the larger objective is to reconcile with the past in order to move forward into the future. With the conclusion of this large scale event and the continuation of these conversations, Out of Hand Theater has made a significant step in the fight against racism and discrimination.