EQUITABLE DINNERS AT THE KING CENTER

OutofHand Theater held their first of three Equitable Dinners events in June at the King Center to commemorate the 1906 Atlanta Massacre and promote the upcoming Equitable Dinners Atlanta in September. This event was done in collaboration with The Fulton County Remembrance Project and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

The evening began with a live play, performed by Ms. Angela Ray. The play follows a black woman in therapy, recounting the events that led to her feelings of depression. At first she believes that she doesn’t have depression, but as she starts to reflect on the racial microaggressions and the difficult political climate of the country, she begins to realize that her emotions may be more complicated than she first thought. Ms. Ray received a rousing applause from the audience for her powerful performance, illustrating how black women and the larger African-American community feel about what is happening in the country and how it is affecting their mental health. 

As the attendees ate meals, courtesy of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, facilitators were present at every table to ask questions about how they felt about the performance as well as how it motivated them to make a difference either within themselves or in their community. Powerful conversations were held as the evening continued, with patrons sharing stories and personal histories about themselves, their communities, and their families. Other questions included the following: 

  • Share a time when you explored the history of your community/What did you find? 

  • What is the cost when we keep stories from our past hidden? 

  • Who benefits from keeping them hidden? 

The night ended with a few words from the leadership for National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Fulton County Remembrance Project, and OutofHand Theater. Their messages were all similar: Although the night and conversations were over, the work still has to be done to achieve reconciliation, equity, and equality for all communities. For more information about Equitable Dinners Atlanta, please visit: equitabledinners.com

Out of Hand