Wilmington’s history is rooted in racial tension. A local organization, Tru Colors, is trying to connect people across racial and economic divides through an unconventional event held at Ironclad Brewery last week.
At first glance, the event seems a lot like speed-dating.
But attendees aren’t on the lookout for love – they are there to make conversation. Numbered tables pair participants from vastly different backgrounds, who speak for 10 minutes before switching to new partners. Anthony Brumm and Meagan Verdi of Tru Colors, say the goal is to connect people from different walks of life.
“A lot of times, especially in Wilmington is a lot of division by the segregation between white people and black people, lower class and higher class…”
“We're separated by... economic status from one block to another… and neither side knows how to interact with the other one. People are scared on both sides. It seems so easy to just put white people and black people together at the same table and say, ‘Let's just sit down and have a conversation.’”
Verdi says the organization hopes to hold similar events in the future.
