Friday night at Gadsden City High School, a panel composed of members from all races and backgrounds took the stage to discuss racial reconciliation in the community. They call themselves Be the Bridge of Gadsden, and the group hopes to create conversations that will tear down racial barriers across the nation.

The organization is composed of 500 groups from around the country, including four based in Gadsden. Be the Bridge has been meeting for almost a year, but Friday was their first public meeting. There was a movie screening and panel discussion, followed by a call for the community to get involved as best as they can.

According to The Gadsden Times, panel member Brandie Johnson said, “We want to seek out people who aren’t represented.” The public event Friday was a way to do just that.

The panel answered questions submitted by those at the event. They covered a variety of topics from colorblindness, to adversity, to the role that whites can play in the reconciliation process.

Many members said that they view colorblindness (completely disregarding someone’s race) as a cop-out. The Gadsden Times quoted Maurice Wright as saying, “We should see color, but I shouldn’t let that get in the way of my love for you.”

In its discussion surrounding white advocates for racial reconciliation, the panel stressed the importance they play in the cause. Whites often have a larger voice in the community than people of color, but have to be careful to listen to the adversities faced by others since they have not dealt with those themselves.

The event concluded with a viewing of the 2017 film Loving. The film follows the relationship of Richard and Mildred Loving, whose interracial marriage led to a Supreme Court ruling against anti-interracial marriage laws. However, stigmas surrounding interracial marriage still exist in Alabama today. Alabama was the last state to address interracial marriage, not amending its constitution until November 2000.

Be the Bridge hopes to bring more events like this to the area to educate and involve the public in these issues. They hope that as a Christian community, we can all learn to treat each other with grace.