A Conversation About Race Was Brewing At Reading Terminal Market
By Kristen Johanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was the 7th annual beer summit at the Reading Terminal Market in Center City Thursday night, hosted by Global Citizens. The purpose was to talk about race in America.
People sat across from each other, sipping on cold brews and listening to what one person had to say about race.
The event was organized by the non-profit Global Citizens, whose President Todd Bernstein said they took the idea from President Obama, when he sat down with a black Harvard professor and white police officer, after they had a confrontation.
"We gathered a group of about 50 people together to talk about these hard issues," Bernstein said. "We have been doing it annually, as well as in a quarterly series to talk about race, class and power."
Tee from Philly embraces the idea.
"I am here because I want to talk about different situations that's going on in the world with racism," Tee said.
Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross also attended the event and sees the value in a discussion like this.
"Because of what I do, this uniform that I wear, I think it's important to hear people," said Ross. "People have the right to whatever opinion they have, but I think you owe to yourself to other viewpoints."
Mina participated, and hopes it creates some sort of change.
"I was just interested to hear how others feel about it, see, what, if any, solutions or recommendations people have in mind, and how the community's feeling is on it," Mina said.