COLUMBUS, Ind. — An estimated 6,000 viewers watched an online discussion on race and racism Monday morning among a group of four friends who grew up together in Columbus.
That unscripted-but-serious keynote conversation was part of the kickoff of the local 24th Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration “The Dream Lives On.” The local African American Pastors Alliance, involved in everything from education to media, organized the virtual event amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gathering, normally presented as a breakfast, has most recently been held at The Commons, where it has attracted about 330 people, ranging from leaders in local government, law enforcement, nonprofits, foundations, education, health care, business, and houses of worship.
Pastor Mike Harris, who leads the pastors alliance, said he loved hearing the audience size.
“That’s beautiful,” Harris said.
He added that the success meant that perhaps next year’s event could be held both in person and virtually.
Instead of using a single keynote speaker as in the past, originally chosen speaker John Sims, athletic director at St. Peter’s Lutheran School, and longtime friend and Columbus City Council member Jerone Wood, both of whom are Black, decided to invite two of their white friends — Chris Scott and Kyle Hendricks — to have an informal discussion. The four sat around a table in a Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation meeting room.
Sims acknowledged afterward that he expected a viewing audience in the range of a few hundred at most. As the four spoke in front of microphones, viewers reacted with comments.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
