In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 40th anniversary of his death, the Cultural Development Foundation of Memphis (CDFM) has organized a progressive dinner program called “Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers” that encourages folks to extend dinner invitations to others from racially and religiously diverse groups.
The plan was set in motion by Rebecca Edwards, executive director of CDFM, with a goal of having 40 dinner parties held across the city. The hope is that many of these parties will have already taken place by April 5th when CDFM will present a concert by Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Nancy Wilson at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Edwards says that since many couples will already be familiar with one another from the dinner they’ll be able to enjoy the show as friends. She says whether the dinners are held before or after the show isn’t important as long as they happen.
Edwards says 40 years after Dr. King’s death, his dreams are still alive. “Dr. King’s goal was to get people of all races, creed, or color to join hands. As Memphians, we still struggle with that,” she says. “We want people to stop talking about it and do it — to come together and start sharing.” She hopes as an end result people will gain a new set of friends.
Wilson’s performance Saturday will include some of the most beloved music from Dr. King’s time. The opening act for Wilson will be She Said/She Says: The History and Status on Women in Jazz.
Edwards sees the show as a nice end to CDFM’s 2007-2008 season and a great way to introduce “Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers” to a bigger group of people. Anyone interested in hosting a dinner party should call Edwards at 312-9787.
By Shara Clark