On April 21, 2026, the Anderson Area Remembrance & Reconciliation Initiative hosted the first gathering in its Breaking Bread series at the Anderson Arts Center. Titled Story of Love, the evening marked an important step in AAR&RI’s ongoing work to move from remembrance toward reconciliation within the Anderson community.
For the past several years, AAR&RI has been committed to honoring the memory of five victims of racial terror lynching in Anderson County (Reuben Elrod, John Laddison, Willis Jackson, Elbert Harris, and Edward Sullivan) through partnerships with the Equal Justice Initiative, public memorialization efforts, student-produced documentaries, and community events.
Breaking Bread represents the next phase of that work: creating intentional spaces where individuals can come together, share a meal, and engage in meaningful conversation across experiences and perspectives.
The evening began with a welcome and opening reflection, followed by a shared meal where attendees participated in guided table conversations. These small-group discussions encouraged participants to reflect on themes of family, identity, trust, and community, setting the tone for the night’s featured dialogue.
The centerpiece of the event was a moderated conversation with Courtland and John Wright, lifelong Anderson residents, who shared their experience as a family of five. The Wrights spoke openly about raising their three sons (two adopted and one biological) and navigating life as a transracial family in the South.
Through a series of guided questions, the conversation explored what it means to define family, how identity is experienced within the home, and the joys and challenges that come with raising children across racial differences. The Wrights emphasized the importance of love, sacrifice, and intentional parenting, while also acknowledging the realities their sons may face as they grow older.
Throughout the evening, the focus remained on listening and learning. Rather than centering debate or discussion, the format allowed attendees to hear directly from the Wrights’ lived experience and reflect on their own understanding of family and community.
The event concluded with a communal benediction, where each table shared a word or phrase representing what they were taking away from the evening. These collective reflections highlighted themes of empathy, connection, growth, and shared responsibility.
Breaking Bread: Story of Love served as a meaningful beginning to a new chapter in AAR&RI’s work; one that continues to honor the past while creating opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and the building of what Martin Luther King Jr. described as the Beloved Community.
Future Breaking Bread gatherings are planned as part of an ongoing series, inviting the Anderson community to continue coming together around the table for conversation, reflection, and connection.
Our next Breaking Bread event will be held on July 21, 2026 at the Anderson Arts Center. Look forward to more details.