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Metro Atlanta group holds 'Come Meet A Black Person' event

The event will include a Get-Acquainted Scavenger Hunt, Cheryle's Chili Bar, munchies, drinks and giveaways.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A group held a "Come Meet a Black Person" event in Lawrenceville, Thursday.

Cheryle Moses, owner of the web design company Camrose Creative Services Inc., is hosting the event at Cornerstone on West Crogan Street from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

She told The Washington Post that she “wanted to do something different” for the 16th anniversary of Urban MediaMakers, a group for filmmakers and content creators, as reported by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

11Alive's Faith Abubey was at the event and spoke to organizer Cheryle Moses, who said she sold about 50 $1 tickets. A little more than two dozen people showed up. Fewer than a half-dozen people were white.

Over drinks and chili and scavenger hunts, attendees chatted with each other in order to help non -black people learn about "the black experience."

"People who have preconceived notions about cultures, that's because, first they've never been around them. They are only going on what they've heard or read," Moses said. "So the only way you're going to get to know me, is for you to come on over here, girl, and get this hug on."

The event drew attention across the nation -- from Twitter to talk shows -- and stirred up strong feelings. Was it offensive, or a good idea? What spurred Moses to even do this?

"The idea of 'Come Meet A Black Person' Networking Event came about when we recently found out that 75 percent of white people in the United States do not have non-white friends," the group put on their website. "According to the New York Magazine, white people continue to deploy the phrase 'I have a ton of black friends!” to justify casual racism, but it’s not actually true for three quarters of white Americans."

Several people who attended the interview said they've interacted with people outside their race before, but decided to come, anyway.

"It's always good to meet your neighbors," one attendee said. "What a wonderful grassroots effort to bring people together instead of pulling them apart. And I wanted to make sure there were some white people here too. Because that would be a drag, right?"

Moses said she plans to use the money she made to support her organization for young, urban media makers. She hasn't ruled out doing it again next year.

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