Dining parties of mixed races get discount in Mississippi

By Emily Lane, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger | USATODAY

JACKSON, Miss. -- A group that promotes getting to know people of other races and religions is giving diners here an incentive to reach beyond their usual social network -- a 22% discount at participating restaurants for multiracial parties.

The promotion follows Gov. Phil Bryant's designation of October as Racial Reconciliation Celebration Month.

President Neddie Winters of 10-year-old Mission Mississippi, an interdenominational and multiracial religious group, acknowledged his state has long way to go regarding race relations. But he said the mission's motto is "Changing Mississippi one relationship at a time," something that can start with a slice of pizza and conversation.

Monica Griffin, who is black, and Deborah White, who is white, shared a meal Tuesday with about 15 other women of various races and denominations Tuesday at local restaurant Sal & Mookie's. The women talked about their families, shared their hobbies, chatted about church, swapped recipes and made plans for more meetings.

White asked Griffin this question: Do black people prefer white people to use the description black or African American?

Griffin said "black" was fine. But one lesson the two women said they have taken away from building relationships with people of another race is that you can't generalize about what an entire race of people is like or prefers because diversity exists within all races.

"It's about learning to be more comfortable, then we can talk about issues," Griffin said.

The promotion continues Thursday at eight Jackson-area restaurants if those who want the discount mention the Two & Two Together Restaurant Days before they order.

"It's the chance to get out of yourself and see reality in another way," said Jeff Good, part owner of three of the eateries participating in the promotion.

Sharing a meal is an easy way to get to know someone, he said.

"The act of sharing nutrition is intimate," Good said. "Biblically speaking, in all main religions eating together is a sacrament."

Winters wants to use this month of celebration to acknowledge how far Mississippi has come without emphasizing the negative.

"The Bible says, 'Do not despise these small beginnings,'" he said.