Story by: Faith Callens
On November 21st, A Northern Ireland community called Ten by nine hosted a storytelling night at the “By the River Center for Humanity” in Selma.
Ten By Nine is a Northern based community that started in Belfast and was branched out to Nashville, Tennessee six years ago by Michael McGray.
Mcgray said one organization in Selma called T.R.H.T. (Truth, Racial healing and Transformation) invited him to the city in hopes of starting a new storytelling chapter for local residents who want to share their stories about growing up in Selma.
“Brennan O’Connor and Summer Sturdivant here in Selma knew about the event and asked could I come down and help run the first Tenx9”, said Mcgray .
The acronym “Tenx9” stands for nine people that tell their true life story in 10 minutes.
Summer Sturdivant , T.R.H.T. Social Enterprise Incubator said Connor and her brought Ten by nine to Selma to create an intergenerational piece to bring the citizens of the city together.
“ We decided to bring it to Selma since it so much separation , this would be something to bring people together by race, different class, religion and it’s just a good way to connect with community”.
There were nine Selma residents who were chosen by (Ten by Nine) to tell their real life story.
About 40 residents of Selma came out to listen to the participants who shared their stories.
One storyteller named Beth Spivey said she wanted to tell her story because she knew it would be relatable.
“I don’t care how much money you have, what color you are, we all go through the same things. I might think I have nothing in common with you until I hear your story, I’m like I been there”, said Spivey.
Ten By Nine plans to continue their journey of storytelling in the South in hopes that other cities along with Selma can continue the storytelling project that was founded in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Blessed By Faith 