Now, Mr. Brown, who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., believes he’s helping to bridge the cultural divide that lingers in his adopted Southern hometown. “When I came here, I did not see community, and I’m a big fan of building community,” he said. But Mr. Miller and Mr. Silva said they saw an opportunity to provide a safe space for potentially tough conversations. “This is what beer is all about,” Mr. Miller said, “bringing people together.”The two men, who are white, said they are Black Lives Matter supporters. “We’re obviously not going to be on the side holding the Confederate flags,” said Mr. Silva, who stood behind their bar after watching the frenzy unfolding just outside.

Source: New York Times August 15, 2020 21:33 UTC