We can tear down the walls brick by brick, one by one
’til our love is greater than fear, ’til we remember why we are here
The words above are the chorus of a song called “Tear Down The Walls” by Rick Recht, who will be leading a community concert named after the song tonight at the Levitt Shell at Overton Park. This fourth annual Tear Down The Walls (TDTW) concert is tonight (Sept. 3rd) at 7:00 p.m., and is open to the public with no charge for admission.
The Tear Down The Walls initiative seeks to remind people of all backgrounds of our common humanity, community, and hopes, and will feature music from Recht and his St. Louis-based band, gospel singers Courtney Franklin and Karen Brown, and choirs and ensembles from churches and synagogues all over Memphis. The music will be intertwined with words from community clergy from congregations including New Directions Christian Church, Temple Israel, Hope Presbyterian, Germantown Methodist, Missisippi Boulevard Christian Church, and others.
Tonight’s concert gathering continues a strong tradition built by the last three TDTW concerts. The first, four years ago, was held at The National Civil Rights Museum, and is the subject of a film that is on permanent display there. Tear Down The Walls is participatory, inspirational, and fun, and it is appropriate for all ages. The concert starts at 7:00 with a community picnic at 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends, your dinner, your singing voice and your determination to tear down the walls that divide us.
More information is available at www.teardownthewalls.org and www.levittshell.org.
