The Nashville Voice recently held part two in its series ‘Single in the Ville’ at Elevate Cafe on Buchanan Street. In this installment single men and women were invited to have an open and honest discussion about what it is like to date in the Nashville area.
The audience was made up of predominantly professional African Americans between the ages of 25 – 50 years old.
Moderated by Nashville Voice editor in chief Nadira Freeman and Nashville Voice managing editor Jason Luntz, the event kicked off with a panel of four single men and women who were asked a variety of questions about being single and their dating experience. The panel included Ryan Christopher, Cory Beal, Andrea Denson, and Delbrita L. Greene. The audience of approximately 50 people were later asked to participate with questions and comments for the panelist.
Food, drinks, and safe sex literature was provided by Nashville Cares, a non-profit whose mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Middle Tennessee.
Questions to the panel such as “Why do you think you are still single?” and “What is dating like in Nashville?” led to many comments from both the panelist and the audience.
While part one of the series was open only to women, the co-ed factor allowed for a diverse group of answers to these questions. “It was good to hear honest opinions from both sexes, in one setting, so that they could immediately debunk any myths or misconceptions of the opposite sex,” Explained attendee Natalie Jordan of Hendersonville, Tennessee. “Also, it was interesting to compare the challenges men vs. women face, and how they are similar in some ways, such as the dilemma of how to go about finding & meeting new people.”
One takeaway from the discussion was that the influx of transplants to Nashville has had an impact on the dating scene in the area. One audience member commented that single people are bringing their dating customs from Los Angeles, Chicago, the NorthEast and the Deep South.
Another factor that was mentioned more than once was the ratio of professional Black women to men, with women feeling they are limited in their options of quality men to date.
The conversation helped those who attended realize how much work there is between the two sexes in Nashville. “It seems that men and women just do not trust each other, we still do not believe what each other are presenting to each other,” said Wayne Thompson of Antioch, Tennessee. “But I do think events like this can make a change for us to break the cycle of not being honest with each other.”
The evening ended on a positive note as the panelist and audience were invited to mix and mingle amongst themselves. Those who participated in the event remained upbeat and excited about the outcome of these types of exchange. “Overall the conversation was definitely productive, and must be continued,” said Natalie. “Gaining an understanding of the perspectives of others always helps open your mind.”
To continue the discussion online please use #singleintheville on all social media platforms.
