About

Beyond Differences is a cross-cultural relations group that brings people, ideas and principles together through community dialogues. We believe that in establishing these cross-cultural relationships, we can bring about positive changes in attitudes and actions regarding race, culture, and ethnicity. But this organization isn’t just about race relations; it’s about bringing people, cultures and societies together to help make Greenville a stronger community… a community that sees past the differences and focuses on the greater good.

We believe unity is possible throughout Greenville, our state, and our world. We don’t just talk about change, we seek to do it. We live it and embrace it every day through a variety of different programs designed to engage both youth and adult audiences.

Our Mission

The mission of BDI is to bring people, ideals and principles together to address and resolve issues of race, culture or ethnic conflict. While it was founded during a period of charged racial debate in Greenville County, BDI is not affiliated with any civil rights organization, religious denomination, political party or government agency. Thus BDI has been able to bring about positive changes in the community without being an advocate for or being limited by private agendas.

Our History

Beyond Differences, Inc. was formed in 2006, after several racial conflicts in Greenville, SC due to the fact that Greenville County was one of the last counties in the state of South Carolina to recognize the Martin Luther King holiday. Matters became more complex because the city of Greenville as well as others cities within Greenville County had already declared it a paid holiday for city employees. Historically, outside of the fight for integration, the black population of Greenville could be defined as being docile. However, the issue of the King’s holiday became a focal point. The racially charged debates in regard to the holiday divided the town straight down racial lines. This debate lasted well over a year and a half, cumulating in a march for justice led by the NAACP and Rev. Jesse Jackson. The conflict became national news and depicted Greenville as one of the most racist communities in South Carolina. A short time later, Greenville was again depicted as being insensitive to people of color when a local college administrator referred to the Katrina victims as “Yard Apes,” touching off another highly-charged debate in regards to race and cultural relationships.

Through these incidents, a common and persistent variable was being observed and not being addressed – people in Greenville had very little cross-cultural relationships outside of the workforce. This glaring need prompted Paul L. Guy, Angela O. Sherman, and Stephanie D. Brown to form Beyond Differences, Inc. in December of 2005.

The idea that people throughout the Greenville community were very segregated mentally while living in an integrated environment presented the opportunity to create and design programs and events that would foster dialogues and relationships beyond racial and cultural differences with emphasis on commonalities that would bring appreciation, respect, and understanding.

We, at Beyond Differences, believe that we can bring about positive changes within our community by bringing together different groups and entities to find common grounds of interest while addressing specific issues. Our unique purpose is to Bring People, Ideas, and Principles Together.

Beyond Differences is not a civil rights advocacy group, is not affiliated with any civil rights organizations, and is not associated with any religious organization or denomination. We have no governmental affiliation nor are we affiliated with a political party.