By Rev. Rickey Ciapha Dennis, Jr., 7th Episcopal District
This year’s Emanuel Nine Commemoration Events honored the nine lives taken at the historic AME Church ten years ago with worship services, important dialogue around mental health, and other programs that emphasized the contributions of African Americans in Charleston.
One of the goals of this year’s commemoration was to lament what occurred on June 17, 2015, at the historic AME Church, where nine Black worshippers were killed in a racist act of violence by a white supremacist, as well as other hate crimes to other minority communities.
“When you think about how we lament from Christian and community perspective, we come together from our shared pain, and we encourage each other,” said the Rev. Eric Manning, pastor of Mother Emanuel AME. “I feel like we were able to do just that this year, especially during this time of racial violence and war.”
The week’s events began June 17 with an Ecumenical Service to remember the journey of the survivors of the Emanuel Nine massacre. Buses unloaded hundreds of tourists on a steamy Tuesday morning as guests laid flowers before the church, and snapped photos of the stone memorial replica soon to be constructed beside the church building.
Family members of the victims were joined by hundreds of clergy, laity, national and local elected officials, and community members.
“We confess that too often, our thoughts and prayers have not been matched by action,” Rev. Manning said. “But today, O God, we ask You to move us – beyond silence, beyond sentiment – toward transformation.”
The diversity of the crowd and the service participants was noticeable. In the years since a white supremacist killed nine Black sacred souls at the house of worship, Emanuel AME has become a global focal point for racial reconciliation and a gathering space for people of all cultures, ethnicities and religious backgrounds.
The effort to connect with other faith communities who have been victims of hate crimes has been largely led by Pastor Manning, most noticeably in November 2018, when Manning visited the Tree of Life Synagogue days after the house of worship was attacked by a gunman who killed 11 worshippers.
Tree of Life’s Rabbi Jeff Myers, who considers Rev. Manning a friend, spoke about when the two first met in 2018 after the Pittsburgh attack. Rev. Manning and Mother Emanuel provided a “ministry of presence,” Myers said.
Myers, who survived the attack at the synagogue, spoke on June 17 about the traumas that Jewish people and African Americans have experienced. He called on both minority groups to collaborate to improve their living conditions in the United States.
Family members of the Emanuel Nine also spoke at the service.
Chris Singleton, whose mother, Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was among those killed, told the congregation that he vowed to his mother that he would never become like her killer. He now spends his time writing children’s books and speaking at schools about the necessity of love. He thanked Mother Emanuel, which he still considers his church, for their continued prayers.
Rev. Sharon Risher, daughter of Ethel Lance, also spoke at the celebration, recalling the first time she preached at Emanuel with her mother sitting on the front row. Rev. Risher is now involved in social action work that decries gun violence and seeks to abolish the death penalty.
Several elected officials were present. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, spoke. Giffords, who was nearly killed in an assassination attempt in 2011.
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New to this year’s commemoration events was Saturday’s Humanitarian Awards Gala. Several of the Emanuel Nine families were highlighted for their works of compassion and community service. The elegant occasion provided a space to not only reflect on the 2015 atrocity but also to celebrate the achievements of some of Charleston’s changemakers.
Jada M. Samuel, Miss South Carlina 2023, was the keynote speaker. She connected the Emanuel tragedy to the long list of racial attacks that have killed African Americans. Yet, their legacies will continue to live as we fight to make our world rid of this kind of hate. Those honored included:
Karen K. Brewerton, Jamila Marlene Gadsden, Joanna Gilmore, Councilman William Dudley Gregorie, Linard H. McLoud, La’Sheia O. Oubre, Denise Quarles, Tina L. Singleton, Dr. Maxine Smith, Dr. Tracy Snipe, Dr. Torreah Cookie Washington, Valerie Williams, Emilie Erikson and LaVanda Brown.
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