by Herb Frazier
EPILOGUE
Our time spent with the Emanuel Nine families and those who survived this tragedy has given us an appreciation and deeper respect for their losses. As we have delved into the history of the church and Charleston, we have also marveled at the strength and courage of those who fought to seek social justice in the Holy City. During our research and interviews, we have also paused to reflect on our lives during that time of America’s racial history that influenced each of us in different ways and in different regions of this country.
HERB FRAZIER
I was oblivious to the dangers that existed for colored people when my family lived at the Ansonborough Homes and worshiped at Emanuel AME Church. This time spent with my colleagues has reminded me of that and also reinforced my belief that our next generation should not be so naive to think South Carolina has substantially changed for the better just because the Confederate flag is gone from the statehouse.
I have a few fleeting images of a segregated Charleston in the early 1960s, but my grandmother Mable McNeil Frazier and father, Benjamin Frazier, overly protected me from it and never warned me of the dangers and hatred that existed in the city. If they had done so, I would have understood why the people in the movie theater’s balcony were black and why white people did not sunbathe at Atlantic Beach.
I remember a night Emanuel was filled with people dressed in black. Their arms were locked together as one body from the floor to the balcony, swaying side to side and with one voice singing “We Shall Overcome.” I knew the gathering was important, but my grandmother did not tell me the reason for it, or maybe she did, and I have forgotten her lesson. Was Martin Luther King Jr. there that night? If so, I witnessed history, but I was too young to know.
My father may have chosen not to tell me much about segregation because of where we lived and shopped and the hospital that served us. The sturdy dwellings with indoor plumbing at Ansonborough Homes was a safe haven where white faces were rarely seen. Daddy was in the navy, so we shopped at the naval base, sat in an integrated waiting area to see a navy doctor, and ate in an integrated cafeteria on the base. My grandchildren enjoy similar situations and even more so. They have a much wider range of experiences with whites, to the extent that I worry they will be vulnerable to bigotry. It is an imperative that I teach them the history of people of African descent and warn them appropriately of the lingering racial hatred in South Carolina.
DR. BERNARD EDWARD POWERS JR.
Many years ago a professor of mine compared the role of the historian to that of the detective. His point was that both had to uncover evidence and assemble a case to demonstrate a point convincingly. As a nineteenth-century historian, my research, writing, and pursuit of evidence heretofore has typically involved people who are long deceased. Even so, after spending so much time reading their letters, personal diaries, and newspaper accounts about them, I begin to develop a feeling of kinship.
This project has been different because of the immediacy of the subject and my own personal immersion in the story as a participant observer. As a lifelong African Methodist, I have long been an admirer of Richard Allen, the denominational founder, for his deep religiosity, commitment to the church, and promotion of the social gospel. I found Allen’s living counterpart at Emanuel Church in the person of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, whom I got to know personally and professionally. We shared a common love for history. I remember almost two months to the day before his murder, Rev. Pinckney delivered a speech at Hampton Park to a group of people who had gathered for an ecumenical ceremony commemorating the sesquicentennial of the end of the Civil War. I remember being struck by how generous his remarks were to the Confederate soldiers, but quickly upon reflection I realized this was because of his personality and his Christian witness. There was a level of forgiveness and understanding that few African Americans could have displayed in that situation.
Then several weeks later he was gone. However, his extraordinary display of magnanimity in the park and in other situations where I observed him motivated me to do all that I could to faithfully tell his story and the stories of the other families and the historic church that has been their spiritual sanctuary. Theirs is a most compelling story and as a guardian of at least aspects of that story, I have sometimes felt the special weight of responsibility for its proper telling. I hope I have been true to their story.
MARJORY WENTWORTH
The day we turned in the first draft of our manuscript, I ran into Myra Thompson’s husband, Anthony, at the Harris Teeter grocery store downtown. We spoke for a long time and made plans to meet for dinner soon. Charleston is like that; it’s really a small town, and when the shootings happened at Emanuel Church in June, everyone here was devastated. Reverend Thompson is one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever met. And during our interview when he told me that God spoke to him and told him what to say at the bond hearing for his wife’s murderer, I felt like God was there in the room with us. Even writing about it now brings me to tears. And there have been a lot of days like that as we wrote this book because of the range of emotions that are part of this story.
After writing these pages, I felt as though I knew them all because I learned so much about their lives and their habits. And I am left with a deeper understanding of what it means to practice one’s faith. Lifelong Emanuel Church member Evelyn Sinkler told me that the people in Bible study at her church on June 17 were trying to strengthen their relationship with God, adding, like so many people we have spoken to during this process, “If I had been on the board, I would have been there, too, that night.” I now carry her words in my heart. Her statement reminds me how quickly life can change and how so much is out of our control, but our relationship with God is in our hands.
I strongly believe that to be a writer in South Carolina and not write about the African American experience is to be not really here at all. As a poet, my job is to speak for those without a voice. As poet laureate of the state, my ultimate responsibility is to articulate what it means to be a South Carolinian. We Are Charleston embodies all these aspects of my writing life, and I hope I have done this story justice.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to thank the friends, family members, and survivors of the church shootings at Mother Emanuel AME Church. They have been generous with their time, and we are forever grateful: former North Carolina state senator Malcolm Graham, Rev. Anthony Thompson, Kim Odom, Michel Hammes, Douglas Henderson, Marvin Stewart, Evelyn Sinkler, Liz Alston, Leon Alston, Willi Glee, Maxine Smith, Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, Charleston city councilman William Dudley Gregorie, Al Miller, and Charlene Spearen. We also thank Raphael James, Andrew Knapp, Rev. Nelson Rivers III, Rev. Jeremy Rutledge, Rev. Cress Darwin, Rev. Joseph Darby, state senator Marlon Kimpson, Muhiyidin d’Baha, and Phil Noble. The assistance of Lily Birkhimer of the Ohio History Connection and Nicole Joniec of the Library Company of Philadelphia were also indispensable to this project.
We are indebted to our agent, Jeff Kleinman, and his team at Folio Literary Management. He believed in the project from day one and has worked tirelessly on our behalf. We are grateful to our publisher, Matt Baugher; his support and enthusiasm for this project are infectious. Thanks also to our editor, Paula Major, and the marketing team led by Lori Cloud: the marketing manager, Kristi Smith; publicity director, Judy McDonough; and social media guru, Marissa Pellegrino.
Marjory Wentworth wishes to thank Kathie Bennett at Magic Time Literary Publicity for her brilliance and encouragement. The idea for this book started with her. Marjory also wishes to thank Sam Francis, Chad Treado, Todd Harrison, Andy Brack, and Congressman James Clyburn. Special thanks to her dear husband, Peter Wentworth, whose support and faith in her is constant; his love lifts her and holds her through every hour of every day.
Herb Frazier thanks his soul mate and best friend, Adrienne Troy Frazier, for her love and support; and his children, Angela Thomas, Amanda Frazier, and Adrienne Frazier, for their love and understanding that Daddy
was “busy.” A special thanks goes to mother-in-law Brenda Turner; colleagues Tom and Mary Ann Johnson, Marlene Gray, and the rest of the staff at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens; Dorothy “Dot” Glover, Lish Thompson, and Nic Butler at the Charleston County Library; Christina Butler at the College of Charleston; Georgette Mayo, Curtis Franks, Tori Shaw, Barrye Brown, and Brendan Reardon at the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston; Kerry Taylor at the Citadel; Gail Glover Faust and Oveta Glover at Mother Emanuel; Charles Francis at the Charleston Police Department; Nancy Wagner at the Charleston County Register of Mesne Conveyance Office; and Tolbert Smalls at the Charleston Chronicle.
Dr. Bernard Edward Powers Jr. thanks his parents, Bernard Sr. and Mildred, extraordinary human beings by any measure, whose wonderful examples of lives well-lived are responsible for the man he envisions becoming given time. He could not wish for a better brother than Brian, who always provides a “reality check,” frequently alloyed with good humor and encouragement. Lou, Ron, Jordan, and Amari have positively shaped the direction of his life. Finally, through it all, Lorraine, his wife, has tolerated the clutter, stacks of books, and papers that accompany the writing process. She has been a source of inspiration and support; her love keeps him going and aspiring always to become something more.
NOTES
Introduction
1. Henry Louis Gates Jr., “Henry Louis Gates: If Clementa Pinckney Had Lived,” Opinion Pages, New York Times, June 18, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/opinion/henry-louis-gates-if-clementa-pinckney-had-lived.html?_r=1.
2. See CNTraveler.com, “Everybody Loves Charleston: Voted USA’s No. 1 City for Third Consecutive Year,” Conde Nast Traveler, October 15, 2013, http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2013-10-15/charleston-south-carolina-number-one-city-in-the-united-states; and Sam Spence, “Charleston Ranked #1 by Travel+Leisure Readers, Again,” Battery, July 2, 2014, http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/TheBattery/archives/2014/07/02/charleston-ranked-1-by-travelleisure-readers-again.
3. The King Center, “The King Philosophy,” http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy#sub4.
Chapter One: Wrong Church, Wrong People, Wrong Day
1. Allen G. Breed and Tamara Lush, “They Welcomed Him in Fellowship, He Turned on Them in Hate: The Tragedy at Mother Emanuel,” Associated Press, June 20, 2015; Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/20/welcomed-him-in-fellowship-turned-on-them-in-hate-tragedy-at-mother-emanuel.html.
2. Jennifer Berry Hawes and Doug Pardue, “In an Hour, a Church Changes Forever,” Post and Courier, June 19, 2015, www.postandcourier.com/article/20150619/PC16/150619306.
3. Jesse James DeConto, “Charleston shooting survivor Jennifer Pinckney: ‘I want to carry on (Clementa’s) work,’ ” Religion News Service, February 10, 2016, http://www.religionnews.com/2016/02/10/charleston-shooting-survivor-jennifer-pinckney-want-carry-clementas-work/.
4. Jennifer Berry Hawes, “Emanuel AME Survivors Feel Forgotten as Life Moves Forward,” Post and Courier, September 8, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150908/PC16/150909382.
5. Andrew Knapp, interview by Herb Frazier, September 17, 2015.
6. Raphael James, interview by Herb Frazier, September 16, 2015.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid
9. Ibid.
10. Joy Hunter, “Crisis Chaplains Respond Following Emanuel Shootings,” Protestant Episcopal Church, Diocese of South Carolina, accessed December 22, 2015, http://www.diosc.com/sys/news-events/reflections-on-emanuel-ame-shootings/680-crisis-chaplains-respond-following-emanuel-shootings.
11. Muhiyidin d’Baha, interview by Marjory Wentworth, August 6, 2015.
12. Steve Reed, “Florist Helps Catch Suspect,” Associated Press; Post and Courier, June 20, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/Assets/pdf/emanuelAme/June20A1.pdf, A8.
13. Nelson Rivers, interview by Marjory Wentworth, December 12, 2015.
14. Notes on the mayor’s speech taken and transcribed by Marjory Wentworth.
15. Peter Baker, “After Charleston Shooting, a Sense at the White House of Horror, Loss and Resolve,” New York Times, June 19, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/us/politics/obama-charleston-shooting.html.
16. Rob Groce, “Thomas Ravenel: Politics to Prison to Television—and Back to Politics?” Examiner.com, June 27, 2014, http://www.examiner.com/article/thomas-ravenel-politics-to-prison-to-television-and-back-to-politics.
Chapter Two: Forgiveness
1. Abigail Darlington, “Ethel Lance Remembered as Strong Woman, Mother,” Post and Courier, June 18, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150618/PC16/150619365.
2. Ibid.
3. Abigail Darlington, “At Funeral for Ethel Lance, Family Says She Is ‘Symbol of Love,’ ” Post and Courier, June 25, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150625/PC16/150629585.
4. Adam Parker, “Susie Jackson Remembered for Energy, Faith and Love of Family,” Post and Courier, June 18, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150618/PC16/150619336/1177/susie-jackson-remembered-for-energy-faith-and-love-of-family.
5. Al Black, interview by Marjory Wentworth, September 15, 2015.
6. Bo Peterson, “Ty Sanders’ Dry Humor Made Friends Think, Laugh,” Post and Courier, June 18, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150618/PC16/150619364.
7. Alex Sanz and Russ Bynum, “The Latest on Charleston Shootings: Victims Identified,” Associated Press, June 18, 2015, http://kwqc.com/2015/06/18/the-latest-on-charleston-shooting-suspect-in-church-meeting/.
8. Doug Pardue, “Shooting Victim Depayne Middleton-Doctor Remembered as an Angel,” Post and Courier, June 18, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150618/PC16/150619356/depayne-middleton-doctor.
9. Nate Scott, “College Baseball Player Gives Inspirational Talk After Mother Killed in Charleston Church Attack,” USA Today, June 19, 2015, http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/06/charleston-church-chris-singleton-sharonda-coleman-singleton.
10. Elizabeth Leland, “Through Tears, Former NC Sen. Malcolm Graham Remembers Loving, ‘Beautiful’ Sister Killed in Charleston Shooting,” Charlotte Observer, June 18, 2015, http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article24842785.html.
11. Mary Catherine Adams, interview by Herb Frazier, November 25, 2015.
12. Jennifer Berry Hawes, “The Rev. Clementa Pinckney,” Post and Courier, June 21, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150621/PC16/150629932/1005/null.
13. The Monitor’s Editorial Board, “A Black Church’s Road to Recovery,” Christian Science Monitor, June 18, 2015, http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2015/0618/A-black-church-s-road-to-recovery.
14. Jennifer Berry Hawes, “Emanuel AME Survivors Feel Forgotten as Life Moves Forward,” Post and Courier, September 8, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150908/PC16/150909382.
15. In South Carolina only a judge in a higher court, the Circuit Court, can set bond for a defendant charged with murder.
16. Melissa Boughton, “S.C. Supreme Court Replaces Charleston County Chief Magistrate Gosnell,” Post and Courier, June 24, 2015, http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150624/PC16/150629644.
17. “Bond Court Hearing for Dylann Roof 6-19-15,” YouTube video, 1:04, posted by Charleston County Government, June 19, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LwqtqdDaO8.
18. Young was later replaced on Roof’s defense team by Bill McGuire of Columbia. Pennington is the Ninth Circuit public defender, and McGuire is the chief capital lawyer at the SC Commission on Indigent Defense.
19. “Bond Court Hearing for Dylann Roof 6-19-15,” YouTube video, 6:44.
20. David Von Drehle, Jay Newton-Small, and Maya Rhodan, “Murder, Race and Mercy,” Time, November 23, 2015, 62.
21. Richard Pérez-Peña, and Nikita Stewart, “I Will Never Be Able to Hold Her Again. But I Forgive You,” New York Times, June 20, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/images/2015/06/20/nytfrontpage/scan.pdf.
22. “Bond Court Hearing for Dylann Roof 6-19-15,” YouTube vi
deo, 10:10.
23. Ibid., 11:25.
24. Marguerite Michel, interview by Herb Frazier, September 9, 2015.
25. Ferrel Greene, interview by Herb Frazier, September 9, 2015.
26. Three congregations, formed in 1818, later became Emanuel Church. An early version of the current church building was erected in 1891.
27. Dr. King was in Charleston in 1963 for marches on King Street. This recollection could possibly be from that summer when he was at the church.
28. Michel, interview.
29. Joseph Tanfani, Timothy M. Phelps, and Richard A. Serrano, “Online Manifesto Linked to Charleston Suspect Dylann Roof Shows Evolving Views on Race,” Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-dylann-roof-manifesto-20150620-story.html.
30. Frances Robles and Nikita Stewart, “Dylann Roof’s Past Reveals Trouble at Home and School,” New York Times, July 16, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/charleston-shooting-dylann-roof-troubled-past.html.
