On June 17th, 2015, a white supremacist walked into a bible study and murdered nine African Americans. This is the story of the victims and survivors of that night.
As I watch this documentary and revisit the terrible massacre that occurred on June 17th, 2015, I am left with many thoughts, especially surrounding what it means to forgive. 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and was welcomed by the members as they began their bible study. Dylann patiently sat through the session and when they began to pray he opened fire, resulting in nine deaths. When asked by one of the victims why he was shooting, he claimed that blacks were raping white women and trying to take over the world.
After the manhunt ended the following morning, Dylann was gently arrested in Shelby, North Carolina. The cameras show the police approaching his car from behind with guns drawn, as they walk towards the passenger side they quickly put their guns away and ask him to kindly step out of the vehicle. When they cuff him it was almost like and they didn’t really want to but knew they had to. After arriving at the police station, the officers were so hospitable to purchase a Burger King meal for the murderer. They softly ask him about what he supposedly did at the church when Dylann finally laughs, confessing the killings.
Before the church murders took place, Dylann admitted that he didn’t understand why the killing of Trevon Martin was such a big deal. After the Trevon Martin case sparked intense media attention, Dylann began frequenting white supremacist websites, enveloping himself in articles about black on white crime in attempts to start a race war. After posting pictures with the confederate flag to social media and bragging to neighbors about his plans to kill, still, no one took him seriously.
Charged with nine counts of murder, at the hearing, shooting survivors and some of the victim’s families surprisingly told Dylann that they forgive him and would pray for his soul. Completely unsympathetic with no remorse whatsoever for what he had done, he stood expressionless while the families break down. As I feel the exact same tension today as I did in the ’90s with racist crimes ramped and then shoved under the rug, I question the whole idea of forgiving others for their inconceivable acts of violence and murder against blacks. As these families spoke the words of forgiving this young man who was said to have premeditated this hate crime at least 6 months prior, what exactly is forgiveness for? I’ve heard others claim it releases you from emotional bondage and that love conquers all but does it? When it comes to the murder of innocent blacks there seems to always be an expected forgive and forget as if we are not allowed to feel pain or grieve.
I do not forgive Dylann for what he has done and I’m sure the families still hurt. In my opinion, they are not freed from the memories of being on that church floor watching a massacre nor are they freed from the feeling they had receiving the phone call that their relative was killed. Furthermore, Dylann does not care about his soul or theirs, if there is such a thing. This was a despicable crime committed by someone who felt hatred and was very aware of his actions at the time. In fact, while in prison it was reported that he drafted two other manifestos which included racist propaganda along with names of churches and victims.
This documentary resurrected a lot of emotions but it also brought about questions about why we forgive and how race plays an important role in how we are treated as humans, suspects or criminals. I can’t stop thinking about how they approached his car after knowing he just murdered nine people and not seen as a threat, they automatically assumed he would never open fire on them. If that were me, I know with one wrong move I would have been shot dead while still in the car.
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