It’s burning up in the south this summer, and unfortunately, I’m not just talking about the weather. Six predominately black churches in southern states have caught fire since the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, that left nine dead inside Emanuel A.M.E. Church. Three of the fires have been ruled arson and the others are still under investigation. In just 10 days there have been eight southern church fires in all (including two other southern churches that are not predominately black), and speculators have reason to believe this could be more than a coincidence.
Many complain that this string of fires has not gotten enough news coverage, so social media users started the trending topic #WhoIsBurningBlackChurches. Activists say the church fires may be the result of a "violent backlash” since Dylan Roof, the alleged racist murderer of the Charleston shooting, was arrested. Others say this may be terroristic efforts to evoke fear among black communities.
According to Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, African-Americans have a legitimate reason to be fearful, adding that black churches have been targeted for almost their entire history. “There’s a deep well of feelings and fears,” he said. Potok refers to history of racist attacks on black churches in the south.
The most recent church fire took place at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greeleyville, South Carolina, on June 30. According to NBC News, investigation proved the fire was not arson and that the historic black church was set ablaze by natural causes. The investigation closed with this statement from South Carolina’s Law Enforcement Division: “Based upon the scene examination, the fire debris analysis, witness statements and a lightning-strike report, the cause of the fire was best classified as natural.” This same church had been burned before in 1995 by two members of the KKK according to The Washington Post. It’s obvious why the fire instantly recalled that unpleasant memory for the members of the church and the communities.
On June 26, the fourth and fifth black churches burned in this string of fires. Glover Grove Baptist Church’s fire in Warrenville, South Carolina, was responded to by firefighters at 3:30 a.m. The cause of the fire is still undergoing investigation. The Greater Miracle Temple Apostolic Holiness Church in Tallahassee, Florida, caught on fire the same day due to exposed electrical wires after a tree fell.
The three other predominately black churches to be burned were all ruled arson. The first church burned, just four days after the Charleston shooting, was the College Seventh Day Adventist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, caused by bales of hay that were intentionally set on fire. Residents fear this could be a hate crime. Investigators suggest it was solely vandalism, but admit there is no explanation for why the church was targeted.
The second church, God’s Power Church of Christ in Macon, Georgia, burned just two days later. This fire is also being investigated as an arson, but officials say the cause of the fear is “suspicious.” The small congregation of about a dozen people are now holding their services at the church’s other location in Danville in Twiggs County. Associate Pastor Jeanette Dudley of the church explains how she was shocked and saddened by the total loss of the church she founded just 20 years ago. Dudley encouraged her congregation by stating "Don't look back you know, like we're in a race and it's no turning back," she said. "If we turn back we gonna wanna stop. And if we stop then nothing is gonna be accomplished. It's like the devil gonna win.”
The third church to be ruled an arson on June 24 was Briar Creek Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. While the sanctuary of the church survived, the education classroom and summer camp area were burned down completely. The search continues for the actual cause of the fire, but investigators as well as the members of Briar Creek Road Baptist Church are well aware that the fire was intentional. "It's concerning to me for my members. We asked police to be with us because we don't want anything to happen," said Senior Pastor Mannix Kinsey.
He is not the only pastor to have these concerns. Rt. Rev. Bishop George Edward Battle, Jr. of Little Rock AME Zion Church stated "As a pastor it leaves me feeling vulnerable. What can you do to keep your congregation and yourself safe? Do you stop letting strangers in, put in metal detectors, what do you do?" Many churches across the south are in fear that they may be the next church that is targeted, even though officials say there is no evidence linking any of the church fires.
In history, burning black churches, in the south in particular, was a tactic of white racists and racist organizations such as the KKK. In most communities the church is a symbol of authority and power. The black church, according to reporter David Love, represents "a pillar of the black community, the center for leadership and institution building, education, social and political development and organizing to fight oppression. Strike at the black church, and you strike at the heart of black American life."
No one has been held accountable for any of the church fires, but with more than 500,000 tweets using the hashtag #WhoIsBurningBlackChurches, it is obvious the public is not satisfied with the investigations. Human nature is the reason for this reaction, according to Mohamad Al-Hakim, an assistant professor of philosophy at Florida Gulf Coast University. “We seek to assign blame, even if it's to something abstract like mental illness, greed or racism. Saying there is no agent that brought about an event—or that lightning caused a church fire—leaves us feeling rudderless,” Al-Hakim said.
Despite the lack of details or answers given by investigators, we know these fires have successfully evoked fear among black churches across the country. The effects of this these fires could be worse than blatant hate crimes. There is fear, suspicion, tension and many other emotions stirred up in the air that do not belong in a church house. Could these negatively affect the energy of the black church?
Efforts are being made by the NAACP to raise money to help rebuild the damaged churches. They stated “investigations are just beginning into the church fires; several of them are already being described as apparent arsons. But one thing is quite clear: white racists are reviving the tactics of the KKK to terrorize black Americans. We refuse to just stand by and watch it happen. So we're aiming to raise at least $100,000 to help these churches rebuild.” You can click here to help the donation.
