It was a normal Wednesday night in my house on Calhoun Street on June 17, 2015. I was home from babysitting and in my pajamas approaching bedtime. I happened to check Facebook to see a friend had posted about a shooting in Charleston. My first conclusion was North Charleston before I read the article. Then as I read it, the location said Calhoun Street just a few blocks down from my house. Scared out of our minds my roommates and I move the couch in front of the front door since we knew Dylann Roof was still on the loose. I called both parents to let them know what was going on and that I was safe. I did not understand the degree of what had happened until I sat down and spoke with my mother the next day. I am not the one to post about tragedies like this on social media so I kept on silently and prayed. I prayed for the loss of friends and family who went to church to seek God, but instead were put to death by a stranger who wanted to start a race war. Well, Dylann, you did a horrible job. The amount of love and compassion this city and nation showed afterward is unbelievable. The flowers left at the scene, the cards written by loving community members, and even President Barack Obama speaking at Senator Clementa Pinckney’s funeral. He broke out in song while making the kindest remarks about the Senator and tearing down Dylann. President Obama sang Amazing Grace, a well-known church hymn. It brought everyone watching to tears along with those in the crowd to their feet as they sang along.

I remember walking down to the church a few weeks after and sitting in silence and thinking about what it is like for someone to do that. You go into a place where you think is safe and you are protected, but it turns out you are not. Sadly, this puts me on high alerts anywhere I go now. Later this fall I took a course in religion and it was focused on Black Nationalism and we went back centuries to learn about every little detail of the Mother Emmanuel Church. It was an eye-opening experience to see how this church has come about since its founding day in 1816. As Dylann’s court date approaches in July, not only the city of Charleston but also the whole nation will have hopes that this man will undoubtedly be convicted of the heinous crimes he committed. He deserves maximum punishment for the painfulness and sorrow this city has been through. Though Charleston will never be the same, the amount of love has grown exponentially. If there is one thing I learn walking away from this is to love no matter who the person or thing is. Life is so short and can change in a matter of seconds. My hearts and prayers are out to everyone personally affected by this incident.