A decade after the horrific 2015 mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 16-year-old Malana Pinckney is honoring the legacy of her father, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, and the eight other worshipers killed in what remains one of the deadliest racist attacks in modern American history.
Malana was just six years old when she and her mother, Jennifer Pinckney, survived the massacre carried out by a white supremacist who opened fire during a Wednesday evening Bible study. Rev. Pinckney, senior pastor of Emanuel AME and a South Carolina state senator, was among those who lost their lives. The shooter, Dylann Roof, is now on federal death row.
On June 17, 2025, as the nation marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, Malana and Jennifer joined Craig Melvin of NBC’s TODAY show for a solemn reflection on survival, grief, and healing.
A Child Survivor Speaks
In the interview, Malana shared a haunting memory from the night of the attack. After the gunfire ended, she recalled how a police officer gently coaxed her out of hiding with a game to shield her from the horror surrounding her.
“She said, ‘Put your head on my shoulder and close your eyes and see how long you can keep them closed,’” Malana remembered. “And I walked past all the pools of blood.”
Now a rising senior in high school, Malana says she is committed to keeping her father’s memory alive and ensuring the names of the Emanuel Nine are never forgotten.
A Mother’s Plea: Remember, and Love
Jennifer Pinckney, who has spent the last decade advocating for gun reform and racial justice, pointed out the importance of remembrance and unity.
“First and foremost, I want people to remember what happened,” she said. “A lot of people have forgotten. We’ve got to love one another. We’ve got to move forward. We’ve got to work together.”
Her words echo the spirit of forgiveness and resilience that defined the Charleston community in the aftermath of the shooting. Despite overwhelming grief, many families of the victims publicly forgave the shooter—a gesture that inspired the world and sparked conversations about race, faith, and justice.
Healing Through Memorial
Today, Mother Emanuel AME Church continues to serve as a place of worship and remembrance. A memorial is under construction beside the church—a lasting monument in stone to the nine lives taken in the sanctuary they considered sacred.
The victims were:
- Rev. Clementa Pinckney
- Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
- Cynthia Hurd
- Susie Jackson
- Ethel Lance
- Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor
- Tywanza Sanders
- Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr.
- Myra Thompson
The memorial will feature engraved names and symbolic design elements meant to reflect both the sorrow and the hope that emerged from the tragedy.
Legacy of the Emanuel Nine
The Charleston church shooting was a catalyst for the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina’s State House grounds and reignited national debates about white supremacy, hate crimes, and gun violence.
For survivors like Jennifer and Malana Pinckney, the work continues—not just in memory, but in action.
