Ten years ago, white supremacist violence shook the nation when nine Black worshippers were murdered at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Their lives were taken in a place of sanctuary, a historic symbol of Black resilience. Yet, as we honor their memory, we must confront the alarming erasure of African American history in schools and the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives nationwide.
Book bans and sanitized curricula seek to silence the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities, while political attacks on DEI undermine progress toward justice. Meanwhile, violence against people of color persists—from the ongoing genocide in Gaza, to the mistreatment of Latino immigrants at U.S. borders, to the recent killings of Black community members in Minnesota.
The Charleston massacre was not an isolated event but part of a global pattern of racial violence. If we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. The fight for justice is interconnected—across borders, races, and faiths. As we remember those lost, we must demand better: from our leaders, our institutions, and ourselves. The world cannot afford silence. We must do better.