Good News - June 2019

MOVIES 38 JUNE 2019 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition We Solve Roof Problems #"! ! ! ! ! " ! ! !"! ! ! ! ! ! (954) 941-9111 www.bestroofing.net “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I do not really know how to write about a subject like this. I feel emotionally overwhelmed and severely unqualified. Yet, the makers of the new documentary, “Emanuel,” manage to not only talk about the tragic Charleston church shooting but to also show the reality of the event in a histor- ical context while telling the per- sonal stories of both the victims and the survivors. On June 17th, 2015, the city of Charleston — with its regret- tablehistory as amajor slaveport — and the people of Charleston were unexpectedly shaken with violence and terror when a 21- year-old white supremacist gunned down members of the Emanuel AME Church. The killer entered the church during a Wednesday evening Bible study, and he was graciously invited to join them. However, during the closing prayer, the killer would open fireandmurder ninepeople. Churches are meant to be spaces of peace and sanctuary; a place to come together in unity. Therefore, sadly, churches have always been a target for terror- ism. The act was evil, senseless and demonic even. The depth of thedarkness anddepravity of the human condition can be stagger- ing. And yet, “Emanuel” clearly sets out to also tell a story of hope, resilience and redemption. Perhaps the most surprising and controversial outcome of the terrorist attack was in the church members’ response as many of them would look the killer in his unempathetic faceand say, “I for- give you…” Somehow, despite losing loved ones in amost horri- ble way, many were able to find, like Dr. King, the courage and strength to love. They found that the power of forgiveness is in its ability to bring freedom—not sim- ply to the forgiven—but freedom to those who forgive. That some- how, hope still blooms from scorched, broken earth. Emanuel tells an intimate story of the victims and the sur- vivors. Survivors like Nadine,An- thony, Felicia, Polly and Chris. The documentary is emotionally stirring and powerful. For some, it will be intensely heart wrenching. Others may find it surprisingly cathartic. It is a filmthat is at times uncomfortable in its honesty, but it is a film that needs to be seen. We need to see it sowe can con- tinue to share the story. And we need to see it so we can always remember. Remember those like: 1. Clementa Pinckney (07/30/1973 – 06/17/2015) 2. Daniel Lee Simmons Sr. (07/16/1940 – 06/17/2015) 3. Susie Jackson (01/28/1928 – 06/17/2015) 4. Cynthia Graham Hurd (06/21/1960 – 06/17/2015) 5. Sharonda Coleman Single- ton (09/24/1970 – 06/17/2015) 6. Depayne Middleton (12/15/1965 – 06/17/2015) 7. Myra Singleton Thompson (12/05/1955 – 06/17/2015) 8. Ethel Lance (08/30/1944 – 06/17/2015) 9. TywanzaSanders (07/23/1988 – 06/17/2015) Marking four years since the tragedy, Emanuel will be in the- aters for a special showing on June 17 and 19. Part of the pro- ceeds from the documentary will be donated to the survivors of the shooting and the families of the victims. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www.emanuelmovie.com Finley lives in central Florida with his wife and their foster chil- dren.You can readhis blogat fin- leywalker.blog or email him at: [email protected] “Emanuel” Documentary Is ANeed To See Dr. Finley W. Walker Good News WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 14: Nadine Collier, actress Mariska Hargitay, Sharon Risher and her daughter after a screening of the film 'EMANUEL' at the Museum of the Bible on May 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for EMANUEL Film)