92: Forgiving My Mother’s Murderer: Sharon Risher

Episode • Feb 16, 2023 • 49m

How do you forgive someone who committed unspeakable horror against someone you love?

In 2015, 21-year-old white supremacist, Dylann Roof, was welcomed into a bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Minutes later, he opened fire and murdered nine members of the church. At his trial, the family members of those killed got the chance to speak to Roof publicly, voicing their pain; and some, in the midst of such anguish, publicly forgave him.

But Sharon Risher, whose mother was shot and killed by Roof that day, was not immediately ready to forgive her mother's killer; for her, it was a long, hard road to forgiveness. Today, we discuss Sharon’s book entitled "For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre," which explores her journey of grief, healing, and grace after her mother’s murder.

Show Notes:

Mentioned in this episode
- Sharon’s book “For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre”
- President Obama’s eulogy for the victims
- Sharon’s NYT article “I Wish the Jury Had Not Sentenced My Family’s Killer to Death”
Lee's Interview Notes
Transcription Link