As soon as I finished speaking about marriage equality,

As soon as I finished speaking about marriage equality, this major civil rights victory—nthis major civil rights victory—nI had to go to South Carolina to address a group of people still reeling from this horrific act of violence and racism.nOvernight, this historic church, which has played such a symbolic role in the struggle of African-Americans, was the scene of prayers and of vigils.nHearing about the violence in Charleston, in a church, no less, where parishioners were gathered to pray was just so incredibly devastating.nIt just stopped you in your tracks.nSo we hustled to Joint Base Andrews to head down to Charleston.nAnd, on the way, I thought a lot about Reverend Pinckney—nabout what he'd stood for, the work he'd done as a leader in his state, fighting for justice and equality.nMy challenge as president is—nhow do I express grief and heartbreak over this tragedy, while still offering a sense of hope?nHow do I persuade people that, even in our darkest moments, the never ending quest for equality and justice is worthwhile?nI begin to think about the families of the slain, during the shooter's arraignment, who had said to the shooter,n"We forgive you,nconferring grace upon this person who's done this terrible act.nThis whole week I've been reflecting on this idea of grace.nThe grace of the families who lost loved ones.nThe grace that Reverend Pinckney would preach about in his sermons.nThe grace described in one of my favorite hymnals, the one we all know.nI've got all the clergy behind me as I'm delivering this eulogy.nAnd as I get to the point where I'm talking about Amazing Grace,nI feel moved to try and sing it.nI had thought about it before, but I wasn't quite sure whether I could pull it off.nAnd that's why you can see a little bit of a pause before I start singing.nAmazing Grace,nhow sweet the sound,nthat saved a wretch like me!nI knew that if I just hit the first bar,nthen the organ was going to come in behind me.nThe clergy would stand,nthe congregation would join in.nThat it would no longer just be about my voice,nbut it would be about all of our voices together, lifting each other up.nWas blind, but now I see.nThat day with the families who lost their loved ones was so heavy, so sad.nAnd, yet, it was somehow so hopeful.nIt wasn't just that Barack gave a great speech,nthe spirit of those families in the face of such tragedy lifted us all up.nIt was their strength, not my strength, that I was relying on.nIt was their grace that, then, bathed me in grace.