Tywanza Kibwe Diop Sanders

People

Tywanza Kibwe Diop Sanders

Outcome

unknown

Tywanza Kibwe Diop Sanders (November 9, 1988 – June 17, 2015) was a recent college graduate, licensed barber, and aspiring entrepreneur who was assassinated along with eight other congregants during a Wednesday night Bible study session at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church by white supremacist Dylann Roof. At 26 years old, he was the youngest of the nine victims. In his final moments, Sanders confronted the gunman, reportedly trying to talk Roof out of shooting the others, and was shot while attempting to shield his 87-year-old great-aunt Susie Jackson. As he lay dying, he reached out to try to help her. Tywanza Sanders was born on November 9, 1988, in Charleston, South Carolina, the youngest child of Tyrone and Felicia Sanders. From an early age, he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit gleaned from his parents—his mother owned a local beauty salon. While in elementary school, he opened a lemonade stand outside his mother's salon. In partnership with his father, he began selling homemade car fresheners. During middle school, he worked as a barbering assistant. Sanders attended Ferndale Baptist School for elementary and middle school before graduating from James Island Charter High School in 2006. In high school, he played football, participated in Future Business Leaders of America, and filmed basketball games for the journalism team. After high school, he enrolled at Denmark Technical College, where he earned a diploma in Applied Science of Barbering. In 2014, he graduated from Allen University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. During college, he juggled classes, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities including the National Black MBA Association and the National Association of Black Accountants. After graduation, Sanders returned to Charleston and worked as a licensed barber at Smitty's Super Seven Barber. He was known for his broad, ready smile and positive outlook on life. At the time of his death, he had been accepted to Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, to pursue a degree in Media and Communication, scheduled to begin in fall 2015. He was also preparing to make his acting debut in a local stage play and was in the process of publishing his own book of poetry. He aspired to be a rapper as well. On June 17, 2015, Sanders attended Bible study with three family members: his mother Felicia Sanders, his great-aunt Susie Jackson, and his 11-year-old niece. When Dylann Roof opened fire, Sanders confronted him, reportedly trying to talk him out of continuing the massacre. He was the first person shot after stepping in front of his elderly aunt. As he lay dying, he reached toward Susie Jackson to help her. Both were killed. His mother and niece survived by playing dead. The Tywanza Sanders Legacy Foundation was established to continue his spirit of empowerment and education. The foundation's Camp Wanza program grew out of Sanders' practice of offering makeshift summer camps at his parents' house, where he taught his cousins lessons in math and reading, encouraged outdoor sports activities, and gave piano lessons. An annual race honoring Sanders raises funds for Charleston students.