Clyburn Reminds America of Why it's Great at St. Mark AME
- CUBNSC
- Sep 14
- 3 min read
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | September 14, 2025
Pomaria, SC — St. Mark AME Church concluded its inaugural Social Action Weekend with a message that fused history, faith, and a sober warning for the future of America. The closing program featured powerful selections from the South Carolina State University Gospel Choir and a keynote address from Congressman James E. Clyburn, who reminded attendees that the nation’s greatness lies not in its wealth or politics but in its people’s moral character and resilience.
Antjuan Seawright’s Introduction
Political strategist Antjuan Seawright, who described Clyburn as a “political father,” set the tone for the evening by urging the congregation to move “from social to action.” Drawing on Shakespeare and civil rights history, Seawright underscored the theme that faith communities have always been catalysts for social progress. He framed Clyburn not only as South Carolina’s senior statesman but as a national figure whose words have shaped presidencies and moved Congress.
Clyburn on Faith, Freedom, and Repair
Clyburn’s remarks mixed personal reflection with historical insight. He spoke warmly of his late wife Emily England Clyburn, a philanthropist and lifelong advocate for education, whose legacy endures at South Carolina State University through the honors college named in her memory.
But his speech took a wider turn when he recalled studying the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville as a student. Tocqueville journeyed to America in the 1830s to examine its prison system but was struck instead by what he found in its churches, synagogues, and mosques: the moral fiber of its people. “America is great because its people are good,” Tocqueville wrote, warning that if Americans ever ceased to be good, the nation would cease to be great.
Clyburn pressed this point home. “America’s greatness is not because she’s more enlightened than any other nation, but because she has always been able to repair her faults,” he said. “When we aren’t able to, we will be destroyed.” His call to action mirrored the weekend’s theme: faith must move beyond ritual into works that repair communities and strengthen democracy.
A Counter to Division
The timing of Clyburn’s message resonated against a backdrop of political rancor in South Carolina. Over the same weekend, state leaders like Rep. Nancy Mace and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette inflamed division by calling for punitive measures against Clemson University and invoking retribution rhetoric following the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Rather than denounce Kirk’s incendiary words, Republican leaders used the tragedy to scapegoat and censor, casting him as a martyr.
Clyburn’s words offered a counter-vision: one rooted in faith, service, and America’s enduring ability to self-correct. “Lord, make us instruments of change,” he concluded, stressing that prayer must be joined with work.
A Weekend of Social Action
The Social Action Weekend was not just a gathering but a declaration that the AME Church remains a vital force in shaping South Carolina’s civic life. From the spirited introduction by Seawright to the resonant closing by Clyburn, St. Mark AME showed that in times of division, communities of faith can still point toward justice, repair, and unity.
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