Alana Grant is the granddaughter of Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr. She is married to Hamilton Grant and is a proud mother of three. In response to the shooting, Alana founded the Hate Won’t Win Movement, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent hate crimes through advocacy for victims and promoting community acts of love. Her work has been recognized by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, the Anti-Defamation League, the King Center, the Biden Administration as a Uniter Against Hate, and many others.
What do you wish everyone knew about your grandfather? How have you sought to continue his legacy?
My grandfather really valued education. It was one of the few things he constantly talked to us about and personally sought after. Outside of my initial work with the Hate Won’t Win Movement to teach people about hate crimes and better support victims of hate, I am an educator. I work as Executive Director of Richland County Public Education Partners to strengthen the schools in Richland County and in my spare time, I consult groups on multiculturalism, equity, and bias.
While being confronted with evil and immense loss, you have accomplished great feats. Tell us about your personal journey of growth in the decade after June 17, 2015.
Since 2015, my personal journey has been centered around creating community, mental, spiritual and physical wellness, and enjoying my work. I am grateful to have experienced personal and professional accomplishments, but my goal has always been to speak the truth so someone can be inspired to change their corner of the world.
What words of encouragement or advice would you give students who are faced with struggle and tough times?
Find your community. We were not created to be alone. There is always someone who will understand you, and there is always someone who will want to help you. The struggle in tough times is finding them. Proactively create space to invite family and friends in.
What gives you hope for the future?
The world is filled with so many problems. Personally, it is hard to disassociate from them because I care so deeply about people and our world. What gives me hope is the little miracles that may go unnoticed in a stressful environment. Like how I arrive safe to my destinations every time I’ve gotten into a vehicle for every day that I’ve been alive. Or how there has not been one day where my body stopped breathing, or my heart stopped beating. So, if I do the math, for 12,775 days, everything went right for me to be here even when the day didn’t feel so good. That gives me hope that the future is bright because little miracles add up.
Presented through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina ETV.
View the series on KnowItAll.org here.
Download the SC African American History Calendar 2025 here.