Chosen for this event because of his message of love over hate, Singleton spoke of recognizing the importance of the 90% of ourselves that we choose in life instead of placing all of our focus on the 10% that is given to us. "We've forgotten that nobody chooses where they're from. We've forgotten that nobody chooses their first language," he said. "We've forgotten nobody chooses who they're born to." Singleton's mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, was one of nine Black people killed when a white supremacist open-fired on parishioners at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Singleton made the choice to forgive his mother's murderer immediately, a decision he said he knows many cannot understand.