Arguably the most influential, and prolific racially motivated murder in American history is that of 14-year-old Chicago native Emmett Till. On Aug. 28, 1955, Till was brutally kidnapped, tortured and murdered to death in Money, Mississippi for allegedly harassing and whistling at a white woman by the name of Carolyn Bryant while visiting family on vacation. Several relatives of Bryant’s including her husband Roy Bryant and her brother-in-law J.W. Milam snatched Till away from his family’s home leading to events that would garner the Civil Rights Movement international attention. His mother Mamie Till-Mobley, fought diligently to ensure that the world knew what was done to her son, shocking the entire nation by having an open casket funeral. Till’s body was so badly beaten and mangled that is was hardily recognizable, shedding light on the rising racial injustice blacks faced in the south. Her heroic efforts forced America to confront racial brutality head on.
Over 60 years later, Till’s death is still generating national attention. In June 2022, the official arrest warrant for Carolyn Bryant was found in a Leflore County basement regarding her involvement with Till’s death. Ultimately the grand jury decided not to prosecute her, shining more light on how this tragedy rocked the entire nation and continues to years later. But Till’s legacy is not remembered in vein thanks to his hometown of Chicago.
Chicago is making sure Emmett and Mamie Till’s legacy is preserved and memorialized by restoring their home as a part of African American history. In July 2022, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced that the house will receive a share of $3 million in grants being distributed to 33 sites and organizations nationwide that have impacted African American culture. This coincides with the Senate passing a bill to award Congressional Gold Medals posthumously to both Emmett & Mamie Till-Mobley earlier this year.
With the 67th anniversary of his death occurring Aug. 28, we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Emmett Louis Till.
