… but I don’t take full responsible for my ignorance. As you, my blogger friends and followers know, I have very little patience for the intolerance in our world. My belief system stands firmly planted to the principles of social justice, civil rights and equality. So, why did I just recently learn about Emmett Till? I’m curious. Have you heard of him?
I am currently living in 1963. While working on my new manuscript, I am researching various aspects of life in the 1960’s. Presently titled Olvie and Chicken Coop, teenager Grace Cooper tries to befriend a “Negro” boy who’s visiting from Alabama, but can’t understand why he is so stand-offish. (Not the whole premise of the novel but I’ll tell you more about that another time.) But my particular story line was set when research introduced me to Emmett Till. (I must have missed Bob Dylan’s 1962 song, The Death of Emmett Till)
I know about the Woolworth sit-in, Rosa Parks and the bus, the Freedom Fighters, etc. I didn’t realize, but now know, that many African American’s moved from the south to Chicago to distance themselves from the John Crow laws — Chicago where they could walk with their heads held high.
I was shocked to learn that this fourteen-year-old boy, who travelled from Chicago to Mississippi in 1955 to visit relatives, never made it back home and the mortifying reasons why.
This boisterous, self-assured young man, didn’t know the “rules” of the south at the time. In some disputed way, either by words or by wolf-whistling at a married white woman, Emmett Till was hunted down by the man’s wife and his half-brother for flirting with a white woman. After being terribly brutalized, Emmett’s body was discovered in the river. The murders were acquitted and set free.
God Bless You, Emmett Till, a kid with only candy in his pockets.
And, ironically, just over a month ago, Emmett Till’s accuser admits she lied. Time to clear her conscience?
For more about Emmett read here.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 
Pingback: Knowledge is Power! – Ancient Beauty
So much tragedy, Carolyn. A young life brutally cut short by an innocent gesture. A long life lived with regret. xoM
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had you heard of him, Margarita?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I had. My husband is a passionate civil rights advocate and a veritable walking encyclopedia on the subject. 😉 xoM
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you brought this to my attention. I’m glad you liked on my site so I found you! I posted the story on FB.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have known about Emmett Till most of my life. Maybe because I am also an African American child of the 60’s. Maybe because every time the world revisits racial strife and injustice, his tragic story rises to the top. I believe his legacy to us is to remind us to be slow to harm innocents and quick to destroy everything in us that looks like hate.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Emmett certainly showed up in my life now. I hope my novel does him proud. Thanks so much for your post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of us are taught a “white-washed” version of history. You would think that nothing happened between the Civil War and WWII, and nothing again until Vietnam, from most of our curricula in this country. I was a young adult when I learned about Emmett Till, and it still upsets me every time I think about the case.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for the comment Sharon. Yes, and they still want to “white-wash” school teachings!
LikeLike
My son had to read about his story at school. It is a horrible story. Hard to discuss it with your children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, very hard. But I’m really glad your son learned about it. Children need to learn early about social injustices.
Thanks for your response!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is sad. Whats even more pathetic is when people like the very reverend Albert Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson exploit the cause and use it for their financial gain by race baiting. That to me is the ultimate betraying to your own people.
LikeLike
I guess I don’t understand. Which cause are you speaking of?
LikeLike
Maybe progress would be a better word than cause.. It really bothers me when there’s a good amount of progress made in humanity or equality and then a few take advantage of that and continue to make false allegations or exploit the opportunity for their own personal gain like many many do but not the majority.
LikeLiked by 1 person