Emmett Till by Kolten West

Early life

westk38470 — 2024-02-06 14:08:10 UTC

Emmett Till grew up in a middle-class, predominantly Black neighborhood in Chicago, raised by his mother, Mamie Till- Mobley. In the summer of 1955, his great- uncle Moses Wright traveled up from Mississippi to Chicago to visit Emmett and his mother. When Wright returned to the South, Emmett begged his mother to let him tag along to visit the rest of the family.

Emmett Till

westk38470 — 2024-02-06 14:11:00 UTC

Emmett Louis Till (1941-1955) was a fourteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955. A lynching is a mob killing, especially by hanging. White Americans used lynching to terrorize and keep control over Black Americans. Between 1877 and 1950, more than 4,000 Black Americans were lynched by white mobs. However, the murder of Emmett Till stood out in a long history of racist violence.

Challenges & Stuggles

westk38470 — 2024-02-06 14:14:25 UTC

Roy Bryant heard about the incident a few days later and began questioning Black men around town to find out who had done it. He eventually traced it back to Emmett. Bryant and his half- brother, J. W. Milam, broke into Moses Wright’s house in the early morning hours of August 28, 1955, and demanded to know who had “harassed” his wife. They threatened to shoot Emmett, told him to get dressed, and led him outside to their pickup truck. A woman inside the truck confirmed that he was the boy they were looking for.

Why is he Famous?

westk38470 — 2024-02-14 14:38:57 UTC

He is famous because of his death, The murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 brought nationwide attention to the racial violence and injustice prevalent in Mississippi.

Quote of Emmett till

westk38470 — 2024-02-20 14:36:57 UTC

Education

westk38470 — 2024-02-20 14:39:36 UTC

Emmett till went to Mccosh Elementary School

Lessons Learned

westk38470 — 2024-02-20 14:42:17 UTC

Understand the history and continued legacy of racial violence in the United States. Students will explore how activists have used the media to push for racial justice.

Date of Birth

westk38470 — 2024-02-20 14:46:00 UTC

July 25, 1941, Chicago, IL.