Emmett+Till

by Nicholas, Donnell, and Paige Grade 6

When we think about the misery, pain and anger in Black history, we think about the story of Emmett Till. The story of Emmett Till to us was the last straw in Black history. It made people want to fight. Not just Black people, but white people as well.

Emmett was just a fourteen year old boy going to visit his cousins in Mississippi. Emmett lived in Chicago, so he didn’t know the ways of the South. He, his cousin and some friends went to a corner store to get some candy. Emmett was telling them that he had a white girlfriend, but they did not believe him. So they dared him to whistle or talk fresh to the white woman that worked in the store. He did. The store owner’s husband and her brother-in-law and other white men kidnapped Emmett from his uncle’s house and murdered him and dumped him in the Tallahatchie River. After they found Emmett, Mamie Till wanted everyone to see the body. He was in Jet Magazine, Black newspapers and Black radio stations so that everyone would know the pain. There was an investigation of the murder of Emmett Till. His uncle had to testify against the two accused men. They were tried by an all white jury. The lawyer of the men said “If you rule against these men your forefathers will turn over in their graves.” So they were found not guilty. Myrlie Evers said the murder of Emmett Till was the starting point of the Civil Rights Movement.

Emmett Till by Moussa, Grade 6 When I think of Emmett Till I can’t cry I can’t think My mind is paused I want to rewind and delete because all I see is that picture click Repeat click Repeat click Repeat There’s nothing but pain in this story I hold the memories It’s like the Giver You like good memories But you need bad

Image source: http://www.nndb.com/people/263/000073044/