Emmett Till disappeared 50 years ago today; his mutilated body was found three days later. His mother allowed photos to be taken of his open casket, and the horrifying pictures helped galvanize the Civil Rights movement, including the “I Have a Dream” speech eight years, to the day, later.
But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. I want to know why it is that I can see that photo in my mind’s eye when the event took place when I was but two years old when it took place. I’m guessing that on the fifth anniversary in 1960, Ebony and/or Jet magazines reran the photos, I saw them and the image seared in my mind to this day.
When I was in high school, a bunch of us raised money for some poor, rural folks in Tennessee. One day, I was (foolishly) walking alone down some dirt road down there. I see a sign indicating that I was about to enter the state of Mississippi. I crossed into the new state, then my mind screamed, “Emmett Till!” and I literally jumped back into Tennessee.
In January or February of 1986, I saw the Capitol Repertory Theater’s performance of Toni Morrison’s Dreaming Emmett, based on his life and death. I don’t remember if was particularly well-acted or -written. All I remember was that I felt again the pain that was Emmett.
The last time I saw the picture in print was when his mom, Mamie Till-Mobley, died a couple years ago.
This year, the case has been reopened by the FBI, with a exhumation and re-examination of Emmett’s remains, based on advances in DNA testing, followed by a reburial in June. Hope that some day Emmett can rest in peace. And it will give me some measure of peace as well.
Roger, amazing how many times Emmett Till’s memory crossed your path. I, too, would have jumped back a state. I didn’t know the case had been reopened. Wish his mother, who showed much courage in insisting on an open casket, could have lived to see real justice.
I didn’t know “I Have a Dream” was eight years to the day after Emmett’s death. I do know that Dr. King was preaching on text until Mahalia Jackson leaned over and said, “Tell them about your dream, Martin!” You can hear it on the tapes! Then he went off the prepared sermon and his aides said, “Here he goes…” And what a tribute to the human spirit he delivered. May it come to pass in our time. Thank you. Bless you. Amy