THE BOY BEHIND THE STORY

The Life of Emmett

This is the story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy born and raised in the Windy City; Chicago, IL.  Emmett was Louis and Mammie’s only child.  In August 1955, Emmett went on a vacation to Mississippi to never return to his home the way he left, alive.  Emmett was visiting his family in Money, MS.  While there, Emmett learned there was a slight difference in the interaction between blacks and whites in Mississippi compared to the ways in Illinois.  While in Money, Emmett was accused of whistling at a white woman by the name of Carolyn Bryant.  The accusations given by Mrs. Bryant sparked a moment in time that will always be a cornerstone in our history.  Behind the commotion came the forceful removal of Emmett from his relatives' home one night in Money, MS by Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam.  Emmett was later found in the Tallahatchie River beaten and shot beyond recognition.

BEFORE THE WOLF WHISTLE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD

The Vis

Emmett Till is remembered as a nice, loving, respectful young boy. His cousin, Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., admired him so much and he remembers the last days of Emmett’s life.

 

Emmett arrived in Money, MS on a Sunday along with his cousin Wheeler and Rev. Wright. Rev. Parker remembers that no one wanted Emmett to travel to Mississippi because it was difficult for a boy of his age and his upbringing to understand the behavior of the white people in Mississippi.  Despite the feelings that Emmett should not travel to Mississippi he was allowed to go.  

 

Growing up I never heard that Emmett picked cotton, but I just assumed since he was visiting Mississippi that would be his job.

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The Store

While in Money, MS Emmett along with his cousins picked cotton all day.  This was the norm for Blacks in Mississippi and this was a way of Emmett learning how things were in the South.  On Wednesday, August 1955 Emmett and his cousin went to the story without a Black male adult.  At the time Rev. Wright was 65 but his son Maurice (16 years of age).

 

Everyone is hanging out at the story playing checkers and having conversations.  Rev. Wheeler walks into the store, and then Emmett walks in with Rev. Wheeler’s uncle Simeon(12 years of age) as he is getting ready to leave.  

 

Select more info to hear what one witness (Rev. Wheeler) remembers about the day of the whistle.  

 

 

The Whistle

 

Emmett purchased some candy and the boys walk out. Nothing out of the norm happened inside the store, but Mrs. Carolyn Bryant walks out after Simeon and Emmett and as she walks out, Emmett whistles.  The boys knew there was a great chance there would be trouble behind this incident even though Emmett did not mean any harm. Emmett pleads with the boys not to tell Rev. Wright and they agree.  A couple of days passed and the boys figured the situation was no longer a concern.   The following Sunday, late in the night, Emmett was kidnapped from the house by Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam.   Emmett’s body was found the following Wednesday.

 

The details of the movie compared to those of Rev. Wheeler are slightly different.  "Till" the movie gives the  story of Emmett flirting with Carolyn Bryant.  However, Rev. Wheeler recalls Emmett whistling at Bryant as she walked out the store after the boys made their purchase.  

 

"Till' the movie betrays Emmett has a black boy that knew he was doing wrong and wanted to see how far he could go with flirting with a white lady.

 

 

 

The Unrecognized

Mamie Till-Mobley received word of Emmett’s death.  She had his body sent to Chicago, his home.  She wanted him to have his final resting place to be his home, not the place that stole his life.  

 

Mrs. Till endured a lot of pain and resentment.  She was given the moment to view Emmett’s body as it was released to the funeral home in Chicago. She was photographed with Gene Mobley, who was at the time her fiancé, viewing Emmett’s disfigured, beaten body. It was at this moment that Mamie decided to have an open-casket funeral service.  She felt that the world needed to see the harsh evil that killed her son in Mississippi.  She needed to use her hardship to help others not endure the senseless mourning she had. 

Many mourned the death of Emmett and this caused an even louder alarm for the NAACP.  George Lee and Lamar Smith were lynched shortly before Till.

 

The re-enactment of Mamie Till making the decision is aligned with the photos that were published those years ago.  However, the picture of the body was closely aligned with the description given my Mrs. Till when she first saw his body. 

Welcome

SEEKING JUSTICE

Mamie Till was interviewed and given support of the NAACP.  Bryant and Milam were charged with kidnapping and murder.  According to "Till", Mamie and other Blacks knew there would be challenges in the courtroom, but felt that with eyewitnesses there would be no way they would not be held accountable for such an egregious crime.  However, in the interview with Rev. Wheeler Blacks were not hopefully especially after hearing Carolyn Bryant testify that Emmett grabbed her arm and harassed her in the store  

The trial lasted four days.  There was testimony given by black-eye witnesses such as Rev. Wright and Willie Lou. Despite the threat that would be on their life, they took the stand to give an account of what they witnessed leading up to the death of Emmett. 

 

Even though there was damaging testimony, and Bryant and Milam admitted to kidnapping, the duo was acquitted of all charges.  What the film did not show is four months after the trial, Bryant and Milam admitted to killing Emmett in an article in Look magazine.

 

 

Years after Emmett’s death, Carolyn Bryant wrote a memoir.  In the memoir, she admits to there being a warrant for her arrest, but she was never charged with the murder of Emmett Till.  In this leaked memoir she gives her account of the “Wolf Whistle” that turned millions of heads. 

There have been reports that Carolyn Bryant lied about what happened that dreadful Wednesday evening in Money, MS.  Before Carolyn Bryant’s death, there were hopes that the FBI would find some evidence against Bryant that would show she lied and this was the ultimate cause of Emmet Till’s death.  Unfortunately, before a more in-depth look could be given into this matter, Bryant died at 88 in 2023.  

 

Despite efforts, justice for Emmett Till has yet to be served.

Analysis

From the beginning of the movie, I felt that I was actually in the car with Mamie Till as they were heading to shop.  The reenactment put the timeline into perspective even though there has been radio broadcast and other movies about his life.

To listen to recordings and then to hear how well the reenactment was allows you to not only hear. but see the pain of those involved in Emmett's life.  Listening to his family beg for him not to be removed from the harm allows empathy to creep in.   You can hear and see the hate of those that harmed him, but you can also see the determination in those that were fighting for justice.

There is information that Hollywood reenacts1 that did not happen. The movie betrays Emmett as this well-spoken young man.  According to Emmett's cousin, Rev. Wheeler, Emmett had a stuttering problem and could not complete a sentence without stuttering.

Growing up there were stories of Till whistling at a white lady while walking down the street.  The movie shows him flirting with Mrs. Bryant while in the store.  However, Rev. Wheeler, Emmett's cousin said in an interview that Emmett whistled after Carolyn Bryant walked out of the store. 

 

Contact

B. Gholar

James P Brawley Dr

Atlanta, GA 30314

 

email: broderick.gholar@students.cau.edu