Emmett Till — The Black Boy Stolen By A White Lie
by Brittany Talissa King
On August 24, 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was falsely accused of “flirtatiously whistling” at Carolyn Bryant; a 21-year old white woman in Mississippi. Four days later, his beaten and mutilated body was found floating in the Tallahatchie River. Emmett Till became an iconic symbol for the Civil Rights Movement and contemporary movements like #BlackLivesMatter. This horrific murder still reminds America of its racial violence toward black bodies — and why modern murders like George Floyd reveals the “nation’s heritage.”
Emmett Louis Till, also known as “Bobo,” was born on July 25, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the only child to his mother, Mamie Till. She worked 12-hour shifts as a clerk for the Air Force where she managed “secret and confidential” files. She was known as a strong “extraordinary woman”for all she accomplished.
At home, Emmett was very helpful — solely taking on the domestic housework. His mother recalls,
“Emmett had all the house responsibility. I mean everything was really on hi s shoulders, and Emmett took it upon himself.
He told me if I would work and make the money; he would take care of everything else. He cleaned, and he…
