Murder of Emmett Till, 1955

Who was Emmett Till?

A 14 year old black boy from Chicago

What was Emmett doing in the south?

He went to Mississippi in 1955 to visit family.

What was a main cause of Till’s death?

Carolyn Bryant, a white woman, said that Till made sexual advances when he went to the store, but Till’s cousins, who were waiting outside, said he only wolf-whistled at her.

How did Till die?

Bryant’s husband ad his half-brother abducted Till and beat him severely, then they shot him and threw him into the rive with a weight around his neck.

When was Till’s body found?

3 days later

What did Till’s mother do about the murder?

She had an open viewing of the body in Chicago.

What did the murder of Emmett Till lead to?

Extensive media coverage

What did the extensive media coverage of Emmett Till fuel?

Widespread shock and outrage, especially in the North, where many were ignorant of the treatment of black Americans in the south.

How significant was the murder trial?

It was reported nationwide

What did the defendants do about the murder?

They were found not guilty then later sold their story to a magazine, admitting to the murder.

Name a sad fact about Emmett Till:

Emmett Till was his mother’s only son.