Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year old from Chicago, when he was lynched, disfigured, and brutally murdered in Mississippi while visiting relatives in 1955. His murderers, who were white, were quickly acquitted. These events drew public outrage and put racism and acts of violence against black people on the world stage when gruesome photos of Emmett’s body were published in Jet Magazine. His mother, Maime, insisted that the visitation for his funeral be held with an open casket. It was held in Chicago at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, and was attended by thousands of visitors and the press.

“Let the people see what they did to my boy.”

Maime and Emmett are both buried in Burr Oaks Cemetery, southwest of Chicago. Their house at 6427 S. Lawrence Street was dedicated as a landmark in 2020, and is now the Emmett Till and Maime Till-Mobley House Museum. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022. His mother, Maime Till-Mobley, had an honorary sign dedicated in Chicago in 2023.

Alum
James McCosh Elementary School

Honorary Emmett Till WAY

Approved: 2013 * (most recent)

Neighborhood: Avalon Park

b. July 25, 1941 in Chicago
d. August 28, 1955. Age 14. in Mississippi

Source

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/Emmett_Till_and_Mamie_Till-Mobley_House_report.pdf

https://www.luc.edu/features/stories/academics/thestoryofemmetttill/#:~:text=When%20Mamie%20Till%20Bradley%20saw,%2C'%20she%20famously%20said.%E2%80%9D

https://www.blacksingreen.org/till-house-museum

https://abcnews.go.com/US/emmett-till-mamie-till-mobley-awarded-congressional-gold/story?id=95711344

“Till” Movie Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7INlp2fkZto