Emmett Till
EXTRA CREDIT
Emmett Louis Till was born on July 25, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. Till was the only child of Louis and Mamie Till. Emmett Till never knew his father, a private in the United States Army. His parents separated in 1942, and three years later Mammie received word from the Army that the solider had been executed for “willful misconduct” while serving in Italy. Emmett Till, who went by the nickname Bobo, grew up in a middle-class black neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, where he attended McCosh Grammar School an all-black school. Those who knew Till best described him as a responsible, funny, and involved high-spirited child. Emit Till had been infected with “Poliomyelitis” at the age of 5. (Poliomyelitis or Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems, or even death.) Yet he managed to make a full recovery. Emmett Till mother worked 12-hour days while Till took on the responsibility of house duties. Mamie stated, “I mean everything was on his 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 cooked quite a bit. And he even took over the laundry.” In August 1955, Till uncle, Moses Wright, came up from Mississippi to visit his family in Chicago. Once Wright stay was over he planned to take Emmett and his cousin back to Mississippi. Emmett Till was 14 years old, after hearing these plans Till begged his mother to go along. Originally, Mamie wanted Till to go with her to Omaha, Nebraska but Till desperately wanted to go down south to spend time with family. Till’s mother gave in and let him go.
On August 19, 1955 the day before Till had left, Mamie had gave Till his dads signet ring, engraved with the initials “L.T”. The next day she drove her son to 63rd street train station where she kissed her son goodbye. That was the last day they seen each other. Antonette states “ my opinion is that no one really
Emmett Louis Till was born on July 25, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. Till was the only child of Louis and Mamie Till. Emmett Till never knew his father, a private in the United States Army. His parents separated in 1942, and three years later Mammie received word from the Army that the solider had been executed for “willful misconduct” while serving in Italy. Emmett Till, who went by the nickname Bobo, grew up in a middle-class black neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, where he attended McCosh Grammar School an all-black school. Those who knew Till best described him as a responsible, funny, and involved high-spirited child. Emit Till had been infected with “Poliomyelitis” at the age of 5. (Poliomyelitis or Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to paralysis, breathing problems, or even death.) Yet he managed to make a full recovery. Emmett Till mother worked 12-hour days while Till took on the responsibility of house duties. Mamie stated, “I mean everything was on his 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 cooked quite a bit. And he even took over the laundry.” In August 1955, Till uncle, Moses Wright, came up from Mississippi to visit his family in Chicago. Once Wright stay was over he planned to take Emmett and his cousin back to Mississippi. Emmett Till was 14 years old, after hearing these plans Till begged his mother to go along. Originally, Mamie wanted Till to go with her to Omaha, Nebraska but Till desperately wanted to go down south to spend time with family. Till’s mother gave in and let him go.
On August 19, 1955 the day before Till had left, Mamie had gave Till his dads signet ring, engraved with the initials “L.T”. The next day she drove her son to 63rd street train station where she kissed her son goodbye. That was the last day they seen each other. Antonette states “ my opinion is that no one really