By Aneesa Grant, The Seattle Medium
On what would have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday, President Joe Biden took a momentous step by utilizing his executive authority to designate the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, paying tribute to the lives and legacy of these key figures in the American civil rights movement. The monument encompasses three pivotal sites across Illinois and Mississippi, where significant events unfolded, shedding light on the racial injustices that plagued the nation during the Jim Crow era.
The creation of the national monument comes as a result of the tireless efforts of a consortium of local and national partners, united in their mission to preserve and document the sites connected to the Till family legacy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund played a crucial role, providing essential technical preservation support and $750,000 in critical grant funding to ensure the conservation of sites linked to the Till legacy.
The monument includes Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Chicago, Illinois, where the heart-wrenching open casket funeral for 14-year-old Emmett Till took place. The casket viewing was a pivotal moment that brought national attention to the brutal racial violence endured by Black Americans in the South.
Additionally, the monument covers the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, where the trial and shocking acquittal of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, the murderers of Emmett Till, took place. The lack of justice served in this case became a poignant symbol of the injustices faced by African Americans during that period.
Graball Landing, situated on the banks of the Tallahatchie River, is also part of the monument. This is believed to be the location where Emmett Till’s lifeless body was discovered after his tragic and racially motivated murder in 1955.
At the Presidential signing ceremony, Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr., cousin and last-living witness of Emmett Till’s kidnapping, expressed his gratitude for the monument’s designation.
“This national monument makes certain that Emmett Till’s life and legacy, along with his mother Mamie Till-Mobley’s social action and impact, will live on and be used to inspire others to create a more just and equitable society,” said Rev. Parker, emphasizing the significance of preserving this history for future generations.
Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation, stated, “Emmett Till’s and Mamie Till Mobley’s stories remain central to our effort to make a more racially just United States. We at Mellon are steadfast in our support of this national monument and the opportunities it provides for reparative learning, public engagement, and the crucial collective work we must undertake to end race-based hatred and violence in our country.”
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who has actively championed the designation, praised President Biden’s decision to create the monument. She stated that the preservation of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley’s stories is essential for pursuing a more perfect union and for acknowledging the strength and bravery of those who fought for civil rights.
“In my visits to the sites that help tell the story of Emmett and Mamie’s lives, I was deeply moved by the family and community members who loved them,” said Secretary Haaland. “President Biden’s establishment of this national monument is a testament to the enduring effort to pursue a more just and equitable society. We are honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of preserving their stories.”
Patrick Weems, executive director of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, also expressed his gratitude and the importance of the monument.
“After 15 years of hard work, we have finally achieved a designation that we believe is pivotal to our nation’s story,” said Weems. “The lynching of Emmett Till and the courage of Mamie Till Mobley served as a springboard to the modern Civil Rights Movement, and preserving this history in perpetuity will serve as a continual act of restorative justice.”
