Women of the Movement

I was 8 years old when Emmitt Tills body was on display in the church on State Street in the 40th hundred block on State Street. My best friends father was a fire fighter in Chicago with 6 daughters. He put his daughters and myself in his 1954 Chevy and took us to the viewing. We stood in line and waited. I was to short to actually see him, so he lifted me up to get a full view. Ms. Mamie stood at the head of her sons casket and wailed continually wailed "Look what they did to my son." I will go to my grave with that picture imprinted on my brain and in my soul which has directed my life. My husband was a student at the school Emmitt attended. His death left a lasting impression on my generation. She was a inspiration in our community. We shared the same barber she was a force to be inspired by. God rest their souls and we need to to act with the strength she displayed.

The plight of African-Americans was not the same as it is now. Yes, we still have inequities. We currently have the power to speak up. In that era, the lack of empathy, lack of concern & lack of understanding between the races was extremely high to say the least!

With that said, I loved this movie. Realistic acting, quality reenactments (as best as possible) and credibility given to our black history. They did what needed to be done.

First I'll say that this was a fantastic series and an important story that needed to be told. The set pieces were top notch, as with the cinematography, actors/actresses and particularly the wardrobe. I noticed they re-created exactly what Bradley was wearing the day she viewed her son's body.

Now with that, I have one major gripe with this series. Bradley was courageous enough to allow the world to see what those men did. It was shocking to the senses I'm sure. I feel that this series was far too cautious with it. I get trying to toe the line of not being exploitive and gory. But people NEED to see this. And not in two second bursts. Bradley wanted people to see what those men did and glazing over it isn't going to change what happened.

Same goes for the actual assault. They skipped right over it. Why?

Again, good series, but sometimes you gotta just show the whole truth, not just the outcome.

I'm finally glad they made a story about Emmett till unfortunately they should have showed all of what was done to that boy. So people can understand the pain and despair he went through as he was being tortured by these men it should have been more like Passion of the Christ because he was basically crucified and thrown into the river like a dog. This is truly not the end of this story.

A lynching I have known of all my life but this narrative just brings a fresh perspective to a new generation. The horror experienced and the strength an older generation had to endure to just survive.