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Emmett Till Essay Thesis

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Emmett Till: The Murder That Shaped a Nation Dictionary.com defines racism as being, “The discrimination of a particular race, based on the belief that one’s race is superior.” Nowhere in this definition is brutal murder and malicious beatings mentioned. However, these terrible crimes were committed on an innocent boy by the name of Emmett Till. When news spread of the killing, the greatest civil rights movement in our nation’s history was sparked. Emmett’s death was not by any means deserving or just, but it turned the talk of civil rights, into action. Emmett lived an average teenage life until he was fourteen. Till was born on July 25, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois. Till was described by his friends as, “Funny, responsible, and an infectiously high spirited young man.” (Biography). At fourteen years old, Till begged his mother to travel with his uncle to Mississippi to visit cousins. Since Till grew up in the North, he was not familiar with the segregated ways of the South. Before leaving for Mississippi Till’s mother warned him to,” Take care, …show more content…

Many protests were held in major cities across the nation demonstrating against racism. 100 days after Till’s death Rosa Parks made her stand against the Alabama bus company, stating, ” The news of Emmett Till’s murder echoed in the back of my head.”(Latson). When the murder went to court, an all white jury acquitted both men of any charges. A few weeks later in an interview with a magazine company both men admitted to the murder claiming,” They had nothing else to do, he was hopeless.”(Latson). Under the protection of double jeopardy the men could not be retried. Nine years after Till’s death, the Civil Rights Bill was passed by Congress, which outlawed segregation in any public place. Till’s murder, although a tragedy, proved to be one of the most influential moments in our nation’s

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