Emmett Till
Lynching victim highlighting racial injustice
Born
July 25th, 1941
84 years ago
Died
August 28th, 1955
70 years ago — 14 years old
Category
Activists & Humanitarians
Country
United States
Links & References
In 1955, a 14-year-old African American boy was kidnapped and murdered in Mississippi, sparking national outrage and highlighting racial violence in the United States. The circumstances surrounding the abduction involved accusations of inappropriate behavior toward a white woman. After the body was discovered, the victim's mother insisted on an open-casket funeral, shocking the public and bringing widespread media attention to the case. The subsequent trial of the accused led to an acquittal, which further inflamed tensions and catalyzed the civil rights movement.
Murder in 1955 that sparked national outrage
Open-casket funeral bringing attention to racial violence
Acquittal of the accused highlighted systemic racism
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