I love history books, so I enjoyed this story. I am just like the author in that I have never heard about Emmett Till until I started graduate school. After reading this story and seeing what the author said about the civil rights movement, Emmett Till’s story should have been a major part in the civil rights movement because it dealt with treatment and consequences. “Many historians-and most history textbooks- cite Park’s act of civil disobedience as the beginning of the great civil rights movement, but it was the senseless murder of Emmett Till that galvanized Blacks all over the United States and set the stage for the civil rights movement to begin” (p. 26). It was good that the author told us the story of Emmett Till before and after he was murdered. I think the story was easier to understand after knowing what exactly happened. It was neat when the author gave us a history lesson inside a history lesson- told us what was popular back in the 50s and what places such as Mississippi and Chicago looked like at the time Emmett was alive. What helped in visualizing what America was like back then was all the authentic pictures. I thought it was great how the author incorporated real pictures of Emmett and other people involved. I got a better picture and was able to understand the situation more. The case of Emmett Till reminds me of Tom Robinson’s case in To Kill A Mockingbird. It was very much the same situation- behavior towards Tom and deciding he was guilty even though the evidence was clear that Tom was innocent.
The book gave such a great history of the civil rights movement in addition to Emmett Till’s story. All the information given in the book allows kids to understand how America was back during Emmett’s time. The author mentions in the book that the behavior towards African Americans has been going on since before the signing of the Declaration of Independence (p. 25). There were other killings of African Americans by whites going on even during broad daylight with witnesses, but no convictions were ever made. I found some quotes from the book that help to explain that time in America’s history:
“In a spectacularly intense moment, Mose Wright stood at the witness stand, pointed at Milam and Bryant, and stated that they were the ones who had come into his home to kidnap Emmett. Wright’s act of courage marked one of the first times an African American accused a white of a crime in a Mississippi court of law. Fearing for his life, he had to leave the state immediately after the trial.
Despite the many testimonies, the clear evidence (including Milam and Bryant’s confession to kidnapping), and Chatham’s eloquent closing-argument, after deliberating for barely an hour, the all-white jury declared the defendants not guilty” (p. 22-23).
“The Emmett Till trial is over, but we, as Negroes, should never forget its meaning. The fact that Milam and Bryant were acquitted shows us how tremendous a job we face to bring complete democracy to our entire nation. Negroes and other clear-thinking Americans must combine their efforts to press for freedom and equality through both political and legal challenges” (p. 23).
Getting Away with Murder would be a great book to use in a unit or lesson about civil rights. Students will be able to see how far we have come in our society. Overall, this is a great history book!
“To understand and appreciate the modern history of the fight for equal rights for African Americans, American teenagers of all races should know the story of Emmett Till and its impact on American Society. This book will, I hope, keep alive the memory of the Emmett Till case and provide a broader understanding if the beginning of the civil rights movement” (p. 13).
The book gave such a great history of the civil rights movement in addition to Emmett Till’s story. All the information given in the book allows kids to understand how America was back during Emmett’s time. The author mentions in the book that the behavior towards African Americans has been going on since before the signing of the Declaration of Independence (p. 25). There were other killings of African Americans by whites going on even during broad daylight with witnesses, but no convictions were ever made. I found some quotes from the book that help to explain that time in America’s history:
“In a spectacularly intense moment, Mose Wright stood at the witness stand, pointed at Milam and Bryant, and stated that they were the ones who had come into his home to kidnap Emmett. Wright’s act of courage marked one of the first times an African American accused a white of a crime in a Mississippi court of law. Fearing for his life, he had to leave the state immediately after the trial.
Despite the many testimonies, the clear evidence (including Milam and Bryant’s confession to kidnapping), and Chatham’s eloquent closing-argument, after deliberating for barely an hour, the all-white jury declared the defendants not guilty” (p. 22-23).
“The Emmett Till trial is over, but we, as Negroes, should never forget its meaning. The fact that Milam and Bryant were acquitted shows us how tremendous a job we face to bring complete democracy to our entire nation. Negroes and other clear-thinking Americans must combine their efforts to press for freedom and equality through both political and legal challenges” (p. 23).
Getting Away with Murder would be a great book to use in a unit or lesson about civil rights. Students will be able to see how far we have come in our society. Overall, this is a great history book!
“To understand and appreciate the modern history of the fight for equal rights for African Americans, American teenagers of all races should know the story of Emmett Till and its impact on American Society. This book will, I hope, keep alive the memory of the Emmett Till case and provide a broader understanding if the beginning of the civil rights movement” (p. 13).
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