Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Emmett Till
You have just seen the photos of Emmett Till in the paper. What is your reaction to these photos and this crime especially given the fact that you are interested in social justice and you feel an urge to do something about this? What direction do you think this relatively small civil rights movement should take from this important and horrible place?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What happen was cruel and wrong. This was America’s true color coming out during this trial. There was clear evidence that these men were guilty but because of their skin color they were above the law. Unfortunately, this is why these incidents keep occurring, because there are no consequences for the murders and beatings of colored people.
ReplyDeleteIt is not the white mans fault for all of this. The reason why because of all this happenin was the government. The government is behind of it all. No laws are being inforced to be followed. Even do we are a different color we are still people. That young boy had no reason why his life was taken away. Those two men should get lynched for the crim they have done.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, as Francisco said, there are no laws to govern these types of horrific actions by the white man. However, execution of these criminals would not do the Till family justice; killing the killer won't bring Emmett back to life. I believe the best thing to do is to create new laws that protect the blacks, rather than hinder them. The white man has been given too much control and freedom when it comes to race, and that is why these people can get away with the lynchings, kidnappings, and outright slaughter of innocent blacks.
ReplyDeleteIf people were not so afraid to speak up about injustice and racism then this crime would not have been committed. People must stand up to others around them and to their government to force this issue to an end. The fact that white people feel that it is okay to kill those who are not the same is absurd, and awful; this needs to change.
ReplyDeleteEmmett Till went throught a lot of horrible things and what happened was extremly wrong. These two men got away with this only because of the color of their skin. The laws have to change because it just isn't fair. White people shold not be able to just go around and harm everyone they want to ang get away with it only because the color of their skin. The best thing they can do is create new laws to make everyones punishment equal.
ReplyDeleteTo say the very least, the pictures of Emmett Till were horrific, and just because these white men committed the crime they are going to walk free. I couldn't possibly imagine the strggle Emmett's family is going through knowing their boy was murdered and tortured and the men responsible are out living their lives as if nothing happened. As a memeber of the United States I am ashamed to say i am aprt of this counrty when you see what our people and our country is like. We need to put an end to racism and segregation for the sake of the country. The government needs to step in and make new laws and consequences because this lynching and killing is getting out of hand. Civil rights for all people needs to happen, and the sooner the better!!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that two white men can walk away from a crime that they obviously committed shows that America is a racist country . Action needs to be taken so that crimes like this will be dealt with fairly. And i agree with Francisco if the men were punished for what they did, an example could be made of them. Too bad double jeopardy prevents the men from getting tried for Emmit Till's murder again.
ReplyDeleteafter witnessing these horrific photos of Emmett Till i strongly believe that the Government and economy stands carelessly towards the rest of the commnity aside from the white race. A young boy was brutally beaten and murdered for no apparent reason. As hid mother openly shares her story i hope it will help move the people to help the African American race to gain civil rights. America is any place but heroic at this point, the white race overpowers the law and allows forgiveness to the white race even when they commit acts of evil. America should be anything but proud of what we have become.
ReplyDeleteEmmett should not have gone throuhg what he did, the police were wrong in their actions and the judge and jury also. People who actually did soemthing wrong did got off of punishment just because they were white. People have to understand that these laws are wrong and something needs to be done about it and fast. The only thing that can come from waiting is more tragedy and we need to act now.
ReplyDeleteThis is not fair that the men got off. They were clearly guilty. Segragation is wrong specially when murder is involved. Emmit Till did not do anything remotely deserving of being murdered. Emmits mother was very smart to have this open caskit funeral to try and get word out about this unjuctice . He attempt however failed in the sense that the men who murdered the boy were not charged.
ReplyDeletep.s this is Leila i couldn't get it to post under my name.
The pain and suffering that Emmett Till had to endure was truly awful, and future events of this nature cannot be allowed to happen. The government needs to take an active role to help African Americans gain equal rights politically, socially and economically. The black race has suffered long enough and it is time for something to be done
ReplyDeleteAlthough the government not making laws to control these horrific things contirbutes to the tragedy of Emmett Till, no law can control what these white men did. Just because they have different skin color, they think that blacks are not equal to them and do whatever they want to destroy them. Now that the whole worls has witnessed such a devestating event, maybe people will finally gain the courage to act out against racism and prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.
ReplyDeleteWhite men can get away with everything including murder just becuse of the color of their skin. I wish for once in a southern courtroom during the civil rights movement the jury was required to wear blindfolds and skin colors were never mentioned. I wonder how that would effect the outcome. Somehow I am lead to belive that the murders of Till would be found guilty on all levels and on all charges. These men of color have to keep pushing to get their rights and to gain the respect of whites. The North has made huge strides but there is far to go in the South. Justice needs to be brought to the courtrooms, the streets, restaurents and the buses. However, it has to start with the law.
ReplyDeleteLike Mikayla responded, Emmett Till's case was not decided on whether the facts were there to prove something or if the lawyers had a say to change the judges mind. The judgement was decided on color rather than the law. What happened to Till shows how the law has to be regulated to defend any race equally. We can do this by forming a group to protest and show that equality is the only was to decipher what's right and what's wrong
ReplyDeleteToday, I am writing not only as an average white male citizen, I am writing as an angered human being. Last week, I was informed that my son Olivia Donnelly lost one of his best friends named Emmett Till. I also was informed of the decision made by the jury, to let Emmett’s murderers off the hook, even though all the evidence led back to these guilty men. Although I am not positive, due to the fact that I am not in the jury’s heads, I strongly believe these white southerners escaped a jail sentence just because their skin was white and because Emmet was an African American child. This event teaches us all that everyone, including white people, must act to create equality in our country, no matter what skin color you have.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked at the horrific photos of Emmett Till on the newspaper. Does not matter if one is black or white, a crime like that should never happen, and the killer should definitely should not be able to walk free. Giving a death sentence to the victim now wont help, but it is the time the government has to pass new laws on homicide. It is very ironic how the U.S. can fight WWII against fascism while the U.S. domestically treats black people like under class citizens. The U.S. should pass fair laws to all people because your skin color does not make you better then someone else.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Rissa: Good job! Somebody finally answered the question. The blindfold idea is a good one, but for some reason I think that people would still find a way to get around that fact. Racism can be based on anything one wants; if it's not skin color, it would be some other artificial difference. That's an unfortunate fact of human existence, but one that we constantly need to be vigilant against.
ReplyDeleteIn responce to Rodrigo, it should not matter if one is black, white or even purple, but it does. That is the problem we are facing. I completly agree that the United States just fought a fascist government and are still treating negro citezens just the same, however (being the devils advocate) could that give the United States some perspective into the culture that we fought just years ago. Although I totally disagree with how I and all the other Black citezens are treated, there is no use to get mad at the past. At this point we can only change the future.
ReplyDeleteI think the Emmit Till trial was wrong becasue they proved the man innocent beacasue he was white. It doesnt matter though becasue either way he commited a crime and your skin color does not make a difference weather it is the right or worng thing to do.I think the civil rights movement should use this as a motivation to set their people free becasue when you strive for something you usually get it in the end.
ReplyDeleteThis is morally wrong, we are all human beings and it does'nt matter what color skin you have. It is pitiful that the United States government has done nothing to help the black people, "And as yetthe recent lynchings of Rev. [George] Lee and LaMarr Smith in Mississippi have gone unchallenged by our government"(40). Its the duty of the government to protect its citizens and now the black community has to now fight for something they should already have.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tim. People need to stop being afraid of being diffrent and standing up for what we know is right. Everyone knows and can see that the death of Emmett Till was a murder by these men. When will people realize that no matter how diffrent people look we are all the same and equal and deserve equal oppurtunities in life. I agree with Tim, we need a change in this country and we need it now.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Rodrigo: regardless of the intellect people have, to tell whether or not something is wrong, the event will still, more than likely, take place. It is human nature to need to place oneself above others, and by using something unchangable, such as race, they have a permanant upper hand that cannot be altered.It is definitely hipocritical of the United States, but how is that to be changed after so many years of the country being set in its ways?
ReplyDelete