Suggestions




Meet Carolyn Bryant Donham, Emmett Till’s Accuser

April 28, 2023
by
Meet Carolyn Bryant Donham Emmett Till's Accuser

Carolyn Bryant Donham died on Tuesday at 88. It was possible for Donham to live a simple, respectful and respectable life in the Mississippi Delta area where she was born. She could have gone about her world with no one ever knowing her name.

Instead, her name will forever be linked to one of the most vile and hateful crimes in American history. In 1955, she told her husband a 14-year-old boy whistled at her. Emmett Till, a Black kid from Chicago visiting his mother’s family for the summer, paid for that with his life.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

The case became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement and a stark reminder of the horrors of racism in the United States.

Emmett Till was visiting family in Money, Mississippi when he was accused of flirting with a white woman named Carolyn Bryant. A few days later, Carolyn’s husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, abducted Emmett from his uncle’s house, beat him, and shot him in the head.

They then tied a cotton gin fan around his neck and threw his body into the Tallahatchie River. Emmett’s mother, Mamie Till, demanded an open casket funeral so that the world could see what had been done to her son. The images of Emmett’s mutilated body were published in Jet magazine and sparked outrage across the country.

The trial of Bryant and Milam became a media sensation, with newspapers and television stations from around the world covering the proceedings. Despite overwhelming evidence of their guilt, Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury. The verdict was widely condemned, and many saw it as a clear example of the racist and unjust nature of the American justice system.

READ ALSO:Harry Belafonte Dies At 96, See Best 6 Songs

The impact of Emmett Till’s murder cannot be overstated. It galvanized the Civil Rights Movement, with activists using the case as a rallying cry for justice and equality.

It also helped to expose the deep-seated racism that existed in many parts of the country and paved the way for future progress.  Today, Emmett Till’s memory is honoured in various ways, including a museum dedicated to his life and legacy in Mississippi.

His story serves as a powerful reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve racial justice and equality in America.  Emmett Till’s murder was a tragic and senseless act of violence that exposed the deep-seated racism and injustice that existed in the United States during the Civil Rights Era.

 

Somto Bisina
+ posts

Somto Bisina

New Music Friday With PBA: Rema, Young John, Zlatan, Others
Previous Story

New Music Friday With PBA: Rema, Young John, Zlatan, Others

Nigerian Newspapers: Top 10 Business Stories Set Off Your Thursday
Next Story

Top 10 Stories From Nigerian Newspapers Today, 28th April 2023

Featured Stories

Latest from World News

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is confirmed dead

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been reported dead following coordinated U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, according to Fox News and Reuters, both citing senior Israeli officials. Israeli sources said Khamenei was killed when his fortified compound was struck during the early phase

Iran Faces Near-Total Internet Blackout Amid U.S.–Israeli Strikes

Iran is experiencing a near-total internet blackout. Independent monitoring groups report that nationwide connectivity has dropped to approximately 4 % of normal levels, leaving most citizens without access to online services or communication channels. While Iranian state media had previously indicated that Supreme
Why Nigerian Airlines Have Been Unable To Compete With Foreign Operators - Keyamo  

US-Iran Strikes Disrupt Nigeria–Middle East Flight Routes

Flights between Nigeria and several Middle East destinations were disrupted on Saturday after multiple countries shut their airspace following United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, airport authorities said. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the closures were already affecting

Reports Emerge of Khamenei Family Casualties Amid U.S.-Israeli Strikes

In the hours following coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting key Iranian installations, reports indicate that the attacks may have killed family members of Ali Khamenei, further intensifying uncertainty over the country’s leadership. A member of a Tehran council told journalists that
New Music Friday With PBA: Rema, Young John, Zlatan, Others
Previous Story

New Music Friday With PBA: Rema, Young John, Zlatan, Others

Nigerian Newspapers: Top 10 Business Stories Set Off Your Thursday
Next Story

Top 10 Stories From Nigerian Newspapers Today, 28th April 2023

Don't Miss

Lee Jae-myung Projected To Win South Korea’s Presidential Election, Exit Poll Shows

Lee Jae-myung Projected To Win South Korea’s Presidential Election, Exit Poll Shows

Lee Jae-myung, 59, of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea
Editorial: Buhari’s Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund

Nigerian Government Says It Hasn’t Increased Fuel Price, Blames Oil Marketers For Hike

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has