Summersode 8: A Tragic Murder in Mississippi
In the early morning hours of August 28, 1955, two white men entered the home of Mose Wright armed with a flashlight and a pistol. The men, Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam, came for Wright’s 14-year-old nephew, Emmett Till. With his uncle and aunt pleading the men to stop, they abducted Till into the night. It would be the last time Till’s family would see him alive.
On this summersode, Zelda and Denise discuss the events that led up to the horrific lynching of Chicago-native Emmitt Till as well as what happened next. Then we go further by discussing his family tree, an interesting history of struggle, success, and heartbreak.
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Summersode 8: A Tragic Murder in Mississippi
Emmett and Mamie Till in happier times, ca 1942
Source: The Pittsburgh Courier, 17 Sep 1955
The home of Mamie and Emmett before the tragic events of August 28, 1955.
The Bryant Store where the events with Mrs. Bryant took place and ultimately led to Emmett’s awful murder.
John W. Milam and Roy Bryant, the men who lynched Emmett on August 28, 1955.
Source: The State, 24 Sep 1955
This picture is difficult to look at but shows Mrs. Mamie Bradley with her future husband, Gene Mobley, looking on the body of her son Emmett Till.
Perspectives on the events in newspapers. Tom Ethridge was a columnist from 1951-1974 pushing his racism every chance he got. His father, George Hamilton Ethridge, was a former justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court. After Brown v. Board of Education, his articles got more and more riddled with his racist takes. He won many awards from groups like the Daughters of the American Revolution and American Legion, plus praise from the (white) Citizen’s Council. His column was very popular until his death in 1974.
Source: The Clarion-Ledger, 4 Sep 1955
The other perspective on how the case was covered comes from this touching and moving page found in a Black Newspaper. Click on the picture to see it all.
Source: The Pittsburgh Courier, 17 Sep 1955
Mose “Preacher” Wright was married to Elizabeth Smith, sister of Alma Smith Spearman. Alma was the mother of Mamie Bradley and grandmother of Emmett. Emmett was kidnapped from the Wright home.
Source: Find a Grave
Emmett’s cousin, Simeon Wright, with his father Mose Wright.
Source: Find a Grave
Powerful image of Mamie Bradley at the funeral of her son.
Thousands showed up for the funeral of Emmett Till in Chicago, Illinois.
Source: Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep 1955
Source: Newsday (Suffolk Edition), 22 Sep 1955
At the news that Till’s killers were acquitted, rallies broke out in some cities, like this one in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
Source: The New York Age, 1 Oct 1955
Emmett’s father, Louis Till (1922-1945)
Likely one of the last photographs existing of Louis Till during his time with the U.S. Army and before his execution.
Maternal grandfather of Emmett Till, John Wiley Nash Carthan (1902-1969)
Alma Smith Carthan Gaines Spearman (1902-1981), maternal grandmother of Emmett Till.
Pomp Till was Emmett Till’s paternal grandfather. They would never meet as Pomp died in 1927.
This pension record let me know that Emmett’s 2nd great-granduncle, Thomas Taliaferro served in the 50th United States Colored Infantry Regiment.
While unable to find a photo of Thomas Taliaferro, here is a photo of the 4th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment, ca 1864
Source: Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Peachy Taliaferro was likely the enslaver of Hilliard and Bettie Taliaferro, based on his will. And given that Hilliard and Bettie were listed as “mulatto”, it is possible that one of Peachy’s relatives (or even himself) was a direct relation. However, this would need to be determined by DNA.
Source: Find a Grave
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.