The death of Emmett Till in 1955 sent shockwaves across the nation which still reverberate today. On Saturday, October 8, Till, the movie about his tragic murder and legacy, had its West Coast premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The movie tells the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year old son, Emmett Till, who was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
A brave and historic action at the time, JET magazine ran photos of Till's mutilated body in the coffin in the article, “Nation Horrified by Murder of Kidnap Chicago Youth.” Those images cemented this devastating event in American history while bringing light to the plight of Black Americans at the hands of racist bigots. Till-Mobley pushed through her grief, and mobilized an entire generation of disenfranchised Black Americans to seek justice when violently wronged, with an outcome that our community can never forget.
"I want people to recognize that it's not just a movie, it's a movement to reconcile the history of our past."
EBONY correspondent Ida Yohannes hit the red carpet to talk with the film's stars—EBONY Power 100 Entertainment Powerhouse awardee Danielle Deadwyler and EBONY Power 100 Generation Next awardee Jalyn Hall—director Chinonye Chukwu, and the film's producer and co-writer Keith Beauchamp as they celebrated its premiere. Additionally, they shared the importance of uplifting Emmett Till's full story and the power of telling our own history as Black folks in this country.
"I want people to recognize that it's not just a movie, it's a movement. It is a movement to reconcile the history of our past. We are still fighting for justice for Emmett Till. This is only a component, a tool to make sure that happens," said Beauchamp.
