Anniversary of Till’s lynching coincides with launching of local foundation
For Deborah Watts, a family tragedy is also a horrific part of American history.
The Plymouth resident for almost 20 years is a relative of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American boy who was lynched 50 years ago in Money, Miss.
As Till’s hometown of Chicago honored the 50th anniversary of Till’s brutal murder on Aug. 28, Watts announced the launching of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.
The Wayzata-based foundation aims to educate youth about this painful part of American history, and then empower them to achieve the American dream.
“I want to use Emmett for a second to remember an ugly part of American history and then move on to greatness,” said Watts.
Watts was 2 years old when Till was murdered after he allegedly whistled at a white woman.
The killing not only changed Watts’s family forever, it changed American history.
Many historians credit the lynching and Till’s mother’s decision to have an open casket at Till’s funeral as helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement.
Over the years, Watts said Till’s legacy was with her as she decided to write a book, to become an entrepreneur and to run against Jim Ramstad in the Third Congressional District last year.
“It reminds me how fortunate I was to get an education, how fortunate I was to live beyond 14. It reminds me not to take things for granted,” said Watts.
Although the personal tragedy struck a national chord, Watts said that few family members talked with Emmett’s mother Mamie Till Mobley about the murder.
“They felt it was too painful,” said Watts.
Instead, Watts said that family members relied on media accounts to know how Till Mobley was feeling.
Till Mobley dedicated her life to ensuring Emmett’s legacy be empowering and educating.
Through her work with the Emmett Till Players and the Emmett Till Foundation, people in the Chicago area have been enriched by his legacy.
“The family watched Mamie carry this for 50 years,” said Watts.
With the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, Watts wants to expand the reach.
“There are young people who can’t believe these things really happened,” said Watts.
In determining where to focus the efforts of the Legacy Foundation, Watts said she thought about which things Till didn’t have.
“He didn’t have a chance to go to high school, to buy a house or to have a career,” said Watts.
She said the foundation will support young people in accomplishing major milestones, like buying houses, owning businesses and finding jobs.
In turn, the recipient’s obligation is to pass the legacy of success onto the next generation.
Watts outlined four of the foundation goals. It aims to teach non-violent forms of justice to eliminate the effects of violence and racism. It will use history to create a better future.
Scholarships will be provided to 14-year-olds, which is the age Till was when he was murdered. Finally, it will work towards legacy building.
Watts acknowledges these goals will take time to accomplish, but she said she has the legacy of Till and his murder to inspire her.
“You can’t deny it happened. This is the truth. Then I ask myself, how can we make this better? How can we make America better?”
For more information, call 763-476-8677 or write 1161 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 42, Wayzata, 55391
Who is Emmett Till?
It was August of 1955, when Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American boy from Chicago, visited his uncle in Money, Miss.
Accounts vary, but Till likely sassed or whistled at a white woman at a grocery store.
Days later, two white men took Till from his bed, beat him and shot him in the head.
His body was found three days later by fishermen in the Tallahatchie River.
Till’s mother Mamie Till Mobley insisted that her son’s body be returned to Chicago, where she had an open casket funeral. A photograph of Till’s disfigured face was published in “Jet” magazine. Soon other publications followed.
Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were charged with Till’s murder and were quickly acquitted.
The murder and the trial captured the country’s attention. Some historians credit Till’s lynching for helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement.
Shortly after the trial, Bryant and Milam sold their story to “Look” magazine for $4,000, admitting they murdered Till.
The Justice Department recently reopened the Till case. Because an autopsy had never been completed on Till’s body, it was exhumed.
Till’s family had conflicted feelings about the exhumation, according to Watts, who was in Chicago when it occurred.
“As a family, we know there are many others that were involved,” said Watts, adding that she would like to see them on trial.
“If this murder case isn’t solved, something is not right in the country,” said Watts.
