top of page

A WHITE LIE

nspiredimagesinc4

Updated: 4 days ago

Carolyn Bryant Donham, born on July 24, 1934, in Indianola, Mississippi, is a central figure in one of the most tragic events in American history—the lynching of Emmett Till in 1955. Her actions and subsequent life have ignited an intense debate about race relations, justice, and historical memory in the United States.


In the summer of 1955, a 14-year-old Black boy named Emmett Louis Till was visiting his family in Money, Mississippi. After a routine day of picking cotton, he and his cousins went to a store where Carolyn worked. It was at this moment that Emmett whistled at her after a verbal disagreement had taken place, an act that would lead to devastating consequences.

Roy Bryant, Carolyn's husband, soon learned of this encounter, setting off a chain of events that would forever alter the course of American history.


Mr. Till’s upbringing in a Northern city shielded him from the intense racism prevalent in the South, leaving him somewhat unaware of the social norms governing life in Mississippi. To many in that region, he was just another “nigger boy” who should have known better. This encounter between Emmett Till and liar Carolyn Bryant ignited a violent response from Roy Bryant and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, who set out to hunt for Emmett, known to them as “the little Chicago boy.”

The Murders of Emmett Louis Till. Roy Bryant (L) J. W. Milam (R)
The Murders of Emmett Louis Till. Roy Bryant (L) J. W. Milam (R)

On the night of August 28, 1955, Emmett was taken from his great uncle’s home by the thugs, Bryant and Milam. He was brutally beaten and murdered in a barn, with the assistance of Leroy “Too Tight” Collins, a Black man who helped restrain Emmett and ultimately shot him. Later, Emmett’s 14-year-old body was found in the Tallahatchie River, bound by barbed wire and weighed down with a 70-pound cotton gin fan. The discovery of his body and the subsequent trial drew national attention and outrage, highlighting the severe racial violence and injustice faced by African Americans in the South. These perpetrators “patriots” stole, killed, and brutally destroyed the life of Emmett Till.


Sheriff Clarence Strider of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, showed leniency toward these two murderers, allowing them to remain free after their arrest and failing to take significant measures to ensure their detention. Strider attempted to bury Emmett Till in Mississippi, providing it was a funeral and burial that Emmett’s Mississippi family attended, believing that the presence of his body would reflect poorly on the state. However, just before the burial, Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett’s mother, successfully arranged for her son's “funeral” to be stopped and his body to be transferred back to Chicago.

Mamie Bradley, mother of lynched teenager Emmett Till, cries as she recounts her son's death, in Washington D.C., Oct. 22, 1955.
Mamie Bradley, mother of lynched teenager Emmett Till, cries as she recounts her son's death, in Washington D.C., Oct. 22, 1955.

Gado via Getty Images


Upon arrival, the disfigured body of Emmett Louis Till was sealed in a box that could not be opened, with the funeral director prohibited from revealing its contents. Driven by strength and determination, Mamie Till-Mobley, a strong black mother insisted on opening the box herself. When she finally saw her son, the sight was too gruesome for us to describe in 2025, and one can only imagine the horror she experienced in 1955 to see it.


Ms. Till-Mobley chose to host an open casket funeral in Chicago to expose to the world the brutality inflicted on her son by these two white animals and their wolf. An act that sought to be covered up by a sheriff complicit in white supremacy. She aimed to shed light on the lies perpetuated by a white woman and the community. After the funeral, Mrs. Till-Mobley ensured the church remained open for all to


The Ring that Emmett Louis Till's was wearing that his mother had given him right before life to visit his family in Mississippi.  The same ring that confirmed his identity.
The Ring that Emmett Louis Till's was wearing that his mother had given him right before life to visit his family in Mississippi. The same ring that confirmed his identity.

witness what had been done to Emmett and to raise awareness of the potential fate of other Black children.


Meanwhile, the white supremacy in Mississippi remained entrenched and unchallenged. Although the arrest of the two murderers provided the nation with a glimmer of hope that justice might prevail, the reality was far different. The lack of justice was driven by Sheriff Strider, who was associated with the cult of white supremacy, and by all-white attorneys willing to defend these killers. The sheriff, along with others ensured the selection of an all-white jury. The threats were made to anyone who was willing to testify against these two terrorists.


As news of the trial spread through nationwide press coverage, the situation worsened for Mamie Till-Mobley and her family, as they began receiving death threats if she chose to attend her son’s trial. After the all-white men jury was instructed to take extra time to deliberate to make it look good. After Uncle Mose Wright had done the unthinkable in the history of a court, he stood up in front of a courtroom full of white people and pointed out the white pig Milian who murdered Mr. Emmett, after two key witnesses were not able to testify— The racist jury spent their time enjoying snacks and beers—to only return with a not-guilty verdict. In 1956, the two murderers publicly admitted to their crime in a magazine interview after being paid $4,000 for their story. Due to the "Double Jeopardy Rule," they were protected from facing another trial.


Throughout history, countless cases have resulted in the tragic deaths of Black men, women, and children, despite a constitution amended for equal rights. The promise of pursuing happiness in the land of the free remains unfulfilled. It is within OUR HISTORY that the Black community must hold onto hope for justice, even in the face of white people lies and the pervasive power of white supremacy.


America has not done enough for Black individuals to achieve "Justice for All." History reveals that a white woman's falsehood can lead to the death of a Black person, while settlements often serve to silence and heal wounds superficially. We believe that in the 70 years since Emmett Louis Till's murder, we have seen little progress in justice, respect, or accountability for him as a culture. Many of them feel, that this happening took place in 1955, in 2025 we blacks must get past the history and move on. Yet, this history is faithfully reminded to us daily by the reincarnation of new generations of Roy, JW, Strider, Carolyn, 12 white jurors, and "Too Tight," a white lie still justifies the death of one black.


After the murderers admitted their evilness, a white woman confessed to her lies, yet the system remains unchanged, upholding indecency laws that protect those who fit a certain mold. In 2025, as we remember our endurance, they continue to rally under the banner of "Make America Great Again." But we must ask: For whom?

The Before and The Remains of what was done to Emmett Louis Till, July 25, 1941 - August 28, 1955
The Before and The Remains of what was done to Emmett Louis Till, July 25, 1941 - August 28, 1955

As Sheriff Strider would say, "It doesn't look good for culture or country." Let’s be honest about our history; it’s no shock to hear of the tragedy surrounding Mr. Emmett in a state like Mississippi. We must remember this historical moment!


Although slavery was abolished in the United States with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865, Mississippi did not officially ratify the amendment until February 7, 2013. This late ratification serves as a stark reminder of the state’s troubled past, despite Congress passing the amendment in 1865. All it takes is one white lie!


ON FEBRUARY 2, 2025, WE SPEAK ON THE LIFE OF MR. EMMETT LOUIS TILL


Numerous instances of racial profiling have led to violence against Black individuals based on lies or misconceptions perpetuated by white individuals. Here are a few.

  • The Scottsboro Boys (1931): Nine Black teenagers were falsely accused of raping two white women, leading to wrongful convictions and severe racial tensions.

  • Henry Smith (1893): A Black man was lynched in Texas after a white girl claimed he assaulted her. The accusation was later deemed false.

  • Ahmaud Arbery (2020): Arbery was pursued and killed by three white men who falsely assumed he was committing a crime while jogging in their neighborhood.

  • George Floyd (2020) Floyd was murdered by a police officer during an arrest based on a counterfeit $20 bill, which was later disputed as a false claim.

  • Breonna Taylor (2020): Taylor was shot by police during a botched raid based on incorrect information regarding drug activity at her home.

  • Central Park Five (1989) refers to a group of five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of a rape and assault of a white female jogger in Central Park, New York City. Sentence to 5 - 15 years. The poorly judged 45th and 47th POTUS Donald Trump put out a full-page ad in the newspaper, calling for the death penalty. Exonerated in 2002, by DNA and the rapist's admission. Donald never apologized, retracted his ad and continued to belittle black people in his campaign and position as "president."


14 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Got Damn

Comentarios


85aa534e-8493-4beb-b935-29ce02caa5b0.jpeg
In the face of adversity and challenges, we stand united, declaring our resilience and determination. This campaign embodies our collective strength and unwavering spirit, reminding us that no matter what obstacles are thrown our way, we will continue to rise and thrive. Show your support for the We Ain't Going Anywhere (WAGA) campaign by pre-ordering your exclusive WAGA T-shirt!
The world keeps turning

NSPIRED IMAGES INC

"Inspiring the Aspiring Artists of Tomorrow"

360_F_527164568_TqbSrFfglGsRh6tKdhaadfuo0oKCKBBW.jpg

NEVER MISS AN UPDATE OR DISCOUNT

Join Our Connection

and receive special discounts, advance notice of upcoming projects, and more!

Nspired Images Global

By clicking or navigating the site, you agree to allow our collection of information through cookies.

bottom of page