Remembering Emmett Till

The Mississippi Delta is filled with memorials to the Civil Rights movement, including those dedicated to the murder of Emmett Till. Dave Tell's book explores how these memorials have transformed the region's physical and cultural landscape, drawing connections between the dawn of the Civil Rights era and our own moment of renewed fire for racial justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 26 April 2019
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Take a drive through the Mississippi Delta today, and you'll encounter a landscape dotted with memorials to significant figures and events from the Civil Rights movement. Perhaps the most haunting are those dedicated to the murder of Emmett Till, a tragedy of hate and injustice that became a beacon in the fight for racial equality. The ways in which this event has been remembered have been fraught from the beginning, revealing currents of controversy, patronage, and racism lurking just beneath the placid facades of historical markers. In Remembering Emmett Till, Dave Tell presents us with five accounts of the commemoration of this infamous crime. In a development no one could have foreseen, Till's murder—one of the darkest moments in the region's history—has become an economic driver for the Delta. Historical tourism has transformed seemingly innocuous places like bridges, boat landings, gas stations, and river beds into sites of racial politics, reminders of the still-unsettled question of how best to remember the victim of this heinous crime. Tell builds an insightful and persuasive case for how these memorials have altered the Delta's physical and cultural landscape, drawing potent connections between the dawn of the Civil Rights era and our own moment of renewed fire for racial justice.

In a drive through the Mississippi Delta today, one cannot help but notice the numerous memorials dedicated to significant figures and events from the Civil Rights movement. Among these, the most chilling are those honoring the murder of Emmett Till, a tragedy of hate and injustice that became a symbol of the fight for racial equality. The remembrance of this event has been fraught with controversy, patronage, and racism, even from the very beginning. The historical markers and placards that dot the landscape serve as a reminder of the still-unsettled question of how best to honor the memory of Till, a victim of this heinous crime.

In his book, Remembering Emmett Till, Dave Tell presents us with five accounts of the commemoration of this infamous crime. What is remarkable is that Till's murder, which was one of the darkest moments in the region's history, has now become an economic driver for the Delta. Historical tourism has transformed seemingly innocuous places like bridges, boat landings, gas stations, and river beds into sites of racial politics, reminders of the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Tell's book is insightful and persuasive, making a strong case for how these memorials have altered the physical and cultural landscape of the Delta. He draws potent connections between the dawn of the Civil Rights era and our own moment of renewed fire for racial justice. The memorials serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for equality and the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable society.

As one drives through the Mississippi Delta, it is impossible not to be struck by the numerous memorials dedicated to the Civil Rights movement. Among these, the most haunting are those honoring the murder of Emmett Till, a tragedy of hate and injustice that became a beacon of hope for racial equality. The remembrance of this event has been fraught with controversy, patronage, and racism, even from the very beginning. The historical markers and placards that dot the landscape serve as a reminder of the still-unsettled question of how best to honor the memory of Till, a victim of this heinous crime.

In his book, Remembering Emmett Till, Dave Tell presents us with five accounts of the commemoration of this infamous crime. What is remarkable is that Till's murder, which was one of the darkest moments in the region's history, has now become an economic driver for the Delta. Historical tourism has transformed seemingly innocuous places like bridges, boat landings, gas stations, and river beds into sites of racial politics, reminders of the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Tell's book is insightful and persuasive, making a strong case for how these memorials have altered the physical and cultural landscape of the Delta. He draws potent connections between the dawn of the Civil Rights era and our own moment of renewed fire for racial justice. The memorials serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for equality and the ongoing struggle for a more just and equitable society.

Weight: 592g
Dimension: 233 x 148 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226559537