JACKSON — Yesterday (Thursday, Aug. 28), the Emmett Till Interpretive Center commenced three days of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Emmett Louis Till’s kidnapping and murder with a dramatic performance from MADDRAMA, the Jackson State University performance troupe, entitled “Take Me Back: A Journey of Unsettling Memories.”
The three-day event, themed "Remembering Emmett," continues today on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University with a series of panel discussions featuring civil rights veterans, community leaders, and young adults, followed by a community event in Greenwood, Miss. The commemorative activities will conclude on Saturday, August 30, during a solemn memorial service with a wreath-laying ceremony at Graball Landing, where Till’s body was found in 1955.
“These annual commemorations are a key component of our public education and storytelling efforts that are focused on promoting community healing and supporting people doing the work to create a future where everyone’s humanity and dignity are valued,” said Emmett Till Interpretive Center Executive Director Patrick Weems. “The 70th anniversary activities clearly displayed the passion and promise that will inspire continued work, including our community programming and events rooted in healing and understanding.”
The Emmett Till Interpretive Center has hosted this annual celebration for the past four years, welcoming people from across the globe to keep Till’s story and legacy alive. With these and other events, the Center helps advance work in Mississippi and throughout the country led by courageous Americans using their power to make a positive difference and keep the spirit of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley alive. In addition to the three-day commemoration, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center is presenting the powerful traveling exhibition "Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See," marking only the second time the acclaimed exhibit has been displayed in Mississippi.
“We encourage the community to also visit our exhibit Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See, which preserves the family’s memory and cherishes our history,” said Emmett Till Interpretive Center Chief Program Officer Dr. Daphne Chamberlain. “The exhibit is one of the many ways we preserve Till's story and empower future generations of stewards to make a positive difference.”
The Let the World See exhibit is on display in the James Herbert White Library on the Mississippi Valley State University Campus until Sept. 21. Visitors can visit the exhibit on the following days:
• Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday: By appointment only. Call (662) 254-3500 to schedule a viewing.
• Sunday: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Developed for families and children 10 and up by the Till family in collaboration with the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Let the World See invites visitors to bear witness to the painful history of racial violence while exploring the transformative actions of a grieving mother who refused to let her son's death be in vain
For more information about the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, visit www.emmett-till.org.
