Special to The Sun-Sentinel
On Aug. 28-30, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center (ETIC) will be hosting Remembering Emmett, a series of programs commemorating 70 years since Emmett Till’s murder, as well as Mamie Till-Mobley’s courage in sharing her grief with the world.
The programs will be held in the H.G. Carpenter Building on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena) Aug. 28-29. The concluding event will be held at the seed barn in Drew on Aug. 30.
The three-day event begins Thursday evening, Aug. 28, with an opening reception and theatrical performance of “Take Me Back: Unsettling Memories.”
On Aug. 29, includes multiple panels featuring staff from ETIC, members of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, and a host of others.
The programming will conclude Saturday, Aug. 30, with a memorial service and wreath-laying at the barn.
“The 70th anniversary commemoration is the vision of staff members who were thoughtful in how they wanted to remember the life and legacy of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley,” said Dr. Daphne Chamberlain, ETIC’s chief program officer. “Venita Halbert, Jay Rushing and Benjamin Saulsberry, all alumni of Mississippi Valley State University, envisioned an event that would bring people from the local community, the Delta region and from across Mississippi and the nation to continue amplifying the Till narrative especially at this moment in our history.
“We are grateful to Mississippi Valley State University for their generous partnership in this endeavor, and we look forward to bringing these events to their campus community as well,” Chamberlain continued. “We are extremely honored to have Ms. Cynthia Goodloe Palmer, who has years of experience in coordinating national civil rights commemorative events, as our event coordinator. While we join with other valued partners to bring forth the history and culture of the Mississippi Delta through these programs, we ultimately hope people will join us to remember the history, reflect on the legacy and carry away a sense of hope and inspiration for the future.”
This commemorative event has been the result of months of planning and the collaboration of multiple organizations. Everyone is invited to join in for this important occasion to honor Emmett’s and Mamie’s legacy.
Visit emmett-till.org/70th for the full schedule and registration information.
