aug 28, 1955 - Emmett Till
Description:
An African American child gets lynched by a white mob for allegedly whistling at a white woman.Till's body was returned to Chicago where his mother insisted on a public funeral service with an open casket.
In a trial, two defendants were acquitted of charges (by a jury of 12 white men).
These events became a catalyst for the civil rights movement, which was also supported by protest singers such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, who both wrote songs dedicated to the cruel fate of Emmet Till. (Note that the 1968 Beatles song "Blackbird" is said to metaphorically address the contemporary Black experience as well, following the band's refusal to play to segregated audiences during their US tour in 1964.)
Added to timeline:
Date:
aug 28, 1955
Now
~ 69 years ago