Gun Used in 70-Year-Old Murder Case Put on Display in US
Seventy years have passed since the brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Black teenager who was abducted, beaten, and shot after being accused of whistling at a white woman in Mississippi. The case, which sparked widespread outrage and became a symbol of the racial tensions and racial violence of the time, has continued to have a lasting impact on American society. Now, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) has put on display the pistol linked to Till’s murder, a poignant reminder of the horrors of the past and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.
The .45-calibre gun, which belonged to JW Milam, one of the two men acquitted of Till’s murder, is now on display at the MDAH’s museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The exhibit, which includes photographs, documents, and other artifacts related to the case, aims to educate visitors about the significance of Till’s murder and the broader context of racial violence in America during the mid-20th century.
Till’s murder occurred in August 1955, when he was visiting his great-uncle’s home in Money, Mississippi. According to reports, Till, who was from Chicago, had gone to Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market with his cousins to buy candy and gum. There, he allegedly whistled at Carolyn Bryant, the 21-year-old wife of the store’s owner, Roy Bryant. This seemingly innocuous act was enough to spark a vicious reaction from the local white community, who believed that Till had made inappropriate advances towards Bryant.
On August 28, 1955, Roy Bryant and his half-brother, JW Milam, abducted Till from his great-uncle’s home, brutally beat him, and shot him in the head. Till’s body was found three days later in the Tallahatchie River, weighted down with a 75-pound cotton gin fan. The brutality of the murder was so severe that it shocked the nation, and Till’s mother, Mamie Till Bradley, made the decision to hold an open-casket funeral to show the world the extent of her son’s injuries.
The trial of Roy Bryant and JW Milam was highly publicized, with many African Americans from around the country traveling to Mississippi to show their support for the Till family. Despite the overwhelming evidence of their guilt, the two men were acquitted of the crime, sparking widespread outrage and protests across the country. The acquittal was seen as a stark reminder of the racial biases that existed in the American justice system, and it helped to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.
The exhibit at the MDAH museum provides a detailed look at the events surrounding Till’s murder and the trial that followed. Visitors can see the gun used in the murder, as well as other artifacts such as the police report, court transcripts, and photographs of Till’s body. The exhibit also includes personal items belonging to Till, including his glasses, wallet, and a piece of his clothing.
The decision to put the gun on display was made in consultation with the Till family, who have been advocates for racial justice and equality for many years. In a statement, the MDAH said that the exhibit aims to “provide a nuanced understanding of the historical context of Emmett Till’s murder and its ongoing impact on American society.”
The exhibit is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, racial tensions and violence continue to be a major problem in the country. The murder of Emmett Till was a stark reminder of the deep-seated racial biases that existed in America during the mid-20th century, and it continues to serve as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality.
In recent years, there have been efforts to re-examine the case and to bring justice to the Till family. In 2004, the Department of Justice reopened the case, and in 2007, the FBI re-interviewed witnesses and re-examined evidence. Although no new charges were filed, the re-examination of the case helped to shed new light on the events surrounding Till’s murder.
The exhibit at the MDAH museum is a powerful reminder of the importance of learning from the past and of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America. It is a testament to the enduring impact of Emmett Till’s murder and to the ongoing fight for equality and justice that continues to this day.
