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The Emmett Till Generation
Duration
One 50-min class periodSubject
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
9–12Language
English — USPublished
Overview
About This Lesson
In this lesson, students analyze how the murder of Emmett Till galvanized a generation of young activists in the struggle for civil rights. They will read sources written by leaders of the civil rights movement who reflect on the impact that Till’s murder had on them during their adolescence. Students will build on what they learned about Mamie Till-Mobley’s choice to hold an open-casket funeral and allow the publication of her son’s photo in Jet magazine, and deepen their discussion about what made the murder of Emmett Till resonate so powerfully, by reading firsthand accounts by those who experienced this moment in history. In the next and final lesson, students will draw connections between the galvanizing effects of Till’s murder and the murder of George Floyd.
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A Note to Teachers
Before teaching this lesson, please review the following information to help guide your preparation process.
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The Emmett Till Generation
The Anti-lynching Activism of Ida B. Wells
The Legacy of Emmett Till
Special Thanks
The Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley Institute and Facing History & Ourselves would like to offer a special thank you to the partners, collaborators, and student advisors who made critical contributions to this curricular unit. They include colleagues from within the Till Institute as well as the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, the Alluvial Collective and students from across Mississippi.
Kobie Austin
Christopher Benson
Kenyatta Coleman
Kinsey Crowley
Abby Jo Flowers
Vondaris Gordon
Germaine Hampton
Zykira Hooper
Jataylon Johnson
Madison Jones
Qadre Latiker
Ashura Lewis
Elliot Long
Zakarriya Love
Katilyn Mackey
Kaliyah Mayes
Dr. Marvel Parker
Colin Richardson
Matthew Richey
Jay Rushing
Hannah Shapiro
Mike Small
Bethany Stanford
Ian Underwood
Dr. Earl Watkins
Jamari Williams
Adrianequa Wilchie
Myiesha Wright
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