Skip to main content

The blood of Emmett Till

Emmett Till was a 14-year-old African American boy who was murdered in Money, Mississippi in the late hours of August 28, 1955.  When his body was found floating in a river two weeks later, he was terribly disfigured. His mother was understandably outraged and chose to have an open casket funeral.  Photos of Emmett in his coffin were published.  The public was outraged and it is said this event started the modern civil rights movement.

This is the barn he was murdered in.  What gives me a connection with this story, other than my own outrage, is that I was born at the exact moment Emmett Till was killed. I plan to give a giclee print to the Civil Right Museum in Memphis, TN where I am from.

Oil on canvas 16x20"

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

 Black Rock Ark ricefields #3 - Oil on canvas 24x36

Fisher Woman

This is my maternal grandmother, Eva Gertrude "Wowo" Thompson. Yes, we call our grandmother Wowo! Blame my brother. The photo I painted this from was probably when she was in her mid 80's. She's 97 now and as feisty as can be. She has the best mind. Almost a photographic memory. This is the perfect pose for her, She liked(s) nothing more than to be fishing. She cant get around so well, so she hasn't been in a while. I need to take her.