Trayvon. Mike. Tamir.
If someone wants to truly understand our reactions to those names, they must first understand our reaction to this one: Emmett.
In 1955, 14 year-old Emmett Till was beaten, shot, mutilated and dumped in a river for simply whistling at a white woman. During that time, the mere thought of interracial relations was enough to send average citizens into a murderous rage and destroy the life of a child. Worse, we knew it was based on a lie.
And now, we have confirmation.
Then 21, Carolyn Bryant was the white woman who now admits that Emmett did NOT try to hit on her. “That part’s not true,” she’s quoted in author Timothy Tyson’s new book “The Blood of Emmett Till” when referring to what happened on that fateful day. Now in her 80’s, Bryant’s whereabouts have not been revealed and are only known to her family.
“Nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him,” she reportedly told Tyson.
So if anyone needs to understand why we aren’t immediately convinced that Trayvon was the aggressor, or that Mike rushed the cops, or that Tamir was a real danger… now you know.
TELL US: What do you think about Bryant’s admission?
