Exploring Emmett Till’s Legacy and Art Exhibit in Chicago

The exploration of social justice often involves intriguing questions. Reflecting on Emmett Till’s impact prompts the consideration of various ‘what if’ scenarios. If Emmett Till had survived and not sparked the Civil Rights Movement as a result of his murder in Mississippi at age 14, the trajectory of history might have differed. The brutal murder in 1955, for allegedly whistling at a white woman, involved two white men. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, chose to show his body in an open casket, revealing the harsh realities of racial violence.

Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury, though they admitted to the crime later. A warrant for Carolyn Bryant Donham, involved in the events preceding Till’s murder, remained unenforced. Federal legislation to penalize lynching with up to 30 years in prison came about as late as 2022. These contemplations arise as we remember Emmett Till, who would have celebrated his 85th birthday on July 25.

Raymond Thomas, the creative director of The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, curated the exhibit “From Memory to Movement: Emmett at 85” at Blanc Gallery in Bronzeville. The exhibit is a collective effort by 11 Black Chicago-based contemporary artists to address Emmett Till’s humanity and the era’s social context. Thomas described assembling the exhibit as akin to forming a musical band, with artists’ works interconnecting to create a shared experience. Every artist connected with the legacy in a personal way, furthering their own journeys.

“It was like putting a band together… thinking how artists’ work talks to each other, and how my work aligns with theirs to have this jam session,” Thomas, a multidisciplinary artist, commented.

Notable artists included Paul Branton, Roger Carter, Gerald Griffin, Candace Hunter, Tonika Lewis Johnson, Bryant Lamont, John Caleb Pendleton, Max Sansing, Norman Teague, Bernard Williams, Kevin Williams, and Thomas himself. Candace Hunter focused previously on Trayvon Martin, another Black youth whose story impacted the world. Her surrealist piece “Emmett’s Last Night: Eternal Night” memorializes Till’s final day and his symbolic rebirth in the casket.

“I grew up in the shadow of Emmett Till,” Hunter shared, noting the proximity of his last school to her own upbringing and its lasting impact.

John Caleb Pendleton, hailing from Alabama, incorporated flowers in his work to amplify Black narratives. His abstract wood creation, “Tallahatchie Chiffarobe,” features lotus pods signifying new life and brunia flowers denoting chivalry. Pendleton used the chifforobe, a Southern staple, as a metaphor for secrets and privacy, linking it to Till’s tragic story.

“At the base of it, I wanted it to feel like this chifforobe got busted up and got pulled out of the Tallahatchie River, and inside of the chifforobe is Emmett,” Pendleton remarked, talking about beauty transcending pain.

Thomas’ piece “We Love You Paw Paw” envisions Till in a world where he thrives in Chicago, enjoying family life and celebrating his 85th birthday. Thomas reflects on America’s ongoing struggle to recognize Black humanity. The fight against hate persists, combined with the power of love and radical joy, which Thomas sees as inherent.

“This legacy is for everyone; that’s one thing I wanted to show in this work, to humanize, to show Emmett as a child, as a Black boy, and to show the joy of that too,” Thomas expressed.

If you wish to visit, Blanc Gallery hosts “From Memory To Movement: Emmett at 85,” part of Till Institute’s “Till Life Matters Initiative,” celebrating Emmett Till’s 85th birthday. The exhibit continues until July 25 at 4445 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Learn more at blancchicago.com.