The Era of Civil Rights in America

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Randi Goney
The Power of One - Emmett Till
The era of Civil Rights was all about eliminating discrimination from African Americans and gaining respect for them. In 1896, the Plessy vs. Ferguson case made African Americans equal to everyone, but they were separated in everything they did. In the North, discrimination was not as big of an issue, but it was still occurring. While in the South, African Americans were treated very poorly, and the lynching of blacks occurred almost every day. The death of fourteen year old Emmett Till sparked an enormous Civil Rights Movement throughout the whole country.
Emmett Till was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 25, 1941. He lived in the North his whole life with his mother, Mamie Till. When Emmett was four years old, his father died fighting in World War II. Mamie then raised Emmett as a single mother in a middle class, black neighborhood. With only one parent in the house, Mamie worked long days to earn money for herself and Emmett. Emmett then picked up the responsibilities at home, which included him cleaning and cooking every day. In 1955, Mamie’s uncle, who lived in Mississippi, came to visit his many relatives in Chicago. While he was visiting, Emmett learned of his cousins down south and wanted to go back with his great uncle to visit them. Mamie was completely against the idea, but later gave in and allowed Emmett to go. Her decision would soon affect many people and cause a great movement.
Emmett and his great uncle, Moses Wright, arrived August 21st, 1955 in Money, Mississippi. Emmett and his cousins bonded very well and one day after working out in the sun, they decided to go to the local store to buy something to drink. They walked into Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market, bought w...

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...amie Till never forgot the pain of her son’s death, but she was very proud to awaken the country and show what was actually going on with how African Americans were being treated.
Emmett’s death changed history forever by surprising the country on what was occurring and starting many other movements and protest for Civil Rights. Now in present day, African Americans are equal to anyone and everyone and are treated with the same respect. Nobody back then could believe that such harsh things could be happening, but his death proved many wrong. Racial discrimination and segregation should have never occurred, nor reached the point where lynching humans was okay. What happened to Emmett Till helped open Americans' eyes to the racial disgust pursuing throughout the country, and in doing so sparked a massive Civil Rights Movement for equality and justice for everyone.

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