Emmett Till Monument Dedicated Amid Debate on Teaching Race and History
Ask students: How old would Till be if he was alive today? Who witnessed Till’s kidnapping? What was the racial makeup of the jury for Till’s murderers?
Trigger Warning: This lesson discusses the murder of Emmett Till and includes content on racial violence and injustice that may be disturbing or upsetting to students.
A new national monument dedicated to the murdered teenager Emmett Till and his mother honors three sites critical to Till’s story, and central to the birth of America’s civil rights movement. The announcement comes in the middle of a heated debate over how best to teach children about race and American history. Laura Barrón-López reports.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
Discussion Questions
- When was Emmett Till murdered?
- How old would Till be if he was alive today?
- Who witnessed Till’s kidnapping?
- Where was Till’s body found?
- What was the racial makeup of the jury for Till’s murderers?
Focus Questions
Do you think the monument will help educate the public about Till and his legacy? Why or why not?
Media Literacy: Why do you think this story was framed in a way that ties it to current debates about education?
Extension Activity
Research: What other monuments across the country help tell the story of the civil rights movement and struggle against racism? Which do you think are the most effective at helping to tell the story?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
