Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

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Overview

No modern tragedy has had a greater impact on race relations in America than the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till. A 14-year-old black boy from Chicago visiting relatives in Mississippi in 1955, Till was taken from his uncle’s home by two white men; several days later, his body was found in the Tallahatchie River. This grotesque crime became the catalyst for the civil rights movement.

At age 12, author Simeon Wright saw and heard his cousin Emmett whistle at a white woman at a grocery store; he was sleeping in the same bed with him when Emmett was taken; and he was at the sensational trial. This is his gripping coming-of-age memoir.

Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature

Four months before Rosa Parks's refusal to move to the back of the bus, Emmett Till's murder both shocked and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Unfortunately this case has been hidden by misinformation until Emmett's cousin, Simeon Wright, relays this eyewitness account. Till came to visit Mississippi, but he did not understand the unspoken code of conduct for African Americans; his cousin calls him an outsider. While visiting the local grocery store, Emmett whistles at a white woman. On the following early morning, Emmett is forcefully taken and murdered. Simeon provides additional details about the case, misinformation that still circulates, and efforts to reopen the case. In 2008, the "Till Bill," which allows unsolved civil rights murders before 1970 to be reinvestigated, was passed, providing a fitting tribute to Emmett Till. This well-written primary source provides a much-needed factual account of a significant but minor chapter in the Civil Rights Movement. Because Till's murder is not common knowledge, it is difficult to know to whom this story might appeal. It perhaps will best serve high school and college students wanting useful and in-depth narratives about the civil rights movement. Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk

VOYA

In 1955, Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old black boy from Chicago, was kidnapped and murdered while visiting family in Money, Mississippi. Simeon Wright, his twelve-year-old cousin, was present when Emmett whistled at Caroline Bryant, a white woman. He was also in the room when Emmett was forced from their home in the middle of the night, and he attended the trial at which his father bravely stood up and accused the men responsible for Emmett's death. This book is Wright's story of those tragic events and the ongoing effects they have had on his life and the lives of untold others. Reading this book is like listening to an oral history project. One can imagine the author sitting and talking to someone, thinking back about past events and reflecting on their meaning. The book is strongest in its descriptions of people. Readers see Emmett as his cousin saw him, a teenager who was full of life and joy. Although the writing is uneven, it is a book that should be read, a story that demands to be told. Wright's grief is still raw, and his story opens the door to actual experiences faced by real teens in Mississippi during the early days of the civil rights movement. Readers get a taste of how far society has come and of how far it still needs to go. Those who are patient with this meandering tale will value it tremendously. Reviewer: Cheryl French

More Reviews (3) Fewer Reviews

VOYA

Every teen should know Emmett Till's story. It reminds us that history is not always about heroes and victories. It is also about the murder of innocent people, the perversion of justice to benefit those in power, and how racist people can become killers. In the beginning, Wright writes colorfully and beautifully. Unfortunately the book is so choppy that in the second part, the people all but disappear. Nonetheless the story makes the book worthwhile. Reviewer: Jonah Stewart Grob, Teen Reviewer

School Library Journal

Gr 6–10—Simeon Wright was 12 years old when his cousin Emmett "Bobo" Till came from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi. Spunky and bold, Till amused everyone with his comedic timing. It was his desire to get a laugh that led to his demise. One hot August night in 1955, Till whistled at a white female store clerk, setting off a chain of events that left an indelible mark not only on our nation's history, but also on the cousin who witnessed Till's gaffe and eventual kidnapping. Wright's story is chilling, and his honest account will hook readers from the beginning. His description of growing up in Mississippi under Jim Crow laws provides the necessary background for teens to understand what transpired in the time between Till's deadly mistake and the discovery of his body days later. Wright also details the toll the murder took on his family, his eventual move to Chicago, and his unsuccessful search for justice for Emmett Till. An appendix entitled "Lies, Myths, and Distortions" serves to discredit many of the misconceptions surrounding Till's death. It ends, "If you want an accurate account of any story, go to the primary sources. They know what really happened." Truer words were never spoken.—Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL

Kirkus Reviews

Primary-source historical texts are an increasingly important genre in today's literature for young adults. Simeon Wright, the cousin of boy martyr Emmett Till, begins his story by transporting the reader into the conditions for African Americans in the Jim Crow South through a series of anecdotes. He balances accounts of harsh oppression with high-interest details about the daily lives of the people in the Mississippi Delta. Wright then recounts his family history and their heritage of land ownership, circuit preaching and social justice. During the summer of 1955, the young Mississippi native looked forward to the impending arrival of visiting relatives from the northern city of Chicago, including his jovial cousin Bobo. "We didn't know Bobo's first name was Emmett until he was killed," Wright remembers. From that point, his childhood stories makes a rendezvous with history-the boys' long-anticipated visit to the nearby town of Greenwood ends in one of the most well-known tragedies of the civil-rights movement. The author's strong characterization of his cousin makes this a compelling read. (Memoir. 12 & up)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781556527838
Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date: 1/1/2010
Pages: 144
Age range: 12 years
Lexile: 1050L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 0.70 (d)

Meet the Author

Simeon Wright is a popular public speaker at schools, churches, and cultural institutions throughout the country. Herb Boyd has published 20 books, including We Shall Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement as It Happened.

Foreword Herb Boyd ix

Acknowledgments xv

1 Life in Mississippi 1

2 My Family 15

3 At Home with Mom and Dad 25

4 The Abduction 41

5 The Trial 67

6 Fear and Flight 81

7 InArgo 91

8 Reopening the Case and Exhuming the Body 105

9 Bobo on My Mind 115

Epilogue: The Till Bill 123

Appendix: Lies, Myths, and Distortions 129

Index 139

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Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Overview

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

More About This Book

Overview

Related Subjects

Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature

VOYA

VOYA

School Library Journal

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Meet the Author

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