The Blood of Emmett Till

Race, power, and gender have since been issues of great concern globally. Many activists and revolutionists have, in one way or another, expressed the use and exploitation of these three issues. Great historical leaders used power to instil their views in the people; men have also exploited feminism in women, and nations have also been forced to deal with racism. Especially amongst the ‘colored’ and the whites. Similarly, in the story of Emmett Till, we profoundly witness the expression of power, racism and gender issues.

This book entails the story of Emmett Till, whose supposed death is due to allegations of raping a white girl. Emmett had come to Mississippi from Chicago to visit his uncle, Reverend Wright. On one occasion, he goes to a white store and interacts with a white girl before it is later claimed that he allegedly raped her alongside having harassed her. The white girl’s kin visits him at his uncle’s place and forcefully walks him out before departing with him and later killing him. The killing of black people in such circumstances has been a trend in Mississippi, where white and black people segregation was a common practice.

The supposed victim of Emmett’s harassment later in interviews with the media reveals that the situation at the time that surrounded their encounter was different. Hence, the death of the young black man was uncalled for. A similar incident probably invoked the Emmett incident, the murder of Marrow, which was later written and documented half a century after the Emmett incident. Racism and misuse of power are expressed by the police, judiciary and the local public, both whites and blacks. However, the whites represent the issues at much more pronounced levels than their black counterparts, who they consider inferior. Segregation between whites and blacks is also seen to be pronounced at such times when the country was undergoing a civil war.

Racism, in the context of Emmett’s story, can be seen in various settings. The Chicago residents at the time of this story were highly populated with black people as compared to the other towns mentioned, and their significant antagonists were in Mississippi, where racism was even taken to a much-advanced level of incorporating segregation. People of color were in no way allowed to mingle freely with the whites, and the separation was majorly seen while boarding buses, having court sittings and hearings, undertaking national sports and going to school. Pure race schools were established to avoid what they called race mixing or miscegenation (T. B. Tyson, Nothing that Boy Did). The system is so well defined in the minds of the white folks that they go to any level just to punish the perpetrators; this, in most cases, by lynching.

The court system and jury were also affected by racism, and most decisions were made in favor of the whites. In some instances, the jury could acquit a white culprit or suspect of any case, even if the pieces of evidence were plainly at their disposal. In Chicago, black people could be forced to have firearms for assurance of security against white people (T. B. Tyson, Nothing that Boy Did). Similarly, their children could also be forced to stay within the safety of the black neighborhood, as seen in chapter three of The Blood of Emmett Till. Hence, the residents did not invite white people as their new neighbors.

As in the cases in which racism was expressed, power, too, didn’t fail to find its ways of being expressed. The police and the jury were the most common expressers of misuse of energy. The judiciary could use its power to intelligently deny justice as they were the final say in decision-making matters. In one incident in chapter one, we are told that after the trial of marrow the trial transcript went missing. This was seemingly a strategy to hinder the digging-up of justice. Later, the transcripts are found by the FBI in rather unfamiliar conditions. The fact that white folks could easily get acquitted of a case also raises concerns of misuse of power.

Power was also enforced through the use of weaponry. This can be seen during the frequent confrontations between the whites and the blacks. The blacks are also later seen relying heavily on firearms as the company so as to assure themselves of security. The case when Emmett was forced out of his uncle’s, Reverend Wright's, house by the team of whites who accompanied Mr. Bryant openly displays the role of the firearm in enforcing power (T. B. Tyson, Boots on the porch). Additionally, the police too exploited the power given to them by the state. On one occasion in chapter three, the police are seen hauling at the black bystanders who were protesting the injustice done to a fellow black by a white individual. The police seem not interested in apprehending the culprit but use their power to silence the blacks forcefully.

During the time of Emmett’s story, women, too, had a social ranking in society. The rank does not seem to attract much pride. It is in reference to the activities witnessed in the story that a general conclusion can be made that the gender situation was far from being in balance. The female seemed to be undermined and in some instances, they were interacted with as if they were objects to control or possess. A typical example can be seen when Bryant and his team go to Reverent Wright's home to fetch Emmett. Elizabeth, Wright’s wife, is shamefully shut down and directed to go to bed (T. B. Tyson). In addition to that, Mamie Carthan is also seen to change her name with each new marriage she undertakes consistently. Despite all the perceived inferiority, the female gender is quite hardworking, accommodating and dedicated to family issues (T. B. Tyson, Emmett in Chicago and "Little Mississippi"). This is seen in how Emmett’s mother handles life after the divorce from Louis, Emmett’s father.

Carolyn Bryant can also be used as a point of reference to ascertain that ladies were seen to be weaker than their male counterparts and needed the protection of their masculine counterparts. She is the one who interacts with Emmett Till, and yet her kinsmen take the issue too dangerous to the extent of killing Emmett. She also seemed to have been compromised during her interviews with the journalists. This is seen when she admits that notwithstanding what Emmett did, it had not warranted his murder (T. B. Tyson, Nothing that boy did). In addition to that, consideration can also be taken to the fact Emmett had the guts to face a lady seven years older than him. And confidently go the extra mile of squeezing her hands tightly before fluting with her. This act openly displays that the feminine gender was, in one way or the other, considered an inferior one.

In conclusion, the story of Emmett guides us to the notion that a race is a result of the difference in human complexion and, most obviously, colour. It further ascertains that if it's inappropriately addressed, it can lead to a series of civil wars and communal conflicts. Similarly, power and gender are also highlighted. Whereby power is also portrayed to be the factor that can control human behavior and dealings alongside instilling fear. And if it’s not carelessly allocated, it can lead to severe outcomes. Gender, on the other hand, as used in this story, informs us of the existing imbalance between female and male persons. However, the male gender is depicted as more superior, aggressive and relatively violent than the female gender, who are fairly more hardworking and accommodative.

Works Cited

Tyson, Timothy B. "Boots on the porch." Tyson, Timothy B. The Blood of Emmett Till. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. 11. Document.

Tyson, Timothy B. "Boots on the porch." Tyson, Timothy B. The blood of Emmett Till. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. 10-11. Document.

Tyson, Timothy B. "Emmett in Chicago and "Little Mississippi"." Tyson, Timothy B. The Blood of Emmett Till. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. 27-30. Document.

Tyson, Timothy B. "Nothing that boy did." Tyson, Timothy B. The Blood of Emmett Till. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. 1-7. Document.

Tyson, Timothy B. "Nothing that boy did." Tyson, Timothy B. The Blood of Emmett Till. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2017. 1-3. Document.