Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement

I believe this is not a "children's book." It well deserves the awards received. These unique illustrations took awhile to absorb, but after three readings of the book, I agreed that it certainly deserved a Caldecott award. Despite grave reservations, Emmett Till's mother allowed her young son to

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visit the deep Jim Crow south. Tragically, her reservations came true.

In August of 1955, Emmett Till, a young man raised in Chicago, and a child of the Great Migration wherein many escaped the bigotry and hate of the south and moved north seeking not only more financial opportunities, but far less bigotry that Mississippi, Alabama and other hate-filled states who took free reign to treat those of a different color than white, with sheer hate and uncalled for hatred.

When Emmett had a free day from working in the fields with his cousins, they went to Money, Mississippi and visited Bryant's store where Emmett purchased bubble gum and in doing so, his life was brutally beaten from him.

His delivery into the world wasn't easy. The child arrived swollen, and bruised from the delivery. Doctor's told Mamie that he would not have a "normal" life. Strong willed, she took him home where her mother and family helped to raise Emmett to a self-assured young man. He did however, keep the stutter in his voice, that later caused his death.

It was a simple transaction. Mamie taught her son to whistle when words came uneasily. When talking to Carolyn Bryant during his purchase, a whistle was produced. That whistle was taken as a sign of disrespect, and Carolyn went to the car to get a gun. Turning around, she did not harm Emmett, but when the word got out that an "uppity n*gg*r boy" whistled at his wife, her husband and his relative sought Emmett deep into the night.

Forcing Emmett to leave his Uncle's house, Emmett was beaten beyond recognition. Just three days after his departure from the north, he was brutally maimed to show those of color "their place."

His swollen body was found in the Tallahatchie river. Quickly, his body was taken and locked away in a simple boarded coffin.
When the call came to Mamie that her son was missing. She knew her fears came to fruition.

Demanding the body be shipped to her, she opened the coffin. Her beloved son was unrecognizable. He wore a ring that belonged to his father. Then, Mamie knew it was her boy.

Doing the hard thing, but the right thing, Mamie demanded that the coffin be opened so all could see what they did to her boy.

Standing by her son's coffin and his battered body took a very strong will. Thousands came to see what the hatred and bigotry of two white men did to him. With Martin Luther King, she, Rosa Parks and other began a movement that had fierce motivation.

Mamie didn't stop there, her courage took her to speaking engagements where she bravely advocated for justice. This woman was a beacon of light for all to see as she obtained a college degree, graduating C*m laude, and became a teacher of children like Emmett who had disabilities.

Highly Recommended!! Worth noting, The back of the book contains the names of Trayvon Martin, Breanna Taylor, George Floyd, Jr, and others who were victims of hatred and unnecessary death.

I'm not posting illustrations. The story stands alone as a testimony that this hatred and bigotry must end!!!!

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What an amazing and powerful story. Many may know the name of Emmet Till, but not many know the name of his mother: Mamie Till-Mobley. Emmet Till is a line in history, that most people will have heard of, but his mother was more than he ever got a chance to become. She was one of the Civil Rights

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leaders who set out to make our nation better for everyone. This book is written as a love poem to a remarkable woman. It has an ebb and flow that is edgy but commanding and dripping in love. This is a 5-star read and an amazing biography for young readers.

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A powerful picture book that gives background of Emmett Till's story and the activism and impact of Mamie Till-Mobley's action. Art is stark and a compelling complement to the poetic telling of the history, pain, and perserverance of the history.