By Ruth Michelle Tanguep Youmbi – Contributor

On Feb. 8, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural event of Black Estrie – a non-profit founded by Aïssé Touré – in the context of Black History Month. As a participant in a youth-centred project Les Voix de la Diversité, organized by Actions Interculturelles, I attended an evening which began with a showing of Till, a stunning movie. Then, the event moved into a thought-provoking discussion within the cozy atmosphere of Café Baobab.

Till is set in 1955 Chicago, Illinois and depicts the gut-wrenching story of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy portrayed by Jalyn Hall. Emmett becomes a tragic victim of racial violence at the hands of two white men during a visit to his cousins in Mississippi. The film follows his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, played by Danielle Deadwyler, who pursues justice after his death. The film meticulously captures the stark contrast between the relative racial tolerance in Chicago and the blatant racism in Mississippi, setting the stage for a segregated America.

The movie immediately immerses viewers in the racial tensions of the era, highlighting the fears of Mamie as she prepares her son for the harsh realities of the South, warning him that “rules are different” for Black folks in Mississippi. Despite Mamie’s efforts, Emmett, a spirited and joyful child unfamiliar with the severity of racial prejudice, naively compliments and whistles at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, played by Haley Bennett. This innocent act leads to his abduction, torture and murder by Roy Bryant and John William Milam, portrayed by Sean Michael Weber and Eric Whitten, respectively.

The movie depicts the desperate attempts of Mamie and her family to locate Emmett, reaching out to local newspapers, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and even the White House. The unimaginable grief Mamie experiences upon the discovery of Emmett’s mutilated body floating in the river is countered with a determination for justice. Mamie’s decision to hold an open-casket funeral, allowing the world to witness the brutality inflicted upon her son, becomes a pivotal moment in her quest for justice.

Despite overwhelming odds, including a biased legal system and a prejudiced all-white jury, Mamie’s resilience shines through. The acquittal of the murderers only fueled her activism, leading her to vocalize the interconnectedness of Black individuals’ struggles worldwide. Her journey from a grieving mother to a great advocate for civil rights exemplifies the power of the movie’s message concerning hope and the need for change in society. “I used to have my apartment, my job and my son, and I thought what happens to the Blacks in the south does not concern me. Well now, I know I was wrong. What happens to a Black person wherever in the world is our problem.” Mamie’s activism and words here, adapted from her comments at an NAACP rally, were a catalyst for the Civil Rights Act and the civil rights movement. In the years that followed, people like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis pointed to Emmett Till’s funeral as a turning point in the fight for racial justice in America. However, it still took 67 years following the death of Emmett Till before an anti-lynching act passed in the United States.

Milka Mumbesa led a discussion following the screening which touched on themes of police brutality, the challenges faced by single parents like Mamie and the necessity of confronting and channelling our collective anger toward constructive change. Till is a reminder from our history which speaks to the atrocities suffered by Black people and the ignition of the civil rights movement. The need to accept past wrongdoings and to move forward is both a reality check and a testament to the spirit of resilience and hope.

In essence, Black Estrie’s premiere event was not only a movie screening, but a powerful homage to Black history. It was a reminder of the enduring impact of Mamie Till-Mobley’s fight for justice and our collective responsibility to be agents of change. The film Till not only brings to the forefront a legacy of pain and anger but also one of hope. It is a hope that like Mamie, we can all contribute to enacting change in the world around us, and this starts by attending events like this one.

This article was submitted by Actions Interculturelles. The La Voix de La Diversité is project is held by Actions Interculturelles and financed by by the
Department of Canadian Heritage.