Emmett Till

The story of Emmett Till is a subject that has touched me emotionally. Before I came to this country I was never aware that situations such as prejudice and racism even existed. I never thought that the color of my skin and my ethnicity would identify who I am for the next 21 years in Chicago. These Gouaches represent my interests and worries about our society and how certain rules affect only some people.

When I read the story of Emmett Till, I decided to narrate as much of the events that happened, the assumptions and the conclusions of his murder and trial. The Gouaches and opaque colors relate to the environment of Mississippi.These colors give me a feeling of the delta, the muddy waters and the cotton fields, how hot and humid this part of the south can get in the summer.

Emmett “Bobo” Till catching the train to Money Mississippi. Gouache on Paper, 2004.

Bobo was proud to show off his white babe from Chicago, Gouache on Paper, 2004.

His friends and cousins dared him to go inside and talk to that pretty white lady in the store. Gouache on Paper, 2004.

Emmett Till allegedly wolf whistling to the pretty white lady, Gouache on paper, 2004.

“You fool ! Don’t you know you are not supposed to talk to a white of woman!”. Gouache on Paper, 2004.

“Bobo! quick wake up you need to go in the back and hide!” . Gouache on Paper, 2004

“Don’t worry Rev. Moses; we’ll bering him back if he is not the one”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“Carolyn Bryant, identifying Emmett Till as the kid who whistled at her”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“It is said that there were four white men beating him, and two black males guarding the barn”, Gouache on paper, 2004.

“It is said they even made him carry a 75 or 90 pound cotton gin fan”, Gouache on paper, 2004.

“ They Gouged out his eye”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“They finally shot him, or maybe they drilled a sharp object in the right temple”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“Throwing Emmett’s body in the Tallahatchie River on August 28th”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“Finding Emmett Till in the water”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“The local police pulled him out of the water” Gouache on paper, 2004.

“They sent him back to Chicago where Mrs. Bradley, Emmett’s mother was waiting for him”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“ On the day of his funeral 50,000 people came to see what hatred in the south did to Emmett Till”. Gouache on paper

“Emmett Till before and Emmett Till after”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“During the trial, uncle Moses identified the two men who came looking for his nephew”. Gouache on paper, 2004.

“ Mr. Milam and Mr. Bryant being acquitted of the murder”. Gouache on paper, 2004.