Mamie Till

Mamie Till, an African American mother, is best known for her role in bringing national attention to racial injustice in the United States after the brutal murder of her son, Emmett Till, in 1955. Emmett was only 14 years old when he was killed in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Mamie courageously chose to have an open-casket funeral to show the brutality of his death, which sparked outrage and activism. Her efforts helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement and highlighted the urgent need for social change regarding racism and violence against Black individuals.